Ben Whishaw dedicates Emmy win to ‘queer hero and icon’ Norman Scott
Ben Whishaw arrives at the Amazon Prime Video Post Emmy Awards Party 2019 on September 22, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Amanda Edwards/WireImage)
Ben Whishaw has dedicated his Emmy award for A Very English Scandal to Norman Scott, who he portrayed in the series.
The actor picked up the Emmy for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a limited series on Sunday, September 22, for his role as Norman Scott in the gay BBC limited drama series.
The series was based on the real-life scandal that enveloped British Liberal leader Jeremy Thorpe, who was accused of attempting to have his lover Norman Scott murdered to save his political career.
Ben Whishaw dedicates awards to Norman Scott.
Accepting the award, Whishaw said: “There’s one person I really, really want to dedicate this award to and it’s the man I had the privilege to portray in this show, Norman Scott, who took on the establishment with courage and defiance that I find completely inspiring.”
“I want to thank Steven Frears, for being a wonderful director. I want to thank the magnificent actors in the cast, but especially Hugh Grant [who played Thorpe].”
Ben Whishaw attends the The 71st Emmy Awards (David Crotty/Patrick McMullan via Getty)
Whishaw also thanked “my partner Mark, for his love and his support and keeping me somewhat sane”.
The pair entered into a civil partnership in August 2012.
Actor had long been private about personal life.
The actor has publicly opened up about his sexuality in recent years, but had previously avoided discussing his private life in interviews.
Earlier this year, Whishaw revealed why he struggled to tell people about his sexuality in his early twenties.
“There was a moment in my early 20s when I did not feel very good about myself,” he told The Sunday Times Magazine.
“It was to do with my sexuality and not knowing how to be myself and hating myself.
“I did know [my sexuality], I just couldn’t tell anyone.”
In 2011, he told Out magazine: “As an actor you have total rights to privacy and mystery, whatever your sexuality, whatever you do.
“I don’t see why that has to be something you discuss openly because you do something in the public eye.”
