Ewan McGregor has taken a major pay cut to play gay again, according to the London Evening Standard. In Scenes of a Sexual Nature, which “follows seven couples discussing their love lives on a hot August afternoon,” McGregor plays one half of a gay couple who are thinking about adopting a child. His onscreen partner is Douglas Hodge who co-starred with McGregor in the London stage production of Guys and Dolls. McGregor is reportedly being paid minimum wage for the role, which he took because the script was so good.
McGregor (who has also locked lips with Jonathan Rhys-Meyers in Velvet Goldmine) told Britain’s Daily Express:”I’ve never been a soldier but I’ve played a soldier. My character Billy is a human being – if he is gay or straight, it doesn’t make any difference.”
He also joked that he enjoyed practicing for the kiss with co-star Hodge: “We would run it a few times between shows.”
First-time feature director Edward Blum describes the film as being as much about the relationships as it is about Hampstead Heath itself: “This city has beautiful parks but it is such a wonderful place. People talk about their lives, relationships and emotions on Hampstead Heath. You can see all of the major sights of the capital there and the film gives a wonderful idea of London.”
Hampstead Heath has also made the papers recently, as it’s where George Michael played out a few “scenes of a sexual nature” himself. I’m not sure if that aspect of the park will make it into this film, however.
