Openly Gay ‘Bridgerton’ Star Golda Rosheuvel Was Told by a Lesbian Director to Stay in the Closet

Marc Malkin Senior Film Awards, Events & Lifestyle EditorWelcome to this week’s “Just for Variety.”Is “Bridgerton” star Nicola Coughlan going to be in the Margot Robbie-led “Barbie” movie? Sure sounds like it.It all begins with the speculation that Coughlan would be on the next season of “Doctor Who” after she was photographed at the BAFTA TV Awards with Ncuti Gatwa. Just minutes before, it was announced that the “Sex Education” actor would be the new Doctor.

3 min read In a plot twist that not even TV’s break out hit Ted Lasso has tackled (pardon the pun), 17-year-old Jake Daniels has become the first UK male professional footballer in more than 30 years to come out as gay and has been praised for his bravery by everyone, including Josh Cavallo, the Australian player whose […]

Jake Daniels is bravely coming out.

Blackpool's Jake Daniels came out publicly as a gay male professional footballer, the first to do so in the UK since 1990. While Justin Fashanu was the UK's first professional footballer to come out as gay, his career was tragically cut short due to homophobia – he ended his own life in 1998. Footballer Jake, 17, told Sky Sports that he believed he was "ready to tell people my story" after coming out to his parents, his football club and teammates while letting his fans "know the real me".

The Cannes Film Festival officially kicks off tomorrow. One of the big films to be screened there is David Cronenberg‘s body horror “Crimes of The Future,” which stars Lea Seydoux (“No Time To Die“) alongside the filmmaker’s longtime muse Viggo Mortensen.

Glen Powell (Top Gun: Maverick) and Adria Arjona (upcoming Father of the Bride) have signed on to star in the upcoming action-comedy Hitman, from Oscar-nominated director Richard Linklater (Boyhood). AGC International is launching international sales on the pic at Cannes and will co-rep domestic rights with CAA Media Finance and Cinetic.

Minnie Driver is reflecting on a "devastating" moment in her life. The actress, who recently wrote a new book titled "Managing Expectations: A Memoir in Essays," alleged that a producer told her she wasn’t "hot enough" to star in the 1997 film "Good Will Hunting." "It was devastating," the 52-year-old told The Cut. "To be told at 26 that you’re not sexy when you maybe just got over all your teenage angst and started to think, you know, ‘Maybe in the right light and the right shoes and the right dress, I’m all right.’" Minnie Driver never named the producer in question.

Marc Malkin Senior Film Awards, Events & Lifestyle EditorLaverne Cox will be honored as advocate of the year at the upcoming 2022 Webby Awards.The actor and producer will be recognized by the International Academy of Digital Arts & Sciences (IADAS) for her LGBTQ advocacy work.“Laverne Cox understands the true power of showing up by example,” Webby Awards president Claire Graves told Variety exclusively on Tuesday morning. “She is a clear, consistent and powerful voice advocating in defense of Black trans lives, and we are so proud to recognize her as the 2022 Webby Advocate of the Year, selected by a committee chaired by the NAACP and IADAS.”Hosted by comedian Roy Wood Jr., the Webby Awards will take place May 16 at Cipriani Wall Street in New York City.

James Franco is set to star in action thriller Mace from The Singing Detective helmer Jon Amiel.

Odeya Rush, a star known for “Lady Bird” and “Cha Cha Real Smooth,” will star in a drama called “Dangerous Waters” set during a sailing holiday that spirals out of control. John Barr (“Blood and Money”) is directing the film that will also star Eric Dane, Saffron Burrows and Ray Liotta.

Golda Rosheuvel is being honored in a big way.

Marc Malkin Senior Film Awards, Events & Lifestyle EditorRoyalty took the stand on Saturday night to advocate for LGBTQ+ equality.Golda Rosheuvel, the openly gay actor who plays the illustrious Queen Charlotte on “Bridgerton,” was presented the Equality Award at this year’s Human Rights Campaign gala in New York.“Being authentic and true to who I am has been something that I’ve championed in my own life, so to be able to get up there tonight and speak my journey is really important,” Rosheuvel told Variety before accepting her award. “That one person who’s struggling might hear it and be confident enough to step [up] in their own life.”The “Bridgerton” star later went on to tell the crowd, “nobody should have to choose between being publicly out and being a successful actor.” Rosheuvel recently opened up to Marc Malkin on the “Just for Variety” podcast about how a lesbian director once advised her to stay in the closet.

Coming out came with roadblocks for Golda Rosheuvel.

Marc Malkin Senior Film Awards, Events & Lifestyle EditorSearchlight Pictures’ queer romantic comedy “Fire Island” will have its world premiere on June 2 during NewFest’s NewFest Pride series.“We are thrilled to kick off our annual Pride month event with the world premiere of Andrew Ahn’s ‘Fire Island,’” NewFest executive director David Hatkoff said in statement on Thursday morning. “This joyful film captures the sexy, romantic, celebratory energy of the iconic NY gay enclave, and we can’t wait to celebrate with the film’s cast and creative team with a blow-out, prideful event in the heart of NYC.”Set in Fire Island, New York’s popular gay getaway Pines neighborhood and inspired by Jane Austen’s “Pride and Prejudice,” the film stars Joel Kim Booster and Bowen Yang as best friends who are determined to have the ultimate summer adventure.