Michael Douglas has described the late
pianist Liberace as an “alpha male” character at the “top of
his game.”
Douglas plays Liberace in the
made-for-television movie Behind the Candelabra. The film's
Sunday premiere netted HBO an estimated 2.4 million viewers, the
biggest audience for an original movie on the network since 2004.
The film also stars Matt Damon as Scott
Thorson, Liberace's alleged lover.
When asked about his previous alpha
male roles, Douglas said that he included Liberace in that category.
“I consider Lee a totally alpha male
character,” Douglas told UK's Short
List. “He may be gay, but he's an alpha male on top of his
game.”
In agreeing that it would be more
difficult for an openly gay actor to play straight than the other way
around, Douglas appeared to suggest that he knows some closeted
actors.
“Without naming names, I certainly
think there are a couple of people out there who have not come out in
the spirit of protecting their careers and livelihoods,” he said.
“It's probably a little bit more difficult going that way. I think
that's true.”