Lumino (June 2004)

[RHintervews]

Lumino [volume1, issue 5, June 2004]

P1. Randy Harrison: "Don't call him Justin"
By ANN FINSTAD

P2. Randy Harrison: one of the folks at home
By LUKAS SZYMANEK



www.luminomagazine.com/2004.06/spotlight/harris...

Photo courtesy of Norman Jean Roy/Showtime



Randy Harrison: "Don't call him Justin"

By ANN FINSTAD

As Justin Taylor on "Queer as Folk," Randy Harrison has come a long way in three-plus seasons. Once a naive 17-year-old who, when asked if he liked the drug Special K replied "I like Cheerios better," Justin has become the King of Babylon, a survivor of a violent gay-bashing incident, a successful comic book artist, and, most recently, a member of a gay vigilante group – as well as winning over the "heartless" Brian Kinney to boot.

But don’t confuse Harrison with the character he plays on TV. During a recent conversation, he’s quick to point out that although he and Justin might look alike, that’s where the similarities end. "I think that when he was younger he was more similar to maybe what I was when I was that age. But, you know we sort of have grown up in really different directions … it’s harder for me to relate to him now than it ever has been. I mean it’s more of a stretch."

"I like that he’s more different from me now. I find it interesting. I find it kind of interesting to start playing someone that has sort of grown into someone that you probably wouldn’t hang out with in real life, or have that much interest in talking to … " he trails off with a laugh.

Those are strong words regarding a character that’s brought Harrison much notoriety and acclaim since "Queer as Folk" premiered. As an openly gay cast member of show that’s often heralded as the groundbreaking forerunner to the current glut of mainstream programming featuring homosexuals, I ask Harrison what it’s like to have been a part of that for almost four years.

"I’m glad that one of the first major things I did, as far as job-wise, was something that does have some social relevance … and I felt like that when I started doing 'Queer as Folk.' I was aware of it, that we were pushing boundaries, and we were the first of a lot of things. And it felt good to know that."

"But we’ve done that," Harrison says. "And we did it four years ago. It all kind of seems like a fad a little bit. And as much as people believe it’s progress, it doesn’t seem like it is really."

"I mean, I think the most important thing is it at least created a sort of a dialogue for people to talk about gay rights and talk about homosexuality," Harrison says. "And I think it probably is at this point a little bit easier for teenagers to come out and for people who are in positions where they’re tortured by their identity to [cope] a little better."

"But as far as what it’s done for the gay community, you know, that’s already out, and active," Harrison says. "I don’t know that there’s necessarily been progress. I feel like there’s a backlash already, a little bit. I feel like it’s as limiting in what people expect of you as a homosexual, or what they think you are like. We sort of define ourselves in a way, by these representations of a really small aspect of what we are in the community."

But despite the faddish nature of the media explosion, Harrison concedes that it has resulted in an overall positive outcome, even if it falls short in some ways.

"It’s just hard because I’m more interested in laws actually changing, and the true perception, the American perception of what we are actually changing, and I don’t really see that happening. I mean, we’re still pushing. But I feel like the whole aspect of civil rights, it’s totally independent of a television set."

When it comes to talking about infamous sex scenes and nudity that "Queer as Folk" features on a weekly basis, Harrison sounds weary, like he’s tired of answering the question. I can’t blame him if he is – but we are a culture obsessed with sex, as he’s quick to point out, so there’s no skirting the issue.

"It’s funny because everyone wants to talk about [the scenes]. People like to latch onto sex for some reason still, and get sort of obsessive about the naked body. It’s funny because when you watch it, just the fact that it’s two people who appear to be naked – even though we’re not – in proximity to each other, an amount of intimacy comes across that oftentimes just really isn’t there. It’s totally technical. But people see two things and they create that in their minds. You know, you can’t see two naked people together that close and not assume a sort of intimacy."

And what does he think of the infatuation that people, especially straight women, have with the Brian and Justin relationship?

"I find it sort of mildly amusing. It just seems kind of strange, I’m not really a television person, so whenever people get sort of obsessive relationships about television characters I find it sort of bizarre."

As one of those people (with the memory of my latest "TV boyfriend" fresh on my mind), I laugh nervously as he continues. "It’s really sweet and it’s nice that for whatever reason the story line and our work [are] so compelling."

During the six months of the year while he’s not filming "Queer as Folk," Harrison spends time auditioning, doing theater, and catching up with friends and family, as well as taking classes part time at Columbia University. When I ask what he studies, he says his interests lie in English Literature and other artistic classes – but "not acting [classes]."

As our conversation continues, I get the impression that Harrison is ready to move on to the next phase in his life, where the issue isn’t how many times his butt has been on television or whether or not Justin and Brian will ever fully commit to each other.

Harrison’s true enthusiasm seems to lie with the work he’s producing outside of "Queer as Folk."

He makes no secret that he’s tired of dressing up and making the promotional rounds for the show and prefers working in theater over television. He talks more willingly about his own interests than the events that occur when he’s Justin Taylor, at one point even saying "It feels strange to be talking about [Justin] because he’s not a real person."

As evidence of his emphatic non-Justin-ism, Harrison shares that unlike his character, he has no talent as an artist, but his creativity does express itself in other ways. "I write. But I’ve never been happy enough to let other people read what I write. I’ve never had the focus and the attention span to write a novel. I think I wrote like a 120 page mini-novel when I was like, 15, and that was the longest thing I’ve ever written and it was terrible. I write short plays and short movies that I shoot with my digital camera with my friends."

