TV

Evan Rachel Wood on her queer roles, educating others about bisexuality and her preference for suits

Before actress Evan Rachel Wood came out as bisexual in 2011, most queer women were fans of her work, beginning with her role as a bicurious teenager on ABC’s Once and Again. Her character Jessie eventually entered into what became the first teen lesbian coupling on network television with on-screen girlfriend Mischa Barton. She went on to play Tracy, the experimental teenager infatuated with her more mature classmate (Nikki Reed) in Thirteen, sharing drug-induced kisses that implied there was more than a friendship between them, at least for that night. Then came Pretty Persuasion, in which she was a 15-year-old seeking revenge and using everyone she can to get what she wanted – including the seduction of a reporter played by Jane Krakowski.

And this was all before she hit 16. Evan’s star continued to rise and she played Queen Sophie-Anne on True Blood, Kate Winslet‘s defiant daughter in Mildred Pierce and Mickey Rourke‘s estranged gay daughter in The Wrestler. Now married to actor Jamie Bell and expecting their first child together in the next year, Evan is one of the most consistent actors in Hollywood, choosing parts in films that excite and challenge her as well as audiences.

It’s in her nature to be unexpected, as she’s had tongues wagging about her personal life since she infamously dated Marilyn Manson in 2007. Since then, she’s opened up about her bisexuality in both the press and on her personal Twitter feed where she eloquently answers questions posed to her about how she can be both married to a man and have had romantic feelings or sexual attractions to women. At age 25, she’s already a seasoned performer and well-adjusted person with a better idea of who she is and what she wants than most people twice her age.

Evan was happy to talk with AfterEllen.com about her career, her sexuality and her musical aspirations. Also, she’d be more than happy to have your vote in this year’s Hot 100. AfterEllen.com: You’ve played so many queer roles. I feel like you’ve played more queer roles than anyone! Let’s just start with Once and Again. It was such a pivotal show. I watched that show with my mom – she watched it and I started watching it with her. Looking back on that time, did you always know your role was going to have that queer bent to it and what did you think about that? Evan Rachel Wood: No, I didn’t know. I started the show when I was about 11. I had a meeting with [show creators] Marshall Herskovitz and Ed Zwick before the third season. I started back up again and they brought it up and said, “You know, we’re thinking about making your character have a crush on a girl.” I, without hesitation, said “Great! I think it’s a great idea!” [Laughs] And my mother was in the room with me as well and she was all up for it, she just wanted to make sure I was comfortable with it. Little did they know, they were so on the nose with me because that was definitely around the age I was very aware of my own sexuality and I just hadn’t really told anyone yet. So it was something near and dear to my heart and something I was obviously excited to do on the show. And I thought it ended up being beautiful. We had such an amazing reaction to those two characters and their relationship. People started all these amazing websites and I’d get stopped on the street constantly and it really moved young girls going through the same thing. So I was really proud to do it.

AE: It was kind of a risk at the time. Do you know if the storyline was met with any hesitation from the network? ERW: We were banned – the episode was banned in one state. It was, I think, I want to say West Virginia – somewhere around there. They wouldn’t air it. And I kept thinking “Wow, I watch all these crime shows and there’s all this rape and murder and they don’t seem to take offense to that or worry people will see that and go do it, but two people fell in love and an entire state couldn’t bear to watch it.” It was just really interesting that people because they were just worried people would see it and go do it. [Laughs] So we did, we ran into some issues, of course.

AE: Would you say that has been your most controversial role? ERW: It’s funny because it’s such a natural thing for me, I always forget that it’s controversial until I come up against people that are coming down on me or calling me names or telling me I’m a sinner and stuff. It kind of just makes me giggle because I forget that there’s that kind of mentality. To me it’s not controversial, it’s totally normal.

AE: In Thirteen, your character had a flirtation with Nikki Reed. Did you see her as being bisexual or was it more about experimentation for her? ERW: You know, I think that was kind of an obsession between the two girls in Thirteen. I definitely felt it was borderlining on Single White Female – loving someone so much you almost want to be them. A lot of girls have some kind of love for a girl that is bordering on “Do I want to be this girl or do I want to kiss this girl?” You’re not sure whether you want to be her or you’re in love with her. It becomes this situation where I think Tracy was kind of bordering, for sure. I’m not sure if she really considered it, I think she was probably confused.

