“I believe labels are for clothes, not for people” says actor Hugh Sheridan
2020 has been somewhat of a messy, unpredictable year for everyone, but some have been using their time to reflect, reevaluate, and try new things. The same goes for Packed to the Rafters star Hugh Sheridan. Having written his first screenplay The Dance – a coming-of-age drama following a teenager who fulfils his dream of joining the Australian Ballet School – undoubtedly mirroring some of Hugh’s own time at the institute.
But it’s not only the exciting project that Sheridan has been speaking about. On 18/10/20, Hugh penned a deeply personal essay to Stellar Magazine, opening up for the first time publicly about his sexuality.
“After moving to Sydney to attend NIDA, I finally met a guy who I connected with emotionally, mentally and physically,” – Hugh wrote
“I was over the moon – I could finally be what people always wanted me to be, so I told everyone. In return, I was told that if I was anything but straight I’d never find work, and that I needed to hide my new-found love. To add to the confusion, the two mentors who told me this were openly gay themselves; they were earnestly trying to protect me and did indeed have my best interests at heart. That was just the reality.”
The actor feels a responsibility to speak up to encourage others who are still “figuring themselves out”.
“I realised that if I never addressed these issues, if I maintained a silent protest, then people would always think I had something to hide or was denying others that expression,”
“In many ways, I wish I didn’t have to write this, but I feel a responsibility to others who may come after me. By sharing my story now, and becoming more transparent, maybe I can help to give others who are private a break. We might live and let them live as they wish.
As I finished the essay, I couldn’t help but be reminded of one of my favourite quotes, from one of my favourite shows, from one of my favourite characters – Brooklyn 99‘s Captain Raymond Holt: “Every time someone steps up and says who they are, the world becomes a better, more interesting place.
So… thank you.”