The AfterElton Interview: John Barrowman on Dr. Jack and “Torchwood” and on fame

AfterElton.com editor Michael Jensen has posted his terrific interview with the out actor John Barrowman who returns in the role of Capt. Jack Harkness in the five-part Torchwood miniseries that begins airing next Monday night on BBC America.

Here’s a taste of the interview. You can read the rest on AfterElton.com.

AE: Torchwood remains almost alone of all the science fiction programs and movies, including Star Trek and Star Wars, to include any significant gay content. As a gay man who pays attention to gay issues and is an advocate and is aware of these things, how much does it mean for you to be a part of Torchwood and being a part of the only show that has this great representation?
JB: I am extremely proud to be a part of Torchwood for all those aspects you just mentioned, because, to be totally honest with you, I never went into the business to become an advocate or what I call a militant gay, if that makes sense, and I mean that in a funny way.

As things changed and developed, I realized how important it is to speak up and say things and fly the flag so to speak. When I was growing up, I only had Billy Crystal to look up to on television, and he wasn’t like me, so I couldn’t look up to him. The fact that there are so many other great role models out there now, gay men and women, that’s why I have to fly the flag. If I can help a teenager growing up in Boise, Idaho who knows he’s gay, and can look at me and say, “If he can do it, then so can I,” then damn it, I’m going to do it.

It is important to have characters like Jack, like Ianto, to show the normality of their relationship on television, to show even people who are not gay that this is the way it is. Love is love no matter who you love.

AE: I love how appreciative you are of what the show has done for you. Sometimes you hear people who are successful in something and they almost seem to resent it.
JB: I’ll be honest with you, I don’t get that. When I got into this business, in the back of my head — I’ll be honest with you — I got into it because it was what I wanted to do, but in the back of my head there was always that element of “I could become famous.” Fame came after many years of work, and I would have been content doing West End musicals, but this fame thing came along and I absolutely love it. I think it’s brilliant.

I don’t understand other people. You can’t tell me that this wasn’t in the back of your head that this might happen. It does happen. Why do you resent it? It’s changed your life. It’s given you everything you could possibly imagine. Why do you resent it?

Some people who are cynical try to make me sound like I’m gushy and over-the-top, and if that does sound that way, then that’s just who I am. I’m appreciative of it. I have a nice house with a lovely view, I have a couple of nice cars, and that’s all because of this fame thing that’s happened, because of the people who watch the program, and put me there. That’s why I like my fans. That’s why I like to talk to people.