10 Straight Actors Who Played Gay Roles To Perfection

2. Julianne Moore: The Hours, Chloe, and The Kids Are All Right

With her fiery red hair and intensity, Julianne Moore has carved out an amazing career, with an Oscar and numerous roles that have made her among Hollywood’s biggest stars. Several times she has managed to play the role of a gay woman and each time wonderfully convincing. In The Hours, an ensemble drama, Moore is a 1950s housewife clearly feeling for a neighbor. While she elects to stay with her husband, it’s obvious she had more in mind. In Chloe, Moore is convinced her husband (Liam Neeson) is cheating on her so hires an escort (Amanda Seyfried) to seduce him. But soon, Moore realizes she wants Seyfried more, leading to some very steamy scenes in bed together.

Then in The Kids Are All Right, Moore is one half of a lesbian couple with Annette Benning. When the biological father of one of their kids comes by, Moore is soon seduced into an affair but insists she’s still gay as she tries to get back with Benning. In each role, Moore showcased a lovely spirit, making each part real and fully-formed and among the best parts of her long career.

3. Sarah Shahi: The L Word and Person of Interest

Several actresses on Showtime’s groundbreaking lesbian-themed drama can be cited for playing gay well. But Sarah Shahi stood out nicely. As DJ Carmen, she popped in the second season of the show, an outspoken gal with a nice style, down to Earth but with a wicked humor and very spicy in the sack. She sold a relationship well with Jenny, but later moved into a longer relationship with bed-hopping Shane, the two getting along well. Shahi could showcase sexy bits, but also strength, like coming out to her family and being shunned for it and leaning on Shane for support. They were to be married, but Shane realized she would just end up cheating on Carmen and left her at the altar, Shahi leaving the series afterward.

Shahi would get more fame as tough operative Shaw on the CBS show Person of Interest. There was always a crackling chemistry with nutso hacker Root (Amy Acker), the two bantering a lot. When Shaw had to sacrifice herself (due to Shahi’s sudden pregnancy), they shared a kiss and later a very hot love scene. Shaw made no big deal of her sexuality, still a bad-ass, and Shahi was an expert in making each role very believable for fans to enjoy.

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