Sean Maher reveals his sexuality

Hollywood actor Sean Maher has revealed that he’s been hiding the truth about his sexuality, until now.

 

The Playboy Club star has decided its time to “come out” as a gay man. After nearly fifteen years of regular work in Hollywood he told Entertainment Weekly: “I was nervous coming here today because I’ve just never talked about it… But, it’s so liberating. It was interesting to be coming to have a conversation that I was always afraid to have.”

The 36-year-old actor says that despite never discussing his sexuality in public before he’s been longing to do so for quite some time. Maher lives with his partner of almost nine years, Paul, and their two children, Sophia Rose and Liam Xavier.

He also pondered the reasons for not telling the industry he was gay sooner. “I’m 22, I move to L.A., and it’s such a cliché, but the day I arrive, publicists from the show took me out to The Ivy for lunch,” and adds, “They’re telling me, ‘You know, gosh, we’d really appreciate it if you could keep your girlfriend on the side because we want to appeal to the female demographic of the show.’”

He also recalled early words from his agent, “You need to get a girl on your arm or people will start talking.” Maher adding, “I remember telling him: ‘I’m gay.’ He had no idea. And he said: ‘All the more reason to get a girl on your arm.’ My agent was also like, ‘It’s best if you keep your options open. Maybe bisexual?’”

Since those days in the late 1990s, other notable actors have managed to achive lead role status without letting their sexuality dictate the parts they play. One of the most popular actors on British and American television at the moment is John Barrowman who has managed not to be typecast into ‘gay’ roles.

Sean however felt for a long time that keeping his sexuality was easier to be cast in leading roles. “I’m thinking, What is the potential that if they caught wind that they had cast a gay lead actor that they would fire me? …So that sort of started the idea of, okay, well, I’m working a lot, I guess I’ll just keep that gay part of my life on the back burner for now. I went so far as to sleep with women a couple times. It was a very confusing time for me.” He told Entertainment Weekly.

Maher says that coming out has been liberating and that being in the closet had ultimately proved to be a miserable and stressful existence. “Creatively, I feel so much more open and free, and I am so happy on The Playboy Club,” he added.