Gay Actor Luke Macfarlane Breaks Barriers, Plays Straight Role in 'Platonic'

In the past few years, actor Luke Macfarlane has been breaking barriers in the entertainment industry. Macfarlane, who has long been open about his sexuality, has often played gay characters. However, in his latest role in the Apple TV+ series "Platonic," Macfarlane portrays a straight character, the husband of Rose Byrne's character.

Macfarlane expressed his gratitude for the opportunity, saying that as an actor, whether gay or straight, "we just need someone to say, 'I'm gonna give you a shot.'" The director of "Platonic," Nicholas Stoller, saw Macfarlane's versatility and gave him the chance to play a straight role, despite his previous work in more LGBTQ-focused projects.

Beyond his work in "Platonic," Macfarlane is also developing an LGBTQ Christmas movie for the Hallmark Channel, which he says is increasingly telling queer stories. Macfarlane believes that representing the LGBTQ community in feel-good, escapist content is important, as a break from the "very real-world political attacks" the community faces.

As the entertainment industry continues to evolve, Macfarlane's experience showcases the growing acceptance and opportunities for LGBTQ actors to play a diverse range of roles, breaking down stereotypes and expanding representation on screen.