Wednesday actor Hunter Doohan opens up about hiding his sexuality early in his career
– 2 min read
Hunter Doohan, the breakout star of Netflix’s gothic hit Wednesday, has spoken candidly about the pressure he felt to conceal his sexuality during the early stages of his acting career.
In a recent interview on The Zach Sang Show, Doohan, who plays Tyler Galpin in the Tim Burton-directed series, reflected on the scrutiny he faced while auditioning for roles, particularly during the 2019 network test for Showtime’s Your Honor. Despite being openly gay for nearly a decade, the actor admitted to archiving Instagram photos of himself with his now-husband, producer Fielder Jewett, fearing that casting directors might view his sexuality as a liability.
“It was the first time I’d done a network test and they were really scrutinising,” Doohan recalled. “I really tried to hide it. I went and hid pictures of us on my Instagram, archived them.”
The experience of having to “come out” repeatedly on set, including to co-star Bryan Cranston, left Doohan feeling unsettled. “I was 26 and I had to come out again,” he said. “I’ve been out for eight years and I have to come out of the closet again. That was so unsettling and awful. I was like, ‘I’m never going to do that for a role again.’”
Despite his openness, Doohan noted that he has yet to be cast in a gay role, despite auditioning for several. “All the characters I’ve played have been straight. It’s strange, but I feel really lucky,” he said, adding that he hopes to portray a queer character in the future - not for the sake of representation alone, but to bring depth and authenticity to such roles.
Doohan also credited fellow actor Jonathan Bailey (Bridgerton, Wicked) as a source of inspiration, praising his refusal to be pigeonholed and his embrace of queer identity in mainstream roles.
Reflecting on the evolving landscape of Hollywood, Doohan expressed gratitude for the progress made in LGBTQ+ representation. “We’re lucky to be living in a different time where we can do it and people can watch it and suspend their disbelief like that,” he said. “Without everybody who’s walked before you and done it before you, you wouldn’t be able to do it yourself. It’s a beautiful thing.”