AE: And then you went on to play a smaller but important role in The Wrestler as a lesbian, and had done Pretty Persuasion that point – were you wondering “What is it these casting directors are seeing in me that they keep casting me in these queer roles?” At the time you weren’t out. ERW: I don’t know! I just thought they were geniuses. It really wasn’t until I had a couple of friends point it out to me: “Evan, you’ve played so many queer/gay roles.” I was like “Really? Oh my god, you’re right!” [Laughs] They handled it so perfectly in The Wrestler because it was talked about maybe once, and it was just accepted at fact. It wasn’t a big deal or a big thing that her character had to talk about. It was just who she was an that was it. It was never made into a big thing. AE: In Pretty Persuasion, did you see [her sexual relationship with Jane Krakowski] as part of your character’s manipulative ways? ERW: I think she was so manipulative and kind of evil and dead on the inside. I think she’d be willing to do anything. She was also a pretty smart girl and I don’t think it mattered to her either way. I’m sure she has those tendencies. One thing that was great about her was on the outside she was a sophisticated schoolgirl, but on the inside, everything about her went against her image. That’s why it wouldn’t be weird if she did [identify as bisexual].

AE: When you came out publicly, had you already come out to your friends and family? What were your thoughts on how and when you should come out? ERW: Yes. Well, there was always the “Should I, shouldn’t I” make it public. There’s a part of that says “Is it people’s business? Should I make it a big deal about it? Maybe it shouldn’t be a thing and I don’t have to talk about it.” But I think because of the state that society is in right now, especially on this issue, I felt a real need to come out and speak out for equal rights and for the gay, lesbian, bisexual community. I think if there was ever a time to come out, now would be the time. And if I can use my status to draw awareness and get people talking about it, then that means the world to me. So that’s really why I did it. And it was such a relief, you know? It’s a part of who I am and it has been for so long and I was proud of it and I wanted people to know that side of me. My friends knew since I was in middle school or freshman year, they all knew. My parents, even though they are really open-minded liberal people, I was so nervous to tell them. They were amazing and supportive and they didn’t have a problem with it. So I came out to everyone first.

AE: I see on Twitter that you respond to people who have questions about your being bi when you’re married to a man. There’s still so much confusion about what it means to be bi. Do you feel like most people are understanding about it or that you have to educate a lot of people on this? ERW: That’s one of the reasons I love Twitter and when people ask those questions. I don’t get offended by them. I look at it as an opportunity to educate people. A lot of times they just really don’t know a lot about it or haven’t talked to someone who is bisexual and actually get some insight into those issues. So I don’t get angry or try to fight hate with hate; I just try to educate. There are many misconceptions about bisexuality. The one thing I run into more than anything is that bisexuality isn’t real or that you’re just going through a phase or you really are just gay, you just don’t want to say it. It’s extremely hard growing up – I didn’t know bisexuality was an option growing up, because I knew I was attracted to women, but I was still attracted to men and that sent me spiraling into all kinds of – [laughs] I had no idea what I was! You’re kind of torn between this world of gay and straight and you’re stuck in the middle and sometimes get shunned by both sides and feel there’s not really a place for you and it can be really hard.

But it is very real and yes, I’m married to an amazing man, but that doesn’t change my sexuality, doesn’t change who I am. I entered into a monogamous relationship and it could have been with a woman. I think people always have questions because it’s something they don’t understand; they’re not exposed to it. If I can help in anyway to shed some light on the subject, then that’s great. A lot of times I get people growing up with a certain idea or mentality or religion or something told to them when they’re young and they accept it as truth and never question it. And they get older and I feel like some people feel if they reject their religion, then they reject God or something. I’m not saying that’s what you should do and that I’m right and you’re wrong. I’m just saying how do you know if you really found God if you’ve only looked in one place, you know? You have to be open-minded. AE: In terms of Hollywood, a lot of people think if they come out they’ll get pigeonholed or will be unable to be cast in roles based on their sexuality. Have you felt any of that and would you encourage actors to come out? ERW: I haven’t had any problems. Everyone’s been amazing. I mean people have to figure out what’s right for them and what they’re comfortable with. Some people don’t think it’s anyone’s business or anyone should make a big deal about it. I just want to raise awareness I guess. It just depends.

