No, not so much that but when a TV series takes off, as "Looking" very well might, it can become so culturally powerful. Do you feel pressure to be some sort of figurehead at this point?
Not really. I feel like getting "Normal Heart" and getting "Looking"... It was the projects that excited me. The fact that both obviously are gay projects is an added bonus. Obviously being out, being gay, it means even more to me that I'm getting to work on projects like that.
Whether or not things are well received, I put my head down and do the work. That's been the way. My first Broadway show was called "In My Life" and it was a complete disaster and it was ripped apart in the reviews. And I saw how our company had to pull together and shut out the outside world to do the work. In "Spring Awakening" it was the opposite of that: greatest reviews, Tony Awards. And I saw, as well, that you had to shut out the outside view of what you were doing so you could do the best work. That was a really important lesson I learned early on. I'm aware of the importance that these are gay projects and of the fact that I'm out but when it comes to actually doing the work, I focus on the doing of the job, putting one foot in front of the other.
What's next for you?
I don't know. The show airs January 19th. After it airs, we'll find out if it keeps going.
SOURCE:
Towleroad
