Lucas Hedges wants to be this year’s Timothee Chalamet. The thing is, Hedges was breaking through at the same time as Chalamet, and I think Chalamet got most of the attention. Hedges has already been in Manchester by the Sea (lord I hated that movie), Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri (hated it) and Lady Bird (loved it), and he’s got a slew of new films coming out this fall: Boy Erased (about gay conversion therapy), Ben Is Back (where he plays a drug addict recently out of rehab) and Mid90s (about skater boys). Lucas has already played several gay characters now, so obviously people are starting to wonder about the 21-year-old’s sexuality, and whether he’s a straight actor swooping up all of these gay roles, or something else. Lucas addressed the questions in New York Magazine and GQ:
In an interview with New York magazine, Lucas addressed the issue: “I recognize myself as existing on that spectrum: Not totally straight, but also not gay and not necessarily bisexual,” he said.
Lucas says now to GQ, “It feels like a relief for me to put words to something that is complex and feels like it honors my own experience.” And in the aftermath, numerous people have reached out to him expressing similar feelings. In a world that wants to put people into discrete boxes—gay, straight, trans, even bisexual or non-binary—there are more for whom those labels still don’t fit. “The concept of sexuality existing on a spectrum was introduced to me in sixth grade. That’s a beautiful, beautiful thing. I can only imagine what the sixth-graders now are being exposed to.”
The entire GQ profile is worth a read, but I wanted to highlight this part because it is legitimately unusual for an up-and-coming young actor to talk about his sexuality in such elusive terms. At 21, he probably doesn’t know what he is, but is it wrong to think that a decade from now, he will have firmed up his sexual identity? What I’m getting from his answer is that he’s not very sexually experienced AND he doesn’t want to be typecast as “the young gay actor playing gay roles.” He should absolutely be free to explore and figure it out, and of course he doesn’t have to say anything right now, or come out and claim that he’s totally figured out his sexual identity or whatever.
Photos courtesy of GQ’s Instagram, WENN.
While Manchester and Missouri were not great, his performances were.
This dude has skills.
I wasn’t a fan until I saw him in “Mid90s”— omggggg such a good movie. His performance and the hair/wardrobe they gave him is really great.
He’s also in “Moonrise Kingdom” — boy has had a great career for someone so low key.
He is the son of mega agent Peter Hedges. Not to knock this guy’s talent, but he Dad is well connected.
aha i should’ve known. that makes sense.
His dad isn’t an agent, he’s a writer and director. Peter Hedges directed “Ben is Back” and cast his son in his film.
He wrote What’s Eating Gilbert Grape, About a Boy, etc.
Okay then. He is still well connected. Not that there is anything wrong with that ;).
And Grand Budapest Hotel.
Oh, he was that cute friend in Lady Bird? Good work.
This young man is a VERY talented actor. Really look forward to seeing more of him.
Regarding his sexuality: good for him for being comfortable discussing it. It has to be even harder to share this when your sexuality is in the “other” category, because people always wanna categorize others.
Hmm. To me, he’s not really saying anything. I get “straight, avoiding question” vibes from his non answer.
I don’t think in 10 years he will necessarily have all his sexuality in a box. And that’s ok. I think you can be any age exploring what you are.
Agreed!
He is such a talented young man!!
I think it really undercuts the beauty and honesty of his statement to insinuate that it means that he “probably doesn’t know what he is” and that later he “will have firmed up his sexual identity.” I don’t get the impression that he needs to “figure it out.”
He was clear about his sexual identity. The whole point is that you don’t have to fit any of the existing labels. You can exist anywhere on the spectrum of sexual orientation. He’s declared that for himself, and he’s helping create normalcy for others who haven’t been able to find the words.
As a bisexual woman, who feels that label fits me, I respect that he knows who and what he is, doesn’t need a label and has used his words to make that clear.
👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽
My emoji game is not good, but I clap too. He’s said there’s no box and that’s okay. I think as our culture develops, there will be fewer and fewer boxes. (Hence the backlash.) What a relief this will be so many millions of people.
100% Agree. I have two teenagers and I’ve seen a huge shift in the way kids their age are identifying, or rather, NOT identifying themselves.