And when he thinks of the future, when Justin is just a tiny speck in his rearview mirror?

"I’ll keep acting, you know. I’ll definitely keep doing theater. I’d love to break into film. I’m making small films with my friends now, and after five years of doing that, it could become bigger films. I’d love to start a theater company [with a group of friends] … I’ll just keep acting. I don’t know exactly what the opportunities that will present themselves to me are, I know I’m creating a lot of my own work and that’ll definitely get bigger and more exciting and maybe one day even scrounge me up some money."

He laughs, possibly aware that this sounds strange, and amends himself to say that he’d like to make money on work he’s created on his own, not just by playing someone else’s character.

With the fifth season of "Queer as Folk" just announced, Justin Taylor isn’t quite out of the picture for Randy Harrison yet. But at least Harrison is excited about his many prospects for the future.




Randy Harrison: one of the folks at home

By LUKAS SZYMANEK

"It was said that he was gay in real life." I am quoting from a certain Internet biography of "Queer as Folk" star Randy Harrison. This is the opening paragraph; one sentence. In the next one we learn the year of his birth and of his professional acting experience.

It is a relatively long second paragraph, the last one in fact. In the margin, there’s a photograph of Harrison in a tight see-through T-shirt, and sparkles around his head. An idol for the gay community is born, one who is gay in his private life as well. Just like his TV character Justin is on-screen. One goes so well with the other.

Though I wanted to, I did not ask Harrison to comment on his homosexuality. I think the closest I came was when I referred to Gale Harold’s Brian as a "hunk" while talking about his and Justin’s troubled relationship. I needed to take homosexuality out of any personal territory.

I can definitely see the appeal; sunny blonde highlights, eternally boyish facial features (those lips!, those cheekbones!), a slim, slightly-toned body, and not a hair on his delicate skin. But even the paltry Internet biography tells me there’s more to Harrison than his metrosexual features. And my gay friends are already willing to sell themselves into my slavery to get his phone number.

But I read further, refusing to be a gay man who stops at the first paragraph.

I much prefer the description "veteran of the stage." You must not have been wasting time cruising buff men in gay bars if you’re proclaimed that at age 27. The truth is Harrison has been acting since early in his life. He graduated with a BFA in Theater from the Cincinnati College – Conservatory of Music. He’s been in various stage productions from Shakespeare’s "Midsummer Night Dream" to "Shopping and Fucking." TV might not seem like the proper progression of an actor’s career in terms of creative ambition, but it certainly is an offer one definitely finds hard to refuse.

"Theater actors know you don’t make money on stage," Harrison admits, "I was excited about coming to TV. I feel more financially secure now."

He tries to continue doing stage work, but finds his theater career "always on halt, when you have to go to Toronto [for the "Queer as Folk" shoot].

Not that he’s under-appreciative or resentful of his television work. "It is not nearly as satisfying, but the process is just as exhausting," Harrison says. "And I love the group of people I work with."

But still, television equals quality murder, right? Well, Justin Taylor is not your typical, fake ID-possessing, man-obsessed twink. He’s a fighter and a survivor. He’s an artist.

During the first season on "Queer As Folk" we watched him win over the heart of sex god Brian Kinney ,and display great amounts of courage and confidence. Harrison has given the character not only his irresistible innocent looks, but also great charisma and sensibility that transcend his actions.

In the course of three seasons, Justin was gay-bashed at his prom, clashed with his mother over sexuality, struggled to stay in school, upheld his drawing talent and creativity, and soldiered through a grueling relationship with the older and emotionally arrested Brian with great naivety and even greater persistence.

Dare I call Justin a gay teenage role model?

"There is a lot to be learned from Justin," Harrison says, "There’s something really powerful and significant about his coming out process."

Harrison, however, cannot help but judge Justin for getting sidetracked and lost as of late. "He is 22 and finds himself stuck in the club culture. He dropped out of college and doesn’t pursue a career."

Harrison tells me that this season there will be much more drama when it comes to Justin, especially involving a story line in which his friend gets bashed but doesn’t want to press charges. Harrison says Justin becomes a vigilante. "It is a wonderfully absurd but pretty radical and interesting story line that a lot of people can relate to."
As for his love affair with Brian, Harrison remains skeptical. It was always pretty evident that Brian, throughout the relationship, needed Justin more than Justin needed him. Even though Brian financially supported the young student for a short while, emotionally, the ball was always in Justin’s court.

"I think they’re not meant to be together. There is the age difference for starters," Harrison says. "Everything that Justin and Brian have created looks a bit juvenile now, and Justin realizes that."

That's a pretty tough hit to the fans, many of who look at Justin and Brian as the gay Ross and Rachel.

"They were a central couple in the beginning," Harrison says. "But now the focus shifted towards Michael and his relationship." The "Friends" simile may not be totally out of line though. This season the couple is back together yet again.

As for Harrison, he just completed a DVD promo tour in February, and new season parties in Miami and New York. He is now done with his share of promotional obligations, and is happy to relax in his New York City home.

"It is beautiful here now. I’m beginning to defragment," he says, "I am ready to jump into my new life."

Making out with Gale Harold on a regular basis is too exhausting? I bite my tongue not to ask the question.