After his breakout performance in Bridesmaids, Irish actor Chris O’Dowd hopes to engage more gay fans this spring with his Broadway debut as oafish simpleton Lennie in Of Mice and Men, John Steinbeck’s 1937 play about Depression-era migrant workers — even if they’re mostly there to see James Franco.
For its most recent issue The Advocate spoke with O’Dowd in the “The A-List” interview:
On seeing a spike in interest from gay fans after Bridesmaids:
“From time to time, when I’m feeling my lowest, you guys pipe up and make my day on Twitter. Maybe it was the uniform — and hey, I’m turned on by the Irish accent myself. Regardless, thanks for coming along for the ride.”
On James Franco, his costar in Broadway’s new revival of Of Mice and Men:
“I have heard that he’s particularly enjoyed in the gay community, which I can understand for loads of reasons. He’s a lovely actor and my God, he’s a good-looking person. His cheekbones are heartbreakers.”
On his Of Mice and Men costar Leighton Meester’s TV show Gossip Girl:
“To my discredit, I haven’t seen much of it. I don’t know if I can watch a show where everyone is as beautiful as that. It makes me feel very insecure.”
On why he’s drawn to misfit characters:
“Yeah, I’m drawn to the outliers of society. I’ve always felt a bit like that myself, like many people who do arts and comedy. I grew up with three older sisters who would beat me up. When you’re a boy around a bunch of incredibly strong, independent women, you’re basically made to feel like having a penis is wrong.”
On Irish gay celebrities:
“Oh, we’ve got a few. Like the guy from Dracula, Jonathan Rhys Meyers? He’s gay, isn’t he?”
never paid any attention to this actor and my FIRST impression of him from his ignorant irresponsible crack about jonathan rhys meyers is that he’s…an idiot. And so are you for…failing…to post the advocate’s reply to his inaccurate remark @ JRM which was…”ask his girlfriend” The advocate did a…luscious…cover story on jonny rhys meyers some years ago and their sassy interview with him made it entirely clear that, as much as the advocate…wishes…jonny was gay…that, alas! He’s a particularly pretty…straight boy.
come to think…that luscious (candid!) cover story with the to die for pics was actually NOT in the advocate. It was in another magazine…one that capably captured jonny’s…attitude.