Cheyenne Jackson opens up about being out, gay roles and the pressure to stay looking young

Cheyenne Jackson, so good in American Horror Story: Hotel and everything else he does, gives a candid interview to PrideSource which just posted today.

Here are some excerpts:

You’ve played just about every variation of gay. How do you know if a gay character is right for you?

I never pick something based on if it’s gay or not. I just pick something if the character’s right for me. I play a pretty healthy mix, although these days I’ve been playing a lot of bisexuals. I was bisexual on “Horror Story” and then I just finished a film where I also played bisexual, so I’m in a bi phase right now. Honestly, just the part has to appeal to me. I really do love that there’s such a broad spectrum I’ve played: gay guys who were more straight down the middle, and – though I hate this phrase – “straight acting,” and all the way to “Behind the Candelabra” where I was just, you know, super cunt-y.

You suggest that you’ve worked with many closeted gay actors, and we talk a lot about the Hollywood closet. Where do you stand on that?

It’s a personal thing. I mean, everybody should do their own thing, what is right for them. I hate it when people try to pull people out of the closet – who wants that? It’s not good for them, it’s not good for us; for whatever their own reasons are, they’re not ready. Just leave people to do their own on their own time. I fully believe that. I mean, I came out when I wanted to because it was my time, and I hate the whole witch hunt aspect. Just mind your own business.

As a gay man, what kind of effect has sexuality had on your career?

That’s a good question, but there’s really no way to know what would have happened. I have been out my whole career. I came out during my very first big job in “All Shook Up” (in 2005) on Broadway. It was in The New York Times, and I just decided to get it out of the way so it wasn’t a thing. What effect has it had? I have no idea. Do I think I have missed out on things because I am gay? Maybe. Probably. But there’s no way to prove it. And if that’s really how something would go down, I wouldn’t want that (project) anyway. But things are definitely changing, and it’s funny that you say “as a gay man” because I find pressure on gay men, especially in our society, to look young. It’s almost like it is for women now. I see all these guys at the gym and everybody’s – well, not everybody, but a lot of guys – have a lot of stuff going on with their face.

Do you feel like you’ve been pressured to look a certain way?

Of course I feel the pressure – and I succumbed to it. I’m not against saying I used to do Botox and fillers for about three years. I got really into it.

Why did you decide to stop?

I looked crazy. I didn’t look like me. I think especially on men, Botox and filler doesn’t make you look younger – I think it makes you look like you have Botox and fillers. It changed the shape of my eyes. I didn’t have any wrinkles on my forehead, and it was crazy. And then I started to obsess about every little thing. Then three years ago I was like, “Fuck it. I’m just gonna let my face do what it’s gonna do,” and I’m so happy I did.