Jim Parsons has been to a lot of gay clubs, but the amount of naked men on set for Ryan Murphy’s new Netflix show was ‘shocking’
Jake Picking as Rock Hudson and Jim Parsons as Henry Wilson in the new Ryan Murphy series Hollywood (Photo courtesy of Netflix)
Former Big Bang Theory star Jim Parsons has opened up about his starring role in new queer Neflix miniseries Hollywood.
The out actor is set to star in the new period drama piece from Ryan Murphy and Janet Mock, which features a diverse cast of characters and is set in the 1940s film industry.
Netflix series Hollywood will explore a world where people embraced differences.
Speaking to Ellen DeGeneres about the series, Parsons explained: “About midway through, fact starts turning more into fantasy, and it’s really a show about some what ifs – what if certain decisions have been made?
“I don’t want to give too much away, but it’s just about choices that weren’t made at the time due to skin colour and sexuality and things like that.
“These characters, make some different choices and sort of begs the question, what would have happened, what would life be like now had Hollywood done things [differently] 80 years ago?”
Jake Picking as Rock Hudson and Jim Parsons as Henry Wilson in the new Ryan Murphy series Hollywood (Photo courtesy of Netflix)
Jake Picking will portray gay actor Rock Hudson early in his career, while Parsons will play influential Hollywood talent agent Henry Wilson – who was key to the rise of Hudson, Tab Hunter and other closeted Hollywood hearthrobs.
Jim Parsons was not used to being around so many hot naked men.
Of course, this being a TV show by Ryan Murphy, there’s plenty of naked men around – with Parsons joking about his discomfort at filming some of the more extravagant party scenes.
He said: “I mean, I’ve gone to a lot of gay clubs in my time, and I’ve never seen that many naked people at once, ever. Well, I mean, I don’t think that’s legal in most places.
“But it was really awkward and shocking at first, we were surrounded by so many naked people. I just kept trying not to look, but there really came a point – I mean, it’s hours we were doing this – where I stopped not trying to look at some points.
“I was just like, you know what? What I really feel is admiration, to have that kind of relationship with your body that you’re able to just walk around naked in front of the huge crew, and all these other actors and everything, in and out of the swimming pool.
“I was like, I am in awe. That is the healthiest, I think, type of [attitude].”
Jim Parsons as Henry Wilson in the new Ryan Murphy series Hollywood (Photo courtesy of Netflix)
With this, again, being a TV show by Ryan Murphy, Parsons added: “Now, I want to add there wasn’t a bad looking one in the bunch. So, they worked for that confidence or were born with it, I don’t know!”
He joked: “If this doesn’t get people to watch the show, nothing will.”
During one of DeGeneres’ famous game show segments, Parsons also took the opportunity to raise some money for GLSEN, which campaigns for LGBT+ inclusion in schools – by impersonating Marilyn Monroe, Oprah and Cher.
