Sharon Gless (Finally) Goes Gay

Pictured, standing, from left: Claudia Allen, Kelli Strickland (who plays 30s Hannah), Meg Thalken (Mail Lady), Gless (Hannah), Ann Hagemann (30s Rachel), Jacqui Jackson (Greta), and Patricia Kane (Minister). Front: Carlton and Baim. Photo by Kat Fitzgerald

She’s best known for playing the role of an outspoken, eccentric, overbearing PFLAG mom on Queer as Folk, a tough cop named Cagney on Cagney & Lacey, and most recently the mouthy mother on Burn Notice. But Sharon Gless has returned to gay and lesbian audiences playing a new kind of role: an actual lesbian.

Hannah Free, a film adapted from the play by Claudia Allen, tells the story of two women, Hannah (played by Gless) and Rachel, who grow up together in a small town and develop an undying love for each other. Due to the social ramifications of homosexuality in their generation, their love goes through trials as Rachel chooses to live a traditional, heterosexual life while Hannah continues on as an unapologetic lesbian. The plot follows a nonlinear timeline, weaving scenes set in the past and present, letting the audience see who the two lovers once were and what they have become.

Gless just wrapped production on the film in Chicago, where she sat down with Advocate.com to talk about the movie and how it relates to Prop. 8.

Advocate.com:You’re shooting Hannah Free in Chicago. How’s the city been treating you so far?
Sharon Gless: I love Chicago. I haven’t had too much of a chance to see it. I’m here on the set for the majority of it and get to stay in a coach house behind the house we’re filming in. When I’m there, I’m memorizing lines. I did, though, get to see Lily Tomlin, which was exciting.

So, I’m not going to lie. To prepare I watched you as one my favorite characters you have played, Debbie on Queer ss Folk. What I enjoy about your career is that you’ve played the role of Cagney, which was inspirational to lesbians. You’ve played a role on Queer as Folk that was extremely supportive of the LGBT community, and now you’re actually playing a gay person. How does it feel to finally “be” one of us?
I love it! It’s very natural to me. I mean, I’m constantly reminding myself that I’m playing a lesbian. But to me, it’s just another character. It’s not too different than playing other roles because it isn’t about just being gay. It’s about love. In this case, I’m just in love with a woman.

You’re also working with a cast made up almost entirely of women. How’s that working out?
Everyone is great! It’s fun. Especially seeing the woman that plays the 30-year-old version of me in the flashback scenes. She looks just like me! It’s great to be surrounded by a very talented collection of women.

Now, the film is based on a play?
Yes, a play by Claudia Allen, who also wrote the screenplay for the film. It’s a very excellent piece. Claudia is a great friend of mine. We first worked together to do a radio show that Claudia wrote at [Chicago theater company] Victory Gardens in the early '90s. Then, in 2000, Claudia invited me to do another play at Victory Gardens. It was very fortuitous too, working with Claudia. I was coming to Chicago to do that show in 2000 when I was offered a script for a part on Queer as Folk. That show changed my life, and the opportunity to play this part of Hannah and work with Claudia again just seemed fitting, especially being able to come back to Chicago to play it.