Film

14 Straight Actors in Steamy Queer Roles

King Cobra

These straight actors are not shy about partaking in some same-gender lovemaking.

Although I wish more LGBTQ characters in Hollywood films were played by out actors, when straight actors land queer roles, it helps when they fully commit to their same-gender love scenes. We rounded up our 13 favorite steamy, queer characters portrayed by straight actors.

14 Straight Actors Who Are Gay for Pay

1. Alexander Skarsgård in True Blood (2008 – 2014)
An intense makeout session between stars Ryan Kwanten and Alexander Skarsgård is what all the fans of the HBO original series True Blood were thirsty for.
Watch True Blood

2. Ryan Kwanten in True Blood (2008 – 2014)
Ryan Kwanten played Jason Stackhouse on HBO’s True Blood, and he was a heartthrob for basically everyone who watched the show. Kwanten had several steamy scenes with actors like Alexander Skarsgård and Robert Kazinsky.
Watch True Blood

Brokeback Mountain

3. Jake Gyllenhaal
Jake Gyllenhaal plays the character Jack Twist in the well-known movie Brokeback Mountain. His character was romantic at heart but confused by his preferences for same-gender affection despite his desire to be a rough-and-tumble cowboy.
Watch Brokeback Mountain

4. Daniel Radcliffe in Kill Your Darlings (2013)
Harry Potter himself shows off his round rump and fuzzy, otter bod while taking it for Dane DeHaan.
Watch Kill Your Darlings

Heath Ledger

5. Heath Ledger in Brokeback Mountain (2005)
Although better known for his iconic role as the villainous Joker, Heath Ledger tops Jake Gyllenhaal in Brokeback Mountain. His character also struggled with the contrast between his identity as a cowboy and a total top.
Watch Brokeback Mountain

James Franco in 'King Cobra'

6. James Franco in King Cobra (2016)
James Franco has played multiple queer roles and faced many controversies for doing so. He played the lover of Harvey Milk, Scott Smith, an adult film producer/performer named Joe in King Cobra, and Allen Ginsberg in his biography called Howl.
Watch King Cobra

Joseph Gordon Levitt

7. Joseph Gordon-Levitt in Mysterious Skin (2004)
We loved Joseph Gordon-Levitt’s performance in this movie. The story is alternately alluring and disturbing, but you do see his peen at one point.
Watch Mysterious Skin

Ewan McGregor

8. Ewan McGregor in Velvet Goldmine (1998)
A goldmine of epic nakedness, Velvet Goldmine features the perfect booties of Ewan McGregor and Jonathan Rhys-Meyers. Of course, this is in addition to McGregor’s on-stage striptease, where he shows off his peen and a wink of his hole.
Watch Velvet Goldmine

Jonathan Rhys-Meyers in Velvet Goldmine

9. Jonathan Rhys-Meyers in Velvet Goldmine (1998)
Jonathan Rhys-Meyers played the ’70s glam rock star Brian Slade in Velvet Goldmine. He showed a lot of skin and had no problem rolling around with the lovely Ewan McGregor.
Watch Velvet Goldmine

Jude Law in 'Wilde'

10. Jude Law in Wilde (1997)
A young Jude Law shows off his amazing body in two same-gender love scenes (including one with a completely bare Benedict Sandiford) in this flick about the eponymous famed playwright.
Watch Wilde

11. Benedict Sandiford in Wilde (1997)
Did you read the caption above? He bared it all for his role in Wilde and shared some extremely streamy moments with Jude Law.
Watch Wilde

Colin Firth in 'A Single Man'

12. Colin Firth in A Single Man (2009)
Daddy! Colin Firth’s character in A Single Man is lusting after the much-younger Nicholas Hoult. In one scene, we see both men go skinny-dipping.
Watch A Single Man

Nicholas Hoult in 'A Single Man'

13. Nicholas Hoult in A Single Man (2009)
Nicholas Hoult plays a student named Kenny Potter, who shows interest in a middle-aged English college professor named George (Colin Firth). His characters disregard conventional boundaries of student-professor discussion, and things heat up pretty quickly.
Watch A Single Man

Matt Damon Shirtless
14. Matt Damon in Behind the Candelabra: My Life With Liberace (2013)
Matt Damon plays Scott Thorson, world-famous pianist Liberace’s (Michael Douglas) much-younger lover. “For years, I’d said no to nudity, but I just did a lot of it playing the long-term partner of Liberace,” said Damon. “I had to come out of the pool, go over to Michael Douglas, straddle him on a chaise lounge and start kissing him. It’s not like I kiss him just once. We drew it up like a football plan.” In the end, according to Damon, “Michael was a wonderful kisser.”

Related | 12 Best Male Nude Scenes of 2021

14 Straight Actors in Steamy Queer Roles
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