Firth: 'Industry restrains gay stars'

Colin Firth has suggested that the mainstream movie industry still restrains its openly gay stars.

The actor plays gay college professor George Falconer in the Tom Ford-directed adaptation of Christopher Isherwood novel A Single Man.

Firth told Parade: "If you're a straight actor who takes on the role of a gay man, it's obviously not the same as being one in this business. I think there are still some constraints against being openly gay.

"It is to do with whatever sexual taboos are in place. In Hollywood, I know that some actors are far more circumspect about keeping that secret hidden. There are not a lot of openly gay leading men."

He added of his recent role: "There's sex running all the way through the movie, even though we don't need to see anybody doing it.

"I think the fact that the man I play is comfortably open about the fact that he is gay is definitely significant. But I think it just reinforces the power of the story, which is about a love between men that has a very accessible, universal quality."

Openly gay star Rupert Everett recently claimed that young homosexual actors should not come out because it will harm their careers.