Kate Winslet Knows At Least 4 Actors Hiding Their Sexuality Due To Hollywood's 'Homophobia'

Kate Winslet got candid about the stigma in Hollywood that hinders gay actors from being cast in straight roles.

The "Titanic" actress spoke with The Sunday Times and shared that she knows at least four closeted actors. According to her, they are all hesitant to come out for fear that it might affect their careers.

"I cannot tell you the number of young actors I know — some well known, some starting out — who are terrified their sexuality will be revealed and that it will stand in the way of their being cast in straight roles," she was quoted as saying by People. "Now that's fu--ed up."

"I'm telling you. A well-known actor has just got an American agent and the agent said, 'I understand you are bisexual. I wouldn't publicise that.' I can think of at least four actors absolutely hiding their sexuality. It's painful. Because they fear being found out. And that's what they say. 'I don't want to be found out,'" she continued.

"The Reader" star added that the stigma applies to "men more than anything" and it's "bad news." She noted that the stigma should end.

"Hollywood has to drop that dated crap of, 'Can he play straight because, apparently, he's gay?'" she added. "That should be almost illegal. You would not believe how widespread it is. And it can't just be distilled to the question about gay actors playing gay parts. Because actors, in some cases, are choosing not to come out for personal reasons. And it's nobody's business. Perhaps privacy. Perhaps conditioning and shame.”

Winslet also mentioned having a conversation about her feelings when she played a lesbian in her movie "Ammonite" opposite Saoirse Ronan. She was aware the role wasn't offered to anybody else and took it as an opportunity to bring an LGBTQ story into living rooms.

She added that it was not her intention to take on Hollywood, but she was talking about the young actors who might be considering joining the profession to make it more open to them and so that there will be "less judgment, discrimination and homophobia."