Kate Walsh on New Lesbian Character

Kate Walsh says she enjoyed playing a "gruff, no-nonsense" lesbian character in her new film Angels Crest.

"Jane was a great role for me to play and a real departure," says Walsh, best-known for portraying Dr. Addison Montgomery on Grey's Anatomy and its spin-off, Private Practice.

At the launch party for the Tribeca film festival in New York, where Angels Crest will premiere April 22, the acclaimed actress describes the film, which costars Jeremy Piven and Mira Sorvino, as showing "how residents of a small town deal with a tragedy that disrupts their lives."

"I loved the character, and the relationship between her and her partner was really interesting to me," Walsh says. "There's humor in how she's an artist and kind of gruff and no-nonsense. It's a really beautiful film."

Walsh, who has played lesbian and transgender roles in the past, says a character's sexuality isn't really an issue when she accepts a film. "I'm just drawn to the role and the character and if it happens to be lesbian or transgender, whatever," she says. "It's the character and the relationship that really draws me to a project."

Other films with LGBT content at the festival include The Union, a documentary about Elton John's musical collaboration with Leon Russell. Also of interest is Carol Channing: Larger Than Life, a look at the famed 90-year-old performer.

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