The entertainment industry is no stranger to tales of young, talented queer individuals facing bias and discrimination. One such story is that of Russell Tovey, 41, an internationally recognized actor and star of ‘American Horror Story: NYC’. Despite his current acclaim, his journey to success was not without its hurdles, particularly those rooted in homophobia during his school years.
From Shame to Embrace
Tovey, who rose to fame for his role in the award-nominated BBC drama ‘Years and Years’, recently shared that during his education, he had been subjected to ‘toxic masculinity’, resulting in feelings of ‘shame’. “I was told that being passionate about drama, art, and literature was ‘gay’, and it greatly affected me,” Tovey recalled. It took him considerable time to accept and embrace his interests, time he wishes he could reclaim from those who belittled him.
Revisiting the AIDS Crisis on Stage
Now, Russell Tovey, recently seen in the rom-com ‘Love Again’, is returning to the stage in a new production, ‘Blue Now’. The show is based on Derek Jarman’s iconic 1993 AIDS-themed film, ‘Blue’. The film, released just months before Jarman’s death from an AIDS-related illness, portrays the filmmaker’s experience of losing his sight due to HIV. The stage adaptation echoes this narrative, featuring readings from Jarman’s diary against an unchanging blue background, symbolizing his diminishing sight.
A Personal Connection
Tovey, who works alongside writer and performer Travis Alabanza, artist Jay Bernard, and poet Joelle Taylor in the production, says his involvement has given him a new perspective on his own experiences. As a queer person who came of age during the AIDS crisis, he finds the themes of the play hit close to home. “As a gay person, you’re so closely linked to death…,” he said. “If you’re a queer person of a certain generation, you think about death daily.”
‘Blue Now’ is currently playing at the Fuel Theatre in London until May 27.