Shieldinch star opens heart on sexuality
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| Inspiration ... actor Gary wants to pave the way for more gay characters to appear on TV shows BBC |
RIVER City star Gary Lamont has decided to go public about his sexuality — saying: I’m gay and proud.
The 28-year-old — who plays camp crimper Robbie Fraser — today opens his heart in an interview with The Scottish Sun.
His revelation comes as his Shieldinch character Robbie is at the centre of a gay domestic abuse storyline.
Gary said: “I’ve been okay with it for a long time now so it’s part of my life.
“I know it’s still a bit of a talking point and a sensitive subject for people but for me it really isn’t. And it shouldn’t be for anyone else.”
Gary, who grew up in Glasgow’s tough Castlemilk district, came out to family and friends in his late teens. He admits it was a difficult experience.
He said: “It’s usually mortifying talking about it to be honest.
“Going back to my experiences is always weird because I remember the whole thing being embarrassing.
“My brother and sister wouldn’t have to say who they were going out with and go through the same thing. I wanted everyone to know so they could get over it.”
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| Double act ... Pamela Byrne BBC |
He said: “It’s the first question people always ask — are you gay?
“I’ve got a bit gallus now and will turn it around and say, ‘Why are you asking me if I’m gay?’
“They don’t really realise what they’re asking.
“Because I’m in their living rooms every week they feel that they know me. But for me, it’s a perfect stranger asking a question about my life.
“It can be difficult sometimes when people say, ‘you’re just like him’ or ‘you’re just playing yourself’.
“Friends that I’m with sometimes get shocked by how forward people can be.”
Gary is a graduate of Glasgow’s Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama. He was a support worker for people with learning difficulties and mental health problems before landing his big telly break.
Gary admits his life has changed dramatically since joining the popular show three years ago.
He added: “I wasn’t prepared for the scrutiny at all. When I got the part, the producers gave me some advice and I was guarded for a long time because of the nature of the character.
“People were probably thinking ‘if he’s anything like that character then we can get a bit of juicy gossip’ It was all new to me.
“It’s still weird and I don’t think I’ll ever get completely used to it.”
Life wasn’t always simple for Gary before coming out to his loved ones — he had a GIRLFRIEND at 16.
Male admirers will be disappointed to know that he ISN’T single — he has been in a relationship for over a year. Gary said: “My partner’s not in showbiz, he’s a great guy with a normal job.”
The actor’s alter-ego Robbie is Montego Street’s second homosexual character.
Original cast member Tony Kearney played gay barman Scott Wallace for eight years before being axed from the show in 2010.
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| River City ... Gary as crimper Robbie with on-screen boyfriend Will BBC |
“There have been leaps and bounds when it comes to people being able to be open about their sexuality.
“You can be honest now. It helps the situation 25 and 30 years down the line when it’ll just be normal.
“Tony played Scott for years and we used to joke a lot about our roles. He used to have wild fantasies of playing Scott really camp like the way I play Robbie.”
Gary — who also starred in STV’s Scottish Passport earlier this year — hopes there will be more gay characters on telly.
He said: “I always used to say that the fact I’m playing a gay character — and a profound one — on TV is so amazing in itself.
“We’re being represented. Obviously Robbie is quite a stereotypical version but it’s TV, it’s heightened, it’s drama and we have artistic license to do that.”
Robbie has become a popular character since arriving in Shieldinch and has formed a hilarious double act with fellow crimper Hayley McCrone — played by Gary’s pal Pamela Byrne — who’s leaving the programme.
Gary has been desperate for his character to find love in the soap — even if he feared it might get him SACKED.
He said: “I used to always joke that the minute they gave him a boyfriend and settled him down I’d be out the door.
“That’s because so much of his antics were born out of desperation and looking for love.
“Thankfully I’ve never felt insecure in my job and I think if I did feel like that, maybe it would be time to leave.”
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