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'I don't care who disagrees, it doesn't work if you're gay'
Rupert Everett: a gay man can only do drag
Rupert Everett advises young gay actors to stay in the closet
Gay actor Rupert Everett has advised young gay actors to hide their sexuality, saying his own career "hit a brick wall" after he came out.
Everett, now 50, was tipped for stardom in the 1980s following his roles in Another Country and Dance With a Stranger, but told the Observer "it doesn't work if you're gay".
"I've been reduced to drag. A gay man can only do drag," he said, referring to his role in St Trinian's 2, The Legend of Fritton's Gold, which is released next month. He came out in 1989, and warned of the consequences.
"It's not that advisable to be honest. It's not very easy. And, honestly, I would not advise any actor necessarily, if he was really thinking of his career, to come out," he said.
"The fact is that you could not be, and still cannot be, a 25-year-old homosexual trying to make it in the British film business or the American film business or even the Italian film business. It just doesn't work and you're going to hit a brick wall at some point. You're going to manage to make it roll for a certain amount of time, but at the first sign of failure they'll cut you right off...the fact of the matter is, and I don't care who disagrees, it doesn't work if you're gay."
He said that there were "probably" plenty of closeted Hollywood stars, but added: "I think, all in all, I'm probably much happier than they are. I may not be as rich or successful, but at least I'm vaguely free to be myself."
Everett, who currently lives in London, also offered his views on the next election, saying that he will leave the country if the Conservatives win.
"I'm not going to stay here if David Cameron gets in...I don't want the country run from yachts."
Asked about civil partnerships, he said: "If you want to have a marriage with some bad-tempered cow from Camden Council officiating, then you must have that, and I think it's nice that you can have it. But I liked being a poof when it was illegal, frankly; it gave me a sense of being outside."
