Gabourey Sidibe On Playing Gay: 'It’s The Same As Playing A Straight Person'

Sidibe at the after party for 'Life Partners' at Liberty Hall sponsored by Palm Bay Wine | Photo: Getty

In the Tribeca Film Festival flick Life Partners, Gabourey Sidibe plays a lesbian friend of the main star, Leighton Meester (also stepping out of her Gossip Girl shoes and playing a lesbian, when she's not playing a "tart" in the current Broadway production of Of Mice and Men). Out magazine sat down with Sidibe, best-known for her Oscar-nominated turn in Precious (not to mention her witchy role in American Horror Story: Coven), to talk about the role.

"I just really wanted to play a lesbian, which I guess is sort of nerdy," Sidibe said. "My best friend in the entire world is a lesbian and I just thought it would be fun."

In the process of filming, Sidibe found that putting up a wall between straight and gay characters was not the best way to approach it.

"Once I showed up in this role, I realized actually how playing a lesbian is not different," Sidibe explained. "It's all about the story, and it's the same thing. It's the same as playing a straight person. But I really did like it, because this character got to be a little bit of a pimp."

When asked what lady she'd like to have as her life partner, Sidibe got playful. "Can I like have a harem of ladies?" she asked. "Because I would love to marry and be life partners with Tina Fey and Amy Poehler. I'd have to bring them together."

Life Partners screens this week in New York at the Tribeca Film Festