“Looking” star Murray Bartlett in gay actors playing gay roles: “We have an upper hand in some areas”

Hunky Murray Bartlett, who plays Dom on HBO’s Looking, says being gay makes it easier to portray a gay man on screen.

‘I think definitely, when you’re playing a role, your own personal experience that’s similar to a character’s can really help,’ he tells MetroSource Magazine.

While he and co-stars Jonathan Groff and Russell Tovey are openly gay, several other cast members on the show about a group of gay friends in modern day San Francisco are not.

Says Bartlett: ‘Some of the straight actors do ask specifics about, “What happens in this situation?” or “Where does that go?” So we have an upper hand in some areas.

‘But I feel like the straight actors we have on this show are incredible in their ability to – regardless of gender and sexuality – really connect to the intimacy 0f moments they’re in.’

Among them is Scott Bakula who plays Bartlett’s boyfriend on the show.

‘I feel like Scott Bakula is a magic that happens on camera,’ Bartlett says. ‘He is incredibly open as an actor and came in to this role and this show with a lot of affection and generosity. … We have a really lovely rapport, and hopefully that reads.’