--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Will isn't a screaming queen - that's…" description: "\"Will isn't a screaming queen - that's Jack's part. They needed someone to play the part for America. It's just not the same as Britain. To have a gay c..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fa2/eric-mccormack-2915_america_will-isn-t-a-screaming-queen-that-s-jack_2153198.jpg" --- # Will isn't a screaming queen - that's Jack's part. They… ![“Will isn't a screaming queen - that's Jack's part. They needed someone to play the part for America. It's just not the same as Britain. To have a gay character as a lead is risky.” quote by Eric McCormack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fa2/eric-mccormack-2915_america_will-isn-t-a-screaming-queen-that-s-jack_2153198.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fa2/eric-mccormack-2915_america_will-isn-t-a-screaming-queen-that-s-jack_2153198.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fa2/eric-mccormack-2915_america_will-isn-t-a-screaming-queen-that-s-jack_2153198.jpg) > “Will isn't a screaming queen - that's Jack's part. They needed someone to play the part for America. It's just not the same as Britain. To have a gay character as a lead is risky.” [Eric McCormack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-mccormack/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Casting a gay lead in America is risky due to cultural differences and expectations. **In simple terms:** Gay leads face unique challenges in US media. Key Takeaway Support diverse representation despite risks. Themes representation media culture risk LGBTQ Mood critical analytical Type cultural media studies When to use this quote - TV casting - film productions - marketing campaigns - public debates Key Concepts visibility stereotypes audience reception Questions to Reflect On - What responsibilities do creators have in representation? - How can risk be mitigated in casting? A Different Perspective Audience acceptance varies across regions. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [America](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/america/) [Britain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/britain/) [Britain Gay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/britain-gay-4536081/) [Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) [Gay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gay/) [Gay Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gay-character-250119/) [Jack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/jack/) [Jack Needed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/jack-needed-4536079/) [Just](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/just/) [Lead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lead/) [Leadership](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leadership/) [Needed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/needed/) [Part](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/part/) [Play](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/play/) [Queen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/queen/) [Queen Jack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/queen-jack-4536080/) [Risky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/risky/) [Same](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/same/) [Screaming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/screaming/) [Someone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/someone/) [Will](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/will/) ## Related quotes > [“No you don't," he said. "The corpses can wait." I wasn't sure if he was referring to me or the screen. I would've asked…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brodi-ashton/no-you-don-t-he-said-the-corpses-can-wait-i-wasn-t-sure-if-he-was/) [Brodi Ashton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brodi-ashton/) > [When you see me play Jack, I want you to believe that that's a gay character.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-hayes/when-you-see-me-play-jack-i-want-you-to-believe-that-that-s-a-gay/) [Sean Hayes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-hayes/) > [The question people ask me all the time is, 'How was it playing a gay character? How was it pretending to love a man?'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trevante-rhodes/the-question-people-ask-me-all-the-time-is-how-was-it-playing-a-gay/) [Trevante Rhodes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trevante-rhodes/) > [If someone doesn't want to work with me because I'm playing a gay character, I don't want to work with them. They can fck…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gale-harold/if-someone-doesn-t-want-to-work-with-me-because-i-m-playing-a-gay/) [Gale Harold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gale-harold/) > [I think the least stereotypical gay character on television is probably Matt LeBlanc on 'Episodes.' He just plays it so straight-faced. They never talk…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-pally/i-think-the-least-stereotypical-gay-character-on-television-is/) [Adam Pally](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-pally/) > [I've never been turned down for a role because I'm gay. I'm a character actor, and that's probably why. I don't find Hollywood, in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-lynch/i-ve-never-been-turned-down-for-a-role-because-i-m-gay-i-m-a/) [Jane Lynch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-lynch/) > [When I was growing up, we didn't have 'Will & Grace.' The one gay character was Monroe from 'Too Close For Comfort' - and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guillermo-diaz/when-i-was-growing-up-we-didn-t-have-will-grace-the-one-gay-character/) [Guillermo Diaz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guillermo-diaz/) > [I kind of cheer the presence of any gay characters at all - I think the more we can saturate television with any gay…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-tyler-ferguson/i-kind-of-cheer-the-presence-of-any-gay-characters-at-all-i-think-the/) [Jesse Tyler Ferguson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-tyler-ferguson/) > [There are sometimes concerns about being respectful with a gay character, and you either end up with a tiptoeing quality or an all-out cliche.