The man who had sex with Bradley Cooper (in a movie!) says “it’s fine” if he plays gay composer Leonard Bernstein
Maestro, dropped earlier this week, and already the film’s courting as much controversy as it is Oscars buzz—because it wouldn’t be an awards season contender without a little drama, now would it?Following up his hugely successful A Star Is Born remake with Lady Gaga, Cooper once again co-writes, directs, and stars in this biopic about acclaimed conductor and composer Leonard Bernstein—best known for writing the music for West Side Story—and his complicated relationship with his wife, Felicia Montealegre (Carey Mulligan).Despite their marriage, many now know Bernstein to be bisexual—or, more broadly, queer—as he engaged in a number of affairs with women and men over the years.
He was also Jewish. Bradley Cooper is not known to be either of those things.On the former front, the debate over “gay-for-pay” acting roles rages on.
But as we continue to see a (gradual) increase in LGBTQ+ representation on screen and a (gradually) widening acceptance of out actors in the industry—not to mention, our deeper modern understanding of queerness—folks have become a little less precious about who can play who, at least when it comes to sexuality.Of course, there’s also the belief that a straight actor taking on a gay role—specifically for a “serious” drama—is shameless Oscar bait, which has been skewered endlessly over the years, as recently as Bros‘ parody of Brokeback Mountain.
Biopics are also discussed as inherent Oscar bait, so it’s not hard to view Maestro as Cooper’s eager ploy to add some little gold men to his trophy room.
