Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

Matt Damon advises actors to keep their sexuality private as 'you're a better actor the less people know about you'

Matt Damon said there were rumours that him and good friend, Ben Affleck were in a relationship, following their Oscar win for Good Will Hunting

Olivia Blair
Sunday 27 September 2015 12:25 EDT
Comments
Matt Damon is known for films including the Bourne series
Matt Damon is known for films including the Bourne series (NIKLAS HALLE'N/AFP/Getty Images))

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

Matt Damon has suggested actors and actresses should keep their sexuality private, saying “you’re a better actor the less people know about you.”

Damon, 44, told the Guardian: “Whether you’re straight or gay, people shouldn’t know anything about your sexuality because that’s one of the mysteries that you should be able to play.”

He added, he believes it’s “really hard for actors to be out publicly” in Hollywood.

Damon, who won a Best Original Screenplay Oscar in 1998, along with Ben Affleck, for Good Will Hunting recalled how rumours swirled that the two friends were in a relationship simply “because it was two guys who wrote a script together”.

He said the rumours put the pair “in a weird position of having to answer” as they “didn’t want to [imply] it’s some sort of disease.”

Damon cited the example of fellow actor, Rupert Everett saying: “Rupert Everett was openly gay and this guy – more handsome than anybody, a classically trained actor – it’s tough to make the argument that he didn’t take a hit for being out.”

The actor also discussed his support for gay marriage and that he hopes that attitudes towards openly gay film stars are changing.

Damon starred as Scott Thorson, the lover of Liberace in the drama film Behind the Candelabra.

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in