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/casey-wilson/there-are-sometimes-concerns-about-being-respectful-with-a-gay/) [Casey Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/casey-wilson/) > [I light up when I see a gay character or a queer character.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/megan-stalter/i-light-up-when-i-see-a-gay-character-or-a-queer-character/) [Megan Stalter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/megan-stalter/) > [In 'The Humans,' there's a gay character, and the fact that she's gay is probably the least interesting thing about her.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-mantello/in-the-humans-there-s-a-gay-character-and-the-fact-that-she-s-gay-is/) [Joe Mantello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-mantello/) > [It's definitely my responsibility not to stereotype any character, but especially a gay character because of the misperceptions people still have about gays.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haaz-sleiman/it-s-definitely-my-responsibility-not-to-stereotype-any-character-but/) [Haaz Sleiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haaz-sleiman/) > [I don’t feel like a gay icon. I don’t feel like an icon at all. Every single interview was always, ‘What’s it like to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shay-mitchell/i-don-t-feel-like-a-gay-icon-i-don-t-feel-like-an-icon-at-all-every/) [Shay Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shay-mitchell/) > [I've heard people tell me there's never been a gay character like Agron on TV before, and some fans have even thanked me because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-feuerriegel/i-ve-heard-people-tell-me-there-s-never-been-a-gay-character-like/) [Dan Feuerriegel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-feuerriegel/) > [I tend to get reactions just by being on screen, because I guess I'm physically queer-coded or something. Especially with 'Star Wars;' I get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katy-o-brian/i-tend-to-get-reactions-just-by-being-on-screen-because-i-guess-i-m/) [Katy O'Brian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katy-o-brian/) ## More by Eric McCormack > [I got Michael Caine's book, Acting In Film, and I read it on the plane, desperately trying to glean information from him about how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-mccormack/i-got-michael-caine-s-book-acting-in-film-and-i-read-it-on-the-plane/) [Eric McCormack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-mccormack/) > [ \[Townies\] was a great springboard, obviously, because Jenna \[Elfman\] went from that to Dharma & Greg, and a few years later, Lauren \[Graham\] went… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-mccormack/townies-was-a-great-springboard-obviously-because-jenna-elfman-went/) [Eric McCormack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-mccormack/) > [The Trevor Project provides crisis-intervention and suicide-prevention services to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and questioning teens and young adults. It's truly a lifeline to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-mccormack/the-trevor-project-provides-crisis-intervention-and-suicide/) [Eric McCormack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-mccormack/) > [We didn't, with 'Will & Grace,' set out to change the gay world. We just set out to be funny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-mccormack/we-didn-t-with-will-grace-set-out-to-change-the-gay-world-we-just-set/) [Eric McCormack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-mccormack/) > [ I think because the show \["Grant MacLaren"\] is essentially a hopeful show. The show says that as bleak as the future is, the one… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-mccormack/i-think-because-the-show-grant-maclaren-is-essentially-a-hopeful-show/) [Eric McCormack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-mccormack/) > [ \[Townies\] was a huge cast. It was a bit ungainly, I think with 12 regular characters they had to keep writing for. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-mccormack/townies-was-a-huge-cast-it-was-a-bit-ungainly-i-think-with-12-regular/) [Eric McCormack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-mccormack/) > [It's very strange - several years ago, I was in the running for the 'Young Frankenstein' musical. Kristin Chenoweth was going to do it,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-mccormack/it-s-very-strange-several-years-ago-i-was-in-the-running-for-the/) [Eric McCormack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-mccormack/) > [But I was ready for it and I knew I could do it. I've just turned 40, I have a son and I feel…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-mccormack/but-i-was-ready-for-it-and-i-knew-i-could-do-it-i-ve-just-turned-40-i/) [Eric McCormack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-mccormack/) > [As I got older, I realized that my life experience, what I really had, was always going to be more valuable than what I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-mccormack/as-i-got-older-i-realized-that-my-life-experience-what-i-really-had/) [Eric McCormack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-mccormack/) > [ It was a film \[The Lost World\], and it's a sequel at the same time. The first shot on the first day was from… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-mccormack/it-was-a-film-the-lost-world-and-it-s-a-sequel-at-the-same-time-the/) [Eric McCormack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-mccormack/) > [I started to realise that it wasn't for me. Perhaps I didn't have to give my Hamlet before I died, that the world might…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-mccormack/i-started-to-realise-that-it-wasn-t-for-me-perhaps-i-didn-t-have-to/) [Eric McCormack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-mccormack/) > [ They \[the Travelers\] know everything about the year that they're coming into. But you can know everything and still be tripped up by the… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-mccormack/they-the-travelers-know-everything-about-the-year-that-they-re-coming/) [Eric McCormack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-mccormack/) > [I've had to take roles that on purpose were not Will-like so that someone like 'The Hollywood Reporter' would write, 'McCormack shows great range;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-mccormack/i-ve-had-to-take-roles-that-on-purpose-were-not-will-like-so-that/) [Eric McCormack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-mccormack/) > [Certainly 'Lonesome Dove' would be way hard now, because, I mean, back then I wasn't married. I didn't have kids.