It’s no secret that Hollywood is home to some very colorful characters. Many of whom are quite well-known for being unique individuals who break the mold of what is usually expected from “normal” people. One such character is Charlie Pattinson. Although he has only been in the limelight for a short period of time, many people know and love him for being himself.
What is surprising is that Charlie, who is an established actor with numerous roles under his belt, has never really spoken about being gay in the media. Not even in the most recent years when it’s been highly publicized. In fact, in a recent interview with Attitude magazine, Charlie opened up about his personal life and his thoughts on sexuality and the LGBTQ+ community.
Let’s take a look.
On Being Different
As a gay man who has always been open about his sexuality, it seems only natural that Charlie would comment on how he feels fortunate to have been able to navigate the world of acting while also being himself. He stated:
“I’ve never really felt like I’ve had to hide who I am. I’m fortunate that I’ve been able to do both. I’ve always been willing to be myself and show the world what I really am. I think that’s what’s made me such an attractive and interesting person to play. Plus, you know, I look like this guy. I mean, I couldn’t look more like him if I tried.”
It’s clear that Charlie has always felt fortunate to be able to be himself, and it’s no wonder why. After all, being different is often the source of great creativity and innovation.
On Acting And Life Learning
Charlie also discussed the importance of life and learning in his journey as an actor. He stated:
“I feel like acting has been a really big part of who I am as a person and a way of learning. I think a lot of the best things in my life have come from my interactions with other people and my interactions with the world around me. You may not always like what you learn, but I think you have to acknowledge that there’s a lot of value in just being open to new ideas and new people.
I really believe that. I think too often we get so caught up in our own little worlds that we don’t see the value in other people or other ideas. But I think when you do see that value, that’s when learning is most effective.”
It’s evident that learning has always been a priority for Charlie, and acting was certainly no exception. He continued:
“For a really long time, the closest I ever came to wanting to be an actor was when I was a kid and would put on plays with my cousins. We would all be given these monologues to memorize and perform for each other. So I’ve always known what I was capable of, but I never really felt like I had found my calling. I always felt like there was something more I could be doing with my life. I’m so glad that I got to do what I did, but there’s always more that can be explored.”
Charlie’s openness and his desire to learn and grow suggest that he has indeed found his calling as an actor, and his journey hasn’t been easy. Not by any means. Although he has had many successes, he has also had his share of hardships. It’s clear that Charlie isn’t easily satisfied, and this perhaps explains why he is so open to new ideas and new people.
LGBTQ+ Community
Charlie also spoke about the LGBTQ+ community and whether or not he feels accepted within it. He stated:
“I think that the LGBTQ+ community is one of the most accepting communities there is. I’ve never felt stigmatized or like I’ve had to hide who I was from the world. The people I’ve met who are in the community have all been incredibly accepting and kind. It’s a great place to be.
But at the same time, you know, there’s a lot of homophobia everywhere. I was in Australia recently and everyone there is so used to seeing gay people in their neighborhoods and their workplaces that they didn’t bat an eyelid when they saw two men holding hands or kissed on the beach. That sort of thing happens all the time there. It wasn’t something brand-new to them. So there’s always that dichotomy of being accepted but still feeling like a bit of an outsider.”
Charlie has always been at ease in the gay community and has never felt like an outsider even though he hasn’t always felt like he has belonged. Perhaps this is where his frustration has come from. He is fully aware of the homophobic atmosphere that exists in countries like Australia, and he stated:
“I think that when you are brought up in a certain way, you believe the things that you are told and you don’t necessarily question them. So, I mean, I don’t necessarily agree with everything my parents taught me, but I don’t really think about it. You just accept it and go with the flow. We are so used to being quiet in this country. So when Billy, one of my cousins, came out as gay, I think everyone was really surprised. So I didn’t fully understand what was going on at first. It didn’t make sense to me that someone could be gay. So I didn’t really know how to react. It took me a while to really understand what was happening, but once I did, I was like, ‘Yeah, that makes sense.'”
What is significant about this comment is that it comes from someone who has always been open about his sexuality. It’s clear that even now that he fully understands what being gay is, he chooses to remain true to himself and accept the community around him.
What Does This Mean For The Future?
Looking forward, Charlie sees this as a period of growth and learning. He stated:
“I really want to take the time to figure out what I want my next phase of my life to look like. So far, everything has sort of fallen into place, and I’m really happy with how it’s going. But it’s also the most uncertain phase as well, because I don’t know what’s going to happen. So I’m going to take advantage of it and enjoy the ride.”
An established actor with numerous roles under his belt, Charlie has never really spoken about being gay in the media before. Although he has always been open about his sexuality, he has never felt comfortable enough to do so. This is perhaps because he has always felt that his sexuality was an integral part of who he was as a person and did not want to sully it with trivial details. This may also explain why he has never worn a ribbon on his lapel; he has never felt the need to draw attention to himself or his sexuality via such a frivolous gesture. Instead, he has always focused on the work he has done and the parts he has played.
Despite this, it is evident that Charlie has always felt fortunate to be able to be himself, and it’s no wonder why. Being different is often the source of great creativity and innovation, and Charlie has always felt that his unique perspective has led him to many great roles.