Daniel Mays has discussed the debate surrounding whether straight actors should be able to play gay roles.
The Des and White Lines actor, who played gay rights campaigner Peter Wildeblood in the BBC’s 2017 series Against the Law, said he was “shocked” by screenwriter Russell T Davies’s decision to only cast gay actors for gay roles in his groundbreaking Aids drama It’s a Sin.
“At the end of the day, you just want to play a part,” Mays told The Telegraph. “I thought It’s a Sin was an extraordinary piece of work, one of the best dramas I’ve seen in recent years.
“Russell T Davies is an exceptional writer. And it was his gig. And he was like, well, every one of these actors in it has to be gay.
“And I was really shocked at that, because I had an amazing experience playing Peter Wildeblood in Against the Law.
The Des and White Lines actor, who played gay rights campaigner Peter Wildeblood in the BBC’s 2017 series Against the Law, said he was “shocked” by screenwriter Russell T Davies’s decision to only cast gay actors for gay roles in his groundbreaking Aids drama It’s a Sin.
“At the end of the day, you just want to play a part,” Mays told The Telegraph. “I thought It’s a Sin was an extraordinary piece of work, one of the best dramas I’ve seen in recent years.
“Russell T Davies is an exceptional writer. And it was his gig. And he was like, well, every one of these actors in it has to be gay.
“And I was really shocked at that, because I had an amazing experience playing Peter Wildeblood in Against the Law.
- 2/25/2023
- by Ellie Harrison
- The Independent - TV
Catherine Pearson Jul 26, 2017
Here's our review of BBC Two's heart-breaking gay rights film Against The Law, an essential watch starring Daniel Mays...
This review contains spoilers.
See related The Wall review Edge Of Tomorrow and the future of stand-alone sci-fi The Bourne Identity: the battle to make the first film
Director Fergus O’Brien combines drama and real-life testimonies in this superbly performed and deeply moving one-off drama that will make your blood boil.
Against The Law is one of the many dramas to come out (if you’ll pardon the pun) of the BBC’s ‘Gay Britannia’ season, a collection of programmes that mark the Fiftieth anniversary of Sexual Offences Act of 1967, the first legislative step towards the complete legalisation of homosexuality in the United Kingdom. The drama tells the true story of Peter Wildeblood, a journalist who found himself imprisoned for ‘buggery’ alongside friends Lord Montagu...
Here's our review of BBC Two's heart-breaking gay rights film Against The Law, an essential watch starring Daniel Mays...
This review contains spoilers.
See related The Wall review Edge Of Tomorrow and the future of stand-alone sci-fi The Bourne Identity: the battle to make the first film
Director Fergus O’Brien combines drama and real-life testimonies in this superbly performed and deeply moving one-off drama that will make your blood boil.
Against The Law is one of the many dramas to come out (if you’ll pardon the pun) of the BBC’s ‘Gay Britannia’ season, a collection of programmes that mark the Fiftieth anniversary of Sexual Offences Act of 1967, the first legislative step towards the complete legalisation of homosexuality in the United Kingdom. The drama tells the true story of Peter Wildeblood, a journalist who found himself imprisoned for ‘buggery’ alongside friends Lord Montagu...
- 7/26/2017
- Den of Geek
Daniel Mays and Mark Gatiss star in story about 1967 Sexual Offences Act.
The 31st BFI Flare: London Lgbt Film Festival (March 16-26) will open with historical drama Against The Law.
Marking the 50th anniversary of the 1967 Sexual Offences Act, which decriminalised homosexual acts between adult males in England and Wales, the film is based on Peter Wildeblood’s autobiographical novel of the same name.
It tells the story of Wildeblood, a celebrated journalist, and his love affair with another man, which led to devastating consequences including imprisonment. His case instigated the publication of a report that recommended the decriminalisation of homosexuality in the UK.
Wildeblood will be played by Daniel Mays. The cast also includes Mark Gatiss, Richard Gadd and Charlie Creed-Miles.
The film was directed by Fergus O’Brien, produced by Scott James Bassett and written by Brian Fillis. It is a BBC Studio production and will air on BBC Two later this year.
The BFI will...
The 31st BFI Flare: London Lgbt Film Festival (March 16-26) will open with historical drama Against The Law.
Marking the 50th anniversary of the 1967 Sexual Offences Act, which decriminalised homosexual acts between adult males in England and Wales, the film is based on Peter Wildeblood’s autobiographical novel of the same name.
It tells the story of Wildeblood, a celebrated journalist, and his love affair with another man, which led to devastating consequences including imprisonment. His case instigated the publication of a report that recommended the decriminalisation of homosexuality in the UK.
Wildeblood will be played by Daniel Mays. The cast also includes Mark Gatiss, Richard Gadd and Charlie Creed-Miles.
The film was directed by Fergus O’Brien, produced by Scott James Bassett and written by Brian Fillis. It is a BBC Studio production and will air on BBC Two later this year.
The BFI will...
- 2/9/2017
- by tom.grater@screendaily.com (Tom Grater)
- ScreenDaily
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