Actress Daryl Hannah has described
the coming out of her gay character in the film The Hot Flashes
as “sweet.”
In the film, which opened Friday, an
unlikely group of unappreciated middle-aged Texas women challenge the
current arrogant high school girls' state champs to a series of
basketball games to raise money for breast cancer awareness and
prevention. The women, all former high school champs, are led by
Beth Humphrey (played by Brooke Shields). (The film's trailer is
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In
a conference call interview, Hannah was asked whether she had
looked to a lesbian role model for inspiration.
“It was interesting to me because
none of my lesbian friends are so afraid of being out [as this
character is],” Hannah said. “I had to think back to when some
of my friends were more closeted. Obviously, some people still have
to struggle with their comfort level. It was kind of sweet how [her
character's] friends were more accepting of her than she was of
herself.”
Sykes, who is openly gay, added: “I
was trying to get the title of 'lesbian consultant' on the film, but
Camryn [Manheim] told me she knows way more lesbians than I do. It
was sweet how Daryl's character was handled in the film and how the
other women protected her.”
She added that the film spoke to the
LGBT community because it was about “acceptance.”
“We all accepted and celebrated each
other as we were,” Sykes said. “And also to say it's never too
late. When I came out I was 45 or something, so it's never too
late.”
The film also includes Virginia Madsen,
Eric Roberts and Mark Povinelli.