Actress Amber Heard has revealed that she was cautioned against coming out as bisexual for fear it would ruin her career, and has urged more of her Hollywood counterparts to be open about their sexuality in an effort to change minds.
Speaking at The Economist‘s Pride & Prejudice event on Thursday, Heard recalled a 2010 interview in which she discussed her then-girlfriend Tasya Van Ree, not realising what a big deal it would turn out to be.
“I just answered honestly,” Heard said of her response to the interviewer’s questions. “I could tell by the look on this person’s face it was a big deal. My poor publicist.”
“Then I realised the gravity of what I had done and why so many people – studio execs, agents, advisers – did not want this coming before my name. I became attached to a label. I’ve never seen myself defined by the person I’m with.”
Heard, who will soon be seen in back-to-back blockbusters Justice League and Aquaman, was even warned at one point that being open about her sexuality might limit the roles in which she could be cast.
“As a leading lady, there’s a certain amount of wish fulfilment,” she continued. “I was asked, ‘How is anyone going to invest in you romantically if they think you’re unavailable?’ I said, ‘Watch me do it.’”
Using herself as an example, Heard then urged more of her Hollywood peers to be open about their sexuality, saying:
“I stand here now amongst many of my romantic leading lady peers who are out and fluid. I’m one of many now, and I’m working. If we’re meant to reflect the world around us, the whole point of telling stories and reaching audiences is to challenge the status quo, to push the envelope. Not just to meet the status quo. We’re in a unique position to do this. We need to be actively pushing. If every gay man that I know personally in Hollywood came out tomorrow, then this would be a nonissue in a month.”
Justice League is out on November 16, while Aquaman makes its way to cinemas in 2018. Heard plays Mera, the queen of the sea, in the DC/Warner Bros films.
Source: NY Times.
Photo: Axelle / Bauer Griffin / Getty.
