Chris Colfer says he was “absolutely terrified” to play Kurt Hummel on Glee
Chris Colfer revealed that he was initially terrified to portray an openly gay character on the hit series Glee. Back in 2009, the 32-year-old author wowed viewers with his portrayal of Kurt Hummel on the beloved teen-comedy.
Due to his performance, the young talent won multiple accolades, including a Screen Actors Guild Award, People’s Choice Award and a Golden Globe Award.
However before the series became a pop culture hit, Colfer revealed that he was terrified to take on the role – which was specifically written for him – out of fear of retaliation from his hometown of Clovis, California. “So, my hometown has come very far in the last couple decades, but when I was growing up there, it was dangerous to be out,” he revealed on Kevin McHale and Jenna Ushkowitz’s podcast, And That’s What You REALLY Missed. “Kids would get beat up.
On one occasion, someone got stabbed on their way to school. So being out and proud was just not an option. So when I found out they had written this character for me, I was thrilled.