Whereas a previous generation or generations might have accepted feelings toward the same sex as fleeting thoughts inside a “straight” confine, this generation is definitely much more oriented toward openness to all genders/identifications/sexualities. Basing their attractions much more on the person than those confines.
It’s been absolutely fascinating to watch. I know of quite a few people who “define” themselves just the way Lucas has – not *exactly* straight, not gay… not really bi… just something kind of nebulous based on the person.
I totally agree, well said.
He’s very talented, I hope he gets the attention he deserves.
Lucas was nominated for best supporting actor two years ago for his great work in Manchester by the Sea. He’s incredibly talented and I’m looking forward to seeing both of his upcoming films, even though it means sitting through Julia Roberts.
A friend in NY has done legal work for him and said he’s a friendly, funny, sweet kid.
Aw. I love that. He does seem like a nice boy from the (very few I’ll admit) interviews I’ve seen him in.
Also think that while, yes, college-aged young adults in their late teens/early twenty often are figuring themselves out sexually, there are people who simply don’t feel that labels fit them even after they are all grown-up. He might feel differently in ten years but he might just be one of those people who remains happiest “not checking any specific box.”
I completely agree with this. I have stopped worrying about labels at this point because I am 32 and monogamously married (to another woman) with 2 kids, but my biggest struggle with coming out was figuring out what to call myself. I remember many angsty late night conversations where I bemoaned the frustration of not knowing – insisting that I didn’t care if I was bisexual or a lesbian or just a straight girl with a girl crush or three, but I just wished someone could tell me what I was. I’m still not sure what box I check – I would probably just say queer but I have been known to use other terms depending on company or context. But I love that kids are less concerned about it now. I feel like I could have avoided a lot of angst if I’d had that kind of attitude in my younger days.
Surprised everyone is cheering up for him… he’s actually pretty stiff in his acting and he’s a product of nepotism.
This is shallow, but I don’t think he’s good-looking either. I’m thinking back to Leonardo Dicpaprio and I vaguely remember mature adults making fun of his boyish looks, but when young he still had features I would consider magnetic in pictures and onscreen.
Timothy Chalamet has that “It” factor people talk about, but I actually think he looks even more child-like than Leo did. Though to be fair, maybe perceptions of men’s looks have changed over the course of 2 decades. Perhaps that extremely boyish look is considered handsome nowadays.
I don’t think he’s looks matter as long as he is a good actor and IMO he is better than Leo by a mile.
However the fact that he’s not traditionally looking is probably why there weren’t a million blind items on him AND that he can come out without it hurting his career. Every good looking guy has gossip that he is gay but in reality the gossips usually are suprised by those who are gay. They usually don’t see it coming.
Since he’s a guy, I don’t think his looks matter either. Guys can get away with not being traditionally good-looking like women have to in order to succeed as an actor (which I don’t think is fair, but it is what it is, I guess).
But I feel like there isn’t really anybody that stands out nowadays the way Tom Cruise or Brad Pitt or Leonardo DiCaprio did when they shot through. I don’t know if people predicted they’d have long careers, but it seems there used to be some kind of “Whoa, who is that?” around certain stars at the start of their careers. Maybe Heath Ledger had that at the start of his career even when he was in bad movies? Leo, for instance, might be considered a weaker actor (though I think he did some good work when he was younger — i.e What’s Eating Gilbert Grape?), but there’s no one you look at nowadays and go “I’d definitely go to a theatre for him.” Not sure if that’s because there’s so much choice available on Netflix though.
Timothée Chalamet may be prettier and have the it factor but Lucas Hedges has enough character and balls to be himself and not beard unlike le frenchie. Chapeau to him!
I think he is definitely one to watch. His acting skills are fantastic and I think he’s going to have a long career ahead of him. I’ve liked everything I have seen him in.
I don’t think he really committed to an answer. It just sounds like he doesn’t want to alienate anybody or have anybody dispute what sexual orientation he knows he might be and also wants to keep his acting options open.
I have no idea how anybody would even know if he’s sexually inexperienced or not.
He HAS figured out his sexual identity. He just told us what it is. What is it you think he needs to figure out? Exactly HOW straight or gay or Bi he is? And how would you like that measured and assessed?
+1000