Arts 1_Layout 1 2013-04-11 09:54 Page 39
Sin-City heyday. “It was like being in a Hollywood movie – all these nightclubs were filled with gangsters and movie stars. It was like Las Vegas!”
While homosexuality was still a crime in Canada back then, Negin was always out. After all, he worked in the theatre world. Still, that same world was unable to protect his colleague, acting legend John Gielgud, who was arrested in England for cottaging in 1953. “John and I worked together in Much Ado About Nothing at Stratford and during that time I got to know him,” Negin recalls. “At the time of his arrest he was starring in a play in London. He was petrified to go on the next night. How was the audience going to react? It could mean the end of his career. So when he went on it was an act of bravery. And the audience cheered him.”
Some of Negin’s other co-stars over the years include Anthony Quayle, with whom Louis worked on Broadway, and Dame Edna (a.k.a. Barry Humphries). “Barry’s a very funny man but when he’s dressed as Dame Edna, you must always address him as Edna. He stays in character because it’s very difficult to keep switching back and forth.” Negin also appeared on stage as writer Truman Capote in another one-man show, Tru, as well in the film 54. In fact, Negin met Capote (“He was with Warhol”) in 1970s New York where Negin also found himself getting down at Studio 54. These are the kind of anecdotes that filled The Glass Eye, Negin’s critically-hailed one-man show he wrote with his old friend, Quebec playwright and Robert Lepage-protégé Marie Brassard.
Today, Negin blames rabid celebrity journalism for cheapening our movie stars. “They all look the same. Lindsay Lohan? She’s no Marlene Dietrich. The only one today who has that old glamour is Cate Blanchett.”
As for Negin, he continues to act and make movies, notably with famed director Guy Maddin. For his role in Maddin’s 2011 film Keyhole – which stars Jason Patric, Isabella Rossellini and Udo Kier – Louis stripped buck naked one more time.
Vous ne me trouverez pas sur les sites de rencontres... JACQUES-ALAIN, chirurgien
“I think all actors are exhibitionist, to be honest,” says Louis. “Everybody does the same number: ‘Oh, I have to think about it.’ But really they’re overjoyed! The thing that would kill you is if someone snickered or laughed [at your body]. Then I think I would just die a million deaths. But it doesn’t happen.” On the Winnipeg set of Keyhole, Rossellini told Negin, “We don’t even notice that you’re in the nude!” But when filming on Keyhole wrapped up, the director of photography told the cast and crew, “Thank you for giving your all!” Louis laughs. “Everybody was screaming and laughing and there was a big round of applause. But until then I just didn’t think about it.” 6 RICHARD BURNETT Read Richard Burnett’s POP TART blog for The Montreal Gazette at http://blogs.montrealgazette.com/category/montreal/pop-tart/. Read Burnett’s national queer-issues column Three Dollar Bill online at www.bugsburnett.blogspot.com.
Trouvez le maintenant!
514.278.9004 www.entrehommes.com