Taron Egerton: Kissing men ‘no less appealing’ than kissing women
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – MAY 06: Taron Egerton attends The 2019 Met Gala Celebrating Camp: Notes on Fashion at Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 06, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images)
Taron Egerton, the star of upcoming Elton John biopic Rocketman, has said that kissing a man onscreen is “no less appealing” than kissing a woman onscreen.
Rocketman sees Egerton take on the role of iconic, openly gay singer Elton John. He stars opposite Game of Thrones’ Richard Madden (Robb Stark), who plays Elton John’s music manager and first love, John Reid.
“For me, kissing a man onscreen is no less appealing than kissing a woman onscreen,” Egerton told The Hollywood Reporter.
“I’m not in any way repulsed by the male form. It’s an uncomfortable thing regardless of who you’re with — it makes no difference as to your sexual preference.”
Rocketman, which will take viewers on a rollercoaster journey through rock ‘n’ roll in the 1970s and ’80s, includes steamy sex scenes between Egerton and Madden.
The film will also focus on Elton John’s personal life, including his struggles with his mental health, substance abuse and coming out as gay.
Taron Egerton as Elton John in Rocketman. (Paramount Pictures)
Taron Egerton is heterosexual but it makes no difference, he says
The fact that Egerton identifies as straight – and he’s been with his girlfriend, Emily Thomas, for two years – makes no difference, he says, as he threw himself into the role “a hundred percent.”
Egerton added that everyone is “obsessed” with the gay plot line of Rocketman. He said,”I have spoken to gay people for whom it’s not a problem, and I’ve spoken to gay people for whom it is a problem.”
“I completely understand,” Egerton said. “But for my part, I’m an actor, and I did not get into acting to just play people like me. You have to draw the line somewhere, and I don’t want to live in a world where straight people play straight people and gay people play gay people.”
Richard Madden recently told The Guardian that he thinks casting by sexuality is a “terrible route to go down.”
Rocketman will premiere at the Cannes Film Festival on May 16 before its UK release on May 22.
