Cheyenne Jackson chats with AfterElton.com about guesting on “30 Rock” and running into NPH in the locker room

This photo of Broadway stud Cheyenne Jackson has absolutely nothing to do with the interview he’s done with AfterElton.com but it sure is nice to look at huh?

The out and proud star is thriving on stage, on CDs and on television including a guest stint on 30 Rock. Here’s a little excerpt from a very good interview:

AE: Obviously 30 Rock is comedy and lighthearted, but having you as an out gay actor playing Liz’s love interest is yet another chink in the bias against the idea that gay men can’t play a straight love interest. Did you even think about that at all, or given your Broadway stuff, do you just figure people shouldn’t even be thinking about that?
CJ: Yeah, that one. Definitely. I think a lot more people are hung up on that than I am. I definitely understand that line of thinking, but for me it’s never been an issue. That’s kind of been my MO since the beginning of my career. When they told me that I was going to have an office romance, I would have been fine with whoever it was. If it was Kenneth or Jack or Tracy or Jane . . . I mean I knew it would be funny. And that’s the most important thing, is being able to find the truth in the comedy.

The fact that it was Liz, I was like, “Jackpot!” Although this could be the demise of my character really quickly if I have this torrid love affair with the head writer, and then if somebody doesn’t like it, and they kick that new guy out. Yeah, this is, like you said, one more chink, one more step, one more example of where being the right actor in the right role is the thing that takes precedence over who that actor happens to sleep with.

AE: I know you ran into Neil Patrick Harris at the gym during AfterElton’s Big Gay Battle. Did he lobby you for his vote?
CJ: No, he did not lobby me. Well also we were standing in our underpants so you can’t, you kind of have to just keep the conversation to a “How’s the weather?” He had just gotten back from vacation with David. I said, “Can you believe how big this has gotten?” I think I brought it up. He said, “I know. Now it’s become like this UK versus America thing.”

But I just assured him that the perception is it’s all in fun, and any time we can be on top of John Barrowman, it’s good.

AE: [laughing- Great. You just ruined the interview because if I include the line “Neil and I were standing in the gym in our underwear,” that’s all the comments are going to be about.
CJ: Well, listen. You gotta give the kids something to write home about.