It turns out to be a nightmare for the “The Puppy Episode” actress when she received a death threat for playing a Lesbian role. She recollects the frightening experience in a recent interview with Vulture,
“I was excited. I didn’t think twice about it. It was a great opportunity,” the “Big Little Lies” star said. “And then the calls started coming in once I’d said yes, from a couple of advisers in Hollywood who were out gay men, (telling me) to not do it. A lot of people in my life really worried.”
Dern said she paid the advice no mind, but she became aware of how dangerous it could be when she experienced a frightening situation with her co-star Oprah Winfrey.
“The first time I became aware was, Oprah and I were having a snack, and suddenly a flood of cops swarmed the set and the stage while we were rehearsing,” Dern recalled. “They’re like, ‘There’s been a bomb threat, we’re sweeping the stage.’ And they start literally rushing us off the stage.”
Dern noted that they were only working on the episode for 10 days, but had to continue worrying about their safety for the next couple of years to come.
“It was radical to experience… It was the only time I ever experienced having to have a full security detail,” Dern said. “But what was amazing, which I will never forget, that when (DeGeneres) looked in my eyes, she said it was the first time she said ‘I’m gay’ out loud.”
The actress found it obvious that in spite of playing several iconic characters, playing gay turns out to be the most challenging and controversial one in her career.
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