Sharon Gless on Playing a Lesbian: Exclusive Interview

From the tough-as-nails cop on '80s drama Cagney & Lacey to the proudest PFLAG mom ever on Showtime's groundbreaking Queer as Folk in the '90s, Sharon Gless has had a long, storied career that's resounded strongly with the lesbian audience. Now, the 66-year-old actress is adding another credit to her resume: playing gay. Starring as the title character in Outfest hit Hannah Free, which opens in select theaters Friday, SheWired.com caught up with Gless to talk about how much the lesbian community has supported her through the years, kissing Rosie O'Donnell and how she's always wanted to portray a lesbian on-screen. 

SheWired.com: At what point in your career did you realize you were becoming a lesbian icon?

Sharon Gless: I got an award a couple of months ago (from QFest) for being the lesbian icon of the year and I think that's the first time that someone actually said that to me. It wasn't anything that I was aware of; I've just had an amazing lesbian following since Cagney & Lacey. Thank God; they kept me on the air. Then I was lucky enough to do Queer as Folk, and it was a totally different audience and the gays were just as supportive. I've never considered myself an icon; I never thought I was old enough to be an icon (laughs). It's a very flattering term that I do not deserve, but it's nice of you to say that.

How much did the lesbian audience help Cagney & Lacey succeed in the 1980s?

The lesbians were specifically attracted to Cagney and it was a really large part of our audience. Everyone used to ask me if I was gay; reporters, they said, "We understand that you're gay." And I'd say, "I'm not but I'm very tempted. I think the gays have more fun than I do!" The lesbian audience was a tremendous help; it wasn't just lesbians though, it was a very large number of lesbians that related to Cagney; she was single, she was strong and (former co-star) Tyne (Daly) always teases me, "Here's Cagney: Tough, but vulnerable. Tough but vulnerable." (Laughs.) It was a large part of our audience and they kept it on the air for six years; that's something for which I will always be grateful.

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