Advocate: When did you first realize you had gay fans?
Milo Ventimiglia: It was way before Heroes or Gilmore Girls. I was about 19 or 20 years old. I'd done a short film when I was 18 called Must Be the Music, where I played a gay teenager. I was shopping with my mom and dad one weekend, and these two gay guys came up and said they'd seen the film at a film festival and they just thought I was great. That was actually the very first time I'd ever been recognized for anything. I'm glad that it was my first meeting with a fan, because it wasn't the standard 14-year-old girl chasing me down; it was men who were fans of the work. That was cool. 

A: Did you get any teasing from friends for playing gay?
MV: No, I never did. At the end of the day, I'm playing a part, and there are many parts to play. I would hope that if I'm playing a killer no one would frown upon or tease me for that. 

A: How did you prepare for the role?
MV: I didn't do much preparation; I got the part and dove right in the next week, and we filmed in a club called Arena in Hollywood. I'd always had friends who were gay, straight -- just a huge mix of friends—so I understood the story of what this kid was going through. It was less about him being gay and more about him meeting someone he's interested in. 

A: After Gilmore Girls made you a heartthrob, you played gay again in the 2005 horror film Cursed. Any hesitations about taking that role?
MV: No, I'm just into good characters. I just read a script for a cross-country travel movie about an interesting duo—a man on his way to being transgendered has a friendship with this woman who's escaping a marriage. I had this meeting to play the man who becomes transgendered. It's such an interesting role -- the psychology behind a person who feels trapped in a body they don't think they should've been born into. The producer said to me, "It's very brave of you to consider something like this." And I said, "Why? It's a great role." I tend to lean toward a good role despite any stigma that's possibly attached to it. I mean, fuck, it's 2008. The fact that people are still worried about stuff like that just baffles me. 

A: You recently visited our troops overseas on a USO tour. What's your take on "don't ask, don't tell"?
MV: When it comes down to it, gay or straight, you're holding a weapon and fighting for our country, so sexuality seems irrelevant. It bothers me that in this day and age people are still looked at differently for having a sexual orientation that isn't in agreement with an old institution such as the military. That being said, I can understand why a gay person in the military would just not want to say anything about it, because it would probably attract unnecessary attention. At the same time, it makes me sad to think that people can't live their life openly, thinking that they won't be accepted.

Last update: 01-29-2009 17:41

Posted by WB, on 08-29-2008 23:06, 1. We love you Milo!   » Report this comment to administrator Posted by TheNiebur, on 08-31-2008 21:30, 2. Oh yes... We really REALLY do!   » Report this comment to administrator Posted by Peppino, on 09-01-2008 05:44, 3. I agree You're an awsome guy Milo...and a damn good actor too   » Report this comment to administrator Posted by lan ye, on 11-19-2008 04:46, 4. LOVE LOVE YOU,you are the best and I want to say is thank you.I very like you.   » Report this comment to administrator