by Jen M. Hernandez

Created on: December 19, 2010

Maintaining privacy in Hollywood is seemingly impossible. Few have conquered this feat, and among these few is Kevin Spacey.

In his nearly thirty years in the acting business, Kevin Spacey has won two Oscars and has confirmed himself as one of his generation’s greatest talents. However, one thing he has never confirmed has been his sexual orientation.

In a recent interview with Daily Beast, Kevin Spacey’s character and sexuality came into questioning. The openly gay interviewer asked Spacey why though the gay community had claimed him, he had not claimed them back. Was he ashamed?

Spacey was ambiguous in his response, as he always has been. He simply responded that he was certainly not “living a lie.”  He did, however, go on to explain (and has done so at least once before) that in his field of work it’s important that an audience be able to believe whatever role he is presently playing. That said, it is far easier to envision him as these contrasting personalities when his private life remains undisclosed to the public.

Many will argue becoming a celebrity goes hand in hand with relinquishing all rights to privacy. Not only is this unfair, but it is also untrue. Everyone has a right to his or her privacy.

Furthermore, Spacey is absolutely correct. As an audience, we are incessantly passing judgment on celebrities. Knowing the specifics of someone’s personal life makes it difficult to believe him or her in a role that tends to be different to the way they are depicted in the media. In essence, keeping one’s life private is critical to actors, especially if they’d like to establish themselves in the field as being capable of playing diverse roles. This is something Spacey has mastered.

Additionally, fans tend to feel as though their favorite celebrities are public property, and indebted to them for their loyalty. This feeling is misguided. Spacey doesn’t owe anyone an explanation for who he is. He is capable of having a work life and a private life. As a fan or audience member, your interest should be in the craft alone. Were you satisfied with Spacey’s last role? These are the only means by which any person should have to judge an actor.

Frankly, I have only fallen more in love with Spacey in his endeavor to keep his personal life private. Someone’s sexual orientation should not define him or her. By remaining asexual to the public, Spacey has allowed himself to be perceived as an individual without the hassle of antagonizing labels. 

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