Matthew Broderick

Before Torch Song Trilogy, did anyone warn you of the potential perils of accepting a gay role so early in your career?
I had some agents telling me to be careful. I just thought it was a hilarious part and never worried about it. And to be totally honest, I hadn’t gotten any other jobs, so it was a really great job to get. When someone would mention to me, “But it’s a gay character, blah blah blah,” I was like, “Fuck you.” That play was a huge deal when it opened. It was one of the most exciting times of my career.

Ironically, you haven’t played another gay character since. It seems to have had a reverse effect. I don’t know why.
I think because Ferris Bueller came out and I got turned into that.

Have you heard the gay rumor about yourself?
I used to hear it more, but I don’t really hear it that much now -- I guess because nobody who’s married and has children is gay. [Laughs] Now that I’m old, I’ve had so much other stuff happen to bother me that that wouldn’t bother me anyway.

Did it ever bother you?
A little bit just when I was trying to score. [Laughs] I’ve always had a lot of gay friends, I grew up in a theater household, so I’ve never been uncomfortable with that.

Which do you think fueled the rumors more: Torch Song, your friendship with Nathan Lane, or your little light green Vespa?
[Laughs] Maybe I am gay! It all sounds suspicious to me. I sold my green Vespa, interestingly enough, to a gay friend, [Hairspray lyricist] Scott Whitman. I got a gray one. You think that’s more butch?

A little. Now settle a bet. Who’s gayer: Nathan or Harvey Fierstein?
Whatever I answer, one of them will be extremely angry at me -- but I don’t know which way would be worse for whom. They’re both very strong-willed men. And very gay. [Laughs] I shouldn’t say that, even. Strike that. They’re two of my biggest influences, and I love them both!

The Producers was criticized for, if not being homophobic, encouraging gay stereotypes. How do you respond? With the Carmen Ghia and Roger De Bris characters?
I always felt it was so outrageous and burlesque that it was OK. It never offended me. And it was almost all gay people [behind the show]!

So what’s it like to be married to such a huge gay icon?
It’s amazing. She always had a little bit of that quality even before Sex and the City. It’s an interesting phenomenon with women who cross over like that. There’s a bit of a gay community going on at our house, actually. There are a lot of people who help her get her stunning looks together, and I will say there’s a certain percentage of them who are not straight.