Will isn’t a screaming queen – that’s Jack’s part. They needed someone to play the part for America. It’s just not the same as Britain. To have a gay character as a lead is risky.
Meaning of the quote
In this quote, Eric McCormack is explaining that the character of Will, who is gay, was portrayed differently in the American version of the show compared to the British version. He says that Will is not as flamboyant or "screaming queen" as the character of Jack, and that the producers likely chose this to make the character more palatable for American audiences. McCormack also suggests that having a gay lead character is seen as a "risky" choice, implying that there may be more social or cultural resistance to LGBTQ+ representation in the United States compared to the UK.
About Eric McCormack
Eric McCormack is a Canadian-American actor known for his roles in popular TV shows like Will & Grace, Travelers, and Perception. He started his acting career in high school and later joined the Stratford Shakespeare Festival, where he spent five years performing on stage. McCormack has received multiple award nominations, including six Golden Globes and four Emmys, and won the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series in 2001 for his performance in Will & Grace.
More quotes from Eric McCormack
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Canadian-American actor, producer, and writer
Will isn’t a screaming queen – that’s Jack’s part. They needed someone to play the part for America. It’s just not the same as Britain. To have a gay character as a lead is risky.
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I have accomplished a lot, but it didn’t happen overnight for me. I was 35 when I got the show, and had been working professionally for 15 years. It would be a lot weirder if I were in my early 20s and stumbled into it.
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I started to realise that it wasn’t for me. Perhaps I didn’t have to give my Hamlet before I died, that the world might be an OK place without my Hamlet, in fact.
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