The actor, who stars in the new AIDS-era drama It’s a Sin, was questioned on the topic after Russell T Davies – writer and creator of the series – opined that casting queer performers in queer roles adds authenticity.
In an interview with The Times, Harris said: “I’m not being woke about this… but I feel strongly that if I cast someone in a story, I am casting them to act as a lover, or an enemy, or someone on drugs or a criminal or a saint. “They are not there to ‘act gay’ because ‘acting gay’ is a bunch of codes for a performance.
You wouldn’t cast someone able-bodied and put them in a wheelchair, you wouldn’t Black someone up. Authenticity is leading us to joyous places. “I’m not one to jump onto labelling.