Dan MacMedan/WireImage
Kate Winslet opened up about "well known" celebrities who are hiding their LGBT+ status due to "homophobia" in Hollywood.
In a recent interview, the "Titanic" actress spoke about "stigma" in Hollywood that terrifies celebrities.
Winslet, 45, said well-known stars are afraid to come out of the closet because they will lose out on straight roles.
"I cannot tell you the number of young actors I know — some well known, some starting out — who are terrified their sexuality will be revealed and that it will stand in the way of their being cast in straight roles," she said. "Now that's f***ed up."
"I'm telling you," she continued. "A well-known actor has just got an American agent and the agent said, 'I understand you are bisexual. I wouldn't publicist that.' I can think of at least four actors absolutely hiding their sexuality. It's painful. Because they fear being found out. And that's what they say. 'I don't want to be found out.'"
Winslet said the stigma applies more to males than females.
"It's bad news. Hollywood has to drop that dated crap of, 'Can he play straight because, apparently, he's gay?'"
"That should be almost illegal," she said. "You would not believe how widespread it is. And it can't just be distilled to the question about gay actors playing gay parts. Because actors, in some cases, are choosing not to come out for personal reasons. And it's nobody's business. Perhaps privacy. Perhaps conditioning and shame."
The LGBT+ community is particularly sensitive to straight actors playing LGBT+ roles.
"We could have had a conversation about how I feel about playing a lesbian and possibly taking that role from somebody," Winslet said. "But I'm done with not being honest about what my real opinions are, and I know the part was never offered to anybody else. In taking this part I had an opportunity to bring an LGBTQ story into living rooms."
