Zachary Quinto: ‘There’s a tremendous fear around openly gay men in our industry’

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. “I’m not so interested in trying to change people whose minds are unchangeable.” It’s no shock that as one of Hollywood’s most visible gay actors, Quinto identifies with Vidal’s liberal point of view – a radically progressive one back in 1968. Quinto describes the Myra Breckinridge author as a “hero” of his, explaining: “Gore wasn’t just an intellectual titan… as a gay man, he was incredibly unapologetic about his point of view, and unafraid to unambiguously express those points of view at a time when they were absolutely radical.” open image in gallery Debate class: David Harewood and Quinto rehearse ‘Best of Enemies' When Quinto came out back in 2011, following the suicide of gay teenager Jamey Rodemeyer, he framed the decision as a moral and political one, writing on his blog that “living a gay life without publicly acknowledging it” was “simply not enough to make any significant contribution to the immense work that lies ahead”. “Now we’re so used to streaming shows… I think Heroes was the last of its kind in some ways.” open image in gallery Ali Larter and Quinto in ‘Heroes’ The immediate success of Heroes likely played a role in securing Quinto his first film role, taking over the mantle of Leonard Nimoy’s Spock in the 2009 Star Trek reboot. And there’s nothing about a fourth Star Trek movie that feels real right now.” open image in gallery Nimoy no more: Quinto as Mr Spock in 2009’s ‘Star Trek’ In recent years, Quinto has increasingly shunned genre roles in favour of theatrical parts and indie projects like Steven Soderbergh’s High Flying Bird and Joe Mantello’s The Boys in the Band.