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-mccormack/certainly-lonesome-dove-would-be-way-hard-now-because-i-mean-back/) [Eric McCormack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-mccormack/) > [My most romantic job: I was a manager at Baskin-Robbins.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-mccormack/my-most-romantic-job-i-was-a-manager-at-baskin-robbins/) [Eric McCormack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-mccormack/) [Explore all 145 Eric McCormack quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-mccormack/) ## More America quotes > [The costs of the Bush-Obama wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are now estimated to run as high as $4.4 trillion - a major victory…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/the-costs-of-the-bush-obama-wars-in-iraq-and-afghanistan-are-now/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [Young men, especially in America, write to me and ask me to recommend “a course of reading.” Distrust a course of reading! People who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-lang/young-men-especially-in-america-write-to-me-and-ask-me-to-recommend-a/) [Andrew Lang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-lang/) > [Well, The Day the Earth Caught Fire was a story... I don't if anybody knows what it is but it was about... in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/val-guest/well-the-day-the-earth-caught-fire-was-a-story-i-don-t-if-anybody/) [Val Guest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/val-guest/) > [So here's what I want you to know, and here's what I want all our men and women in uniform to know: Because of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/so-here-s-what-i-want-you-to-know-and-here-s-what-i-want-all-our-men/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [Today, the world looks to America for leadership. And America looks to its Corps of Marines.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/today-the-world-looks-to-america-for-leadership-and-america-looks-to/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [The image of blacks usually is one of people who are suffering from hunger, unemployment, and poverty. The idea of them as agents and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grace-lee-boggs/the-image-of-blacks-usually-is-one-of-people-who-are-suffering-from/) [Grace Lee Boggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grace-lee-boggs/) > [ I'll smoke, I'll cough, I'll get the tumors, I'll die, deal? Thank you America. \[salutes\] ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-hicks/i-ll-smoke-i-ll-cough-i-ll-get-the-tumors-i-ll-die-deal-thank-you/) [Bill Hicks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-hicks/) > [America is a democracy and has no Hitler, but I am afraid for her future; there are hard times ahead for the American people,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/america-is-a-democracy-and-has-no-hitler-but-i-am-afraid-for-her/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [I'm gonna bring America together.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/i-m-gonna-bring-america-together/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [In the nineteenth century some parts of the world were unexplored, but there was almost no restriction on travel.:; Up to 1914 you did…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-orwell/in-the-nineteenth-century-some-parts-of-the-world-were-unexplored-but/) [George Orwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-orwell/) > [We need a system that serves our needs, not the needs of others. Remember, under a Trump administration it's called America first. Remember that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/we-need-a-system-that-serves-our-needs-not-the-needs-of-others/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [America, you're sending girls a mixed message. On one hand, you're saying to have positive body image and love who we are; on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adora-svitak/america-you-re-sending-girls-a-mixed-message-on-one-hand-you-re/) [Adora Svitak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adora-svitak/) > [You live overseas, you see these exotic places and you want to know about them. But, weirdly, it also made me homesick for all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-jennings/you-live-overseas-you-see-these-exotic-places-and-you-want-to-know/) [Ken Jennings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-jennings/) > [Freedom in every sense but primarily political sense, a rise in repression that stems from a repression of sexuality. It's AIDS, it's herpes, it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-nicholson/freedom-in-every-sense-but-primarily-political-sense-a-rise-in/) [Jack Nicholson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-nicholson/) > [“In American terms, the accomplishment of Genghis Khan might be understood if the United States, instead of being created by a group of educated…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-weatherford/in-american-terms-the-accomplishment-of-genghis-khan-might-be/) [Jack Weatherford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-weatherford/) [Browse all 20,382 America quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/america/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Will isn't a screaming queen - that's Jack's part. They needed someone to play the part for America. It's just not the same as Britain. 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