characters) were gay or old or whatever, he could take DA: How much do you relate to Patrick and what’s any story and humanize it. He’s somehow able to catch going on in his life? really human moments. JG: At the first audition, because I knew Andrew’s work, I I would be done with work some days and Frankie (J. Alvarez), knew the lines but I didn’t do a lot of emotional preparation. I Murray (Bartett) and I would look at each other and say, “Did didn’t even say the lines out loud until I was in the room with we even act today?” It felt so much like us hanging out that him, because I wanted to find it in the moment. The first time it didn’t feel like we were “acting.” It speaks to the energy of I did the audition scene – the scene on the train where I meet his movie Weekend, and also to the energy of our show. It was Richie (Raul Castillo) – I started to get hot, but not in a sexy really unlike anything I’ve ever worked on before. way. I got nervous-hot. I started sweating and blushing and I felt immediately, in the audition room, like, “I know who this DA: For Looking, what’s expected of you sexually guy is. I feel so connected to his social anxiety.” and what are you not comfortable doing on the show? DA: What shows and films did you connect with as a gay man who was figuring it all out? JG: Seeing Weekend and knowing Andrew Haigh was attached to direct the show, I was like, “OK, I feel 100 per- JG: I remember being in eighth grade and seeing the billcent comfortable to sign that nudity waiver and do absolutely boards for Will & Grace – and then, there was so little gay anything.” I signed on before I anything. Not as much gay press, really even knew him. I was like, not as many out gay actors or gay “Yes, whatever, I’ll do anything.” material to watch, certainly not Also, from years of being in on network television. Any sort Spring Awakening, I’ve built up of shred of people being gay was a tolerance for acted intimacy. like, “Oh my god, look at that. Is (Laughs) It doesn’t freak me out. that me? Is that who I am?” And I don’t wanna give the story away, so I’m not gonna tell you Even though I was not out in high the guy who I get naked with. school I knew that I was gay, and seeing that billboard and watchDA: I hope it’s your boss. ing the show, even though I didn’t really feel like I was a Will or a JG: (Laughs) I know! He’s cute, Jack – I didn’t necessarily conright? nect these characters to me – just to see some gay characters DA: What do you have to on TV was great. It made me feel say about the show beless alone. ing called a “gay version of Girls” – which, by the way, I As far as Looking is concerned, don’t think is accurate. Your the story is very specific to boobs don’t look anything Michael Lannan, our creator, and like Lena Dunham’s. his group of friends. When they were auditioning for the show, JG: (Laughs) I love that. It’s about a group of friends in the way they had pictures of his friends on the casting board to say, that Girls is about a group of friends, but the tone, writing and “This is what we’re looking for.” It’s very specific to his expeacting are totally different. I do think if you enjoy Girls you will rience in San Francisco, but the gay community will hopefully enjoy Looking, because it’s about relationships and trying to still embrace the fact that there are gay people on TV in the find love and your place in the world. way that I watched Will & Grace growing up.
“I was like, ‘OK, I feel 100 percent comfortable to sign that nudity waiver and do absolutely anything.”
DA: When Queer as Folk aired in the early 2000s, the show reflected how anti-hair the gay community was. Body hair wasn’t as accepted in the gay community as it is now. And Looking and Weekend really represent the zeitgeist in that regard. How do you feel about Looking embracing a hairier man? JG: The more natural the body, the better. What they’re trying to do in Looking is show as many types of people and as many different types of bodies as possible, and also to stay true to San Francisco. And there’s a lot of facial hair and body hair in San Francisco!
DA: Because of your role in Looking, how do you feel about possibly being the new poster boy for the gay community in the way Jack and Will were? JG: I feel so excited to be a part of a show that could potentially be a great moment for the gay community, because it’s crazy how few shows there are where there are a lot of central gay characters. As an actor you sort of become the face of whatever you’re working on, and I feel really lucky to be a part of this specific show because I believe in it so much as a television show. I’m so proud to be a part of this show. davidatlanta.com // 25