Andrew Scott on being cast for his sexuality: 'Representation is important but so is transformation'

Andrew Scott has said the film industry has made progress in telling LGBTQIA+ stories but argued that gay roles shouldn't only be played by those in the community ahead of his upcoming movie All Of Us Strangers.

In the Andrew Haigh-directed romantic fantasy film, the Irish actor plays Adam who develops a relationship with a neighbour, played by Normal People star Paul Mescal.

The film explores the complexities of grief as Adam is drawn back to his childhood home, where he discovers that his parents appear to be living just as they were 30 years before the day they died, when he was just a child.

Ahead of the film's release, Scott admitted that as a young man in Ireland he believed he would never land a lead role due to his sexuality.

The 47-year-old told Screen Daily: “I remember growing up and reading Empire magazine and thinking I would never get a chance to play leading roles in the cinema. And I am thrilled that has changed."

And while supportive of LGBTQIA+ representation on screen, particularly love stories, Scott insisted that he doesn’t believe gay roles should be played by those solely in the community.

He explained that "transformation" is a key part of being an actor, before adding: "As much as I feel like representation is important, so is transformation. I don’t love the idea of being cast for something purely for my own sexuality — you’re not just playing ‘gay’, you’re playing the attributes of the character.

“I don’t want a totalitarian regime — we have to look at each individual story we’re telling and what’s right for that.”

His comments come after Scott revealed he was encouraged by people in the film and TV industry to keep his sexuality to himself.

The Sherlock actor told a newspaper during an interview in 2013 that he did not want to make a big deal about being gay, but that he did not want to hide it either.

Speaking to British GQ in November about that time, Scott said: “I was encouraged, by people in the industry who I really admired and who had my best interests at heart, to keep that (to myself).

“I understand why they gave that advice, but I’m also glad that I eventually ignored it.”

Scott grew up in Ireland where homosexuality was illegal until he turned 16, making him “fearful” of his sexuality and wanting to ignore that side of himself.

He added: “What’s difficult sometimes for gay people is that you don’t get to experience this sort of adolescence where you go, ‘Oh, my God, I like that person, do they like me back?'”

The Dubliner said that he found All Of Us Strangers freeing as it was his own chance to revisit and address his childhood.

He said: “I think that’s maybe why this (film) feels so gratifying and cathartic. Because I did have to bring so much of my own pain into it.”