Debbie Reynolds says Liberace's
sexuality was an open secret among the pianist's friends.
Reynolds plays Liberace's mother
Frances in the film Behind the Candelabra, which premieres in
the United States on HBO on Sunday.
The film, which stars Michael Douglas
as Liberace and Matt Damon as his lover Scott Thorson, premiered
Tuesday at the Cannes Film Festival in France, where it is competing
for the prestigious Palme d'Or award.
In
an interview with the AP, Reynolds recollected being part of
Liberace's inner circle while both were performing in Las Vegas.
Liberace died at the age of 67 without publicly acknowledging his
sexuality.
“I have never had a better time than
being Liberace's date,” Reynolds, 81, said. “We all knew he was
homosexual. That was a friend: You know what they love and the
people that they love, and what they are.”
“I don't want him to be remembered
just for being homosexual,” she added. “He should be remembered
as a great entertainer and loved by so many. And this picture does
that.”