AE: I love your style. You mix it up so much – androgyny sometimes, glamming it up others. How do you decide what look you’re going to go for on a given night? ERW: [Laughs] It depends on my mood I guess! And it depends on the event. But if I can opt for a suit, I will always choose a suit first. I work with an amazing stylist and I always say, above all, a suit before anything. It’s just comfortable! I’ve always been different than most girls that I’ve hung out with. My whole life growing up I’ve always thought, “There’s something about me that’s different and I can’t quite put my finger on what it is.” You get older and it becomes so obvious what it was this whole time. I’ve never been a prissy girl, so obsessed with hair and clothes and make-up and stuff like that. I mean I have fun with the way I dress and stuff, but if I want to be comfortable, I don’t feel the obligation to put on a dress and heels if I don’t want to. AE: The haircut you have now, did you get it cut for a role or did you just want to cut it short? ERW: No, I’ve always wanted to have my hair cut really short. I think someone scarred me when I was little and told me I didn’t have the face for it. I must have been 10 years old or something! A few years ago, I thought “Why am I still letting that impact my decision? I want to cut my hair!” And it was the best decision I ever made, oh my God! I can’t believe I waited this long to do it. It was amazing.

AE: You were just at Sundance with The Necessary Death of Charlie Countryman. Was it picked up by a distributor and do you know when we might be able to see it? ERW: Well hopefully it’ll be out this year. They’re still waiting to find someone that really is right for the movie. They’ve had offers but I don’t know – they’re kind of waiting. It’s a really specific film. The film’s not for everyone. But the people who love it love it. Every audience I talked to at Sundance was blown away by it. It is a very trippy, surreal, music-driven, visual movie. Some people don’t get it and some people love it. But that’s a majority of films I do, and not everybody loves them. Because they’re usually kind of weird or independent or pushing boundaries or taking chances. I’d rather be in a movie that takes chances and is imperfect than to be in a movie that plays it safe and is something we’ve seen a million times. It’s a romance. It’s like a violent romantic comedy – dark. We keep comparing it to movies like True Romance or even Trainspotting. It goes back and forth between drama and comedy and surrealism and dream states and there’s a lot of amazing music that drives the movie. AE: Speaking of music, I saw you sing last summer in L.A., doing “Son of a Preacher Man” and some Beatles songs. Will you be doing any more singing in the near future? Will you ever record an album? ERW: I’m not sure, you know. I think I have not wanted to record an album because I like something I can do that can’t really be tainted and then becomes a job and about money or anything. I feel like it fills my soul. I act and that’s creative and artistic, but that’s my job, you know, and I rely on that to live. So I kind of like having something that’s just mine that’s creative that helps me unwind. Because I never feel more like me than when I’m singing. It’s like meditative. I just leave my body and I just never want that to be messed with or tainted I guess. So I sing with my friends and if people ask me to sing with them or collaborate with them I’ll do it. I’ve sang on a couple of albums, obviously Across the Universe and a Bob Dylan tribute album called Chimes of Freedom, but there are a few things out there. If you’re lucky you’ll see me sing around L.A. now and then. Maybe I’ll do an album, maybe not. I don’t know. I’d rather keep it sacred. AE: Do you write your own music? ERW: I do, I have written my own music. Maybe I’ll do some of my own music next time I do a show or sing with someone, I’ll throw in one of my songs, because I’ve actually never sang one of my songs for an audience.

Follow Evan Rachel Wood on Twitter at @EvanRachelWood.

Lesbian Apparel and Accessories Gay All Day sweatshirt -- AE exclusive

Related Articles

Leave a Reply

Back to top button