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Chris calls kissing another man on Oz "no bother" (Apr 22 2000). He also has said, "I don't even know if I have played a gay character yet. In Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, I played an effeminate desk clerk - I never internally defined him as gay. Keller, I have never defined as gay. What define a character are the internal mechanisms at play - that, to me, is interesting. What helps beyond all measure is if I have good words to work with" (Sept 16 2000). In that vein, Chris says he would play gay in a movie "if it was a good script" (Feb 16 2003) and has the attitude "Whatever, let it roll" when it comes to how far he would go in a love scene in such a movie (Sept 29 2003). When asked why he finds "touching/kissing men (as part of your act, of course) cool," Chris replied, "I'm surprised. I usually don't use the word 'cool' to express myself but...I love to go where I would not otherwise go. Touching or kissing is a small part - how about being blind (God forbid)? Being a character who is a genius? Who is spiritually enlightened? How about playing Christ? Characters placed in extraordinary circumstances" (Dec 7 2000). Christopher says that he had no concerns about being typecast after playing gay on Oz: "I don't believe in curses. I just took the part, rubbed my rabbit's foot and crossed my fingers" (Oct 9 2002). When asked how it felt "to tread waters where a lot of actor would never go," Chris says he felt "alone…so very alone…with no lifeguard on duty" (Feb 13 2003). When asked how he feels about other actors who refuse to play gay for fear of being viewed as gay themselves, Chris said, "Why actors would want to limit how they express themselves in any way…I don't get it. But different people have different 'rules' they feel comfortable living by" (May 3 2005). Chris says that his scenes doing stand-up comedy in The Souler Opposite were harder than doing intimate scenes with Lee Tergesen on Oz (June 14 2000). If Lee had been "a complete asshole," doing such intimate scenes with him would have been "tougher" for Chris, but he says, "Ya gotta do what ya gotta do with whomever they throw in yer path" (Apr 24 2000). The fact that they were friends "was not a factor either way" in making the kissing scenes easier or harder to do (Apr 6 2001), although his "kissing Beecher" scenes were among Chris's favourites (Mar 26 2000). His and Lee's lip-lock at the 11th Annual Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation Media Awards was them "playing with the paparazzi" (Apr 17 2000). A fan commented that the media are often criticized for "portraying homosexuals as deviants" and wondered whether television is ready to see chemistry in same-sex relationships (as was demonstrated between Keller and Beecher on Oz) on other shows, such as Will & Grace. Chris replied, "Well...first, I didn't know the media were criticized for that. Will & Grace is a comedy; I don't think people tune in primarily for the sex (think Seinfeld characters and sex...not very appealing is it?) or things 'compelling.' Television IS ready! Now can it make money for anyone? THAT IS the question" (Jan 4 2001). Finally, Chris's thoughts on being a gay idol: "It's sorta cool" (Nov 15 2004). Random fact: It was not a young Meloni playing the part of Harry Hamlin's one-night stand in Making Love (June 9 2000). Last updated: March 04/06 | |