‘Will & Grace’ Star Eric McCormack Backs Straight Actors Playing Gay Roles

“Will & Grace” star Eric McCormack is stepping as much as defend straight actors who play homosexual characters on display screen — stating that taking up roles completely different from oneself is the entire level of being an actor.

The actor, who’s straight IRL and likewise famously portrayed homosexual protagonist Will within the hit NBC sitcom, advised ITV’s “Good Morning Britain” … it is all about casting one of the best particular person for the position, no matter their private id.

Eric’s drawing on his personal expertise within the business, saying he did not turn out to be an actor simply to play variations of himself — slightly, he is all the time embraced roles the place he is portraying somebody completely completely different from who he’s.

He says, “It’s part of the gig. And, I’ve always said, if gay actors weren’t allowed to play straight actors, Broadway would be over.”

Though Eric’s roles won’t immediately mirror his personal life, that does not imply he skimps on the analysis. When it got here to portraying Will, he introduced his A-game by drawing on his theater background and the truth that lots of his closest pals have been homosexual … channeling their spirit into the position.

Labored out fairly rattling properly … “Will & Grace” — costarring Debra Messing, Sean Hayes and Megan Mullally — ran for 8 seasons from 1998 to 2006, and added 3 reunion seasons from 2017 to 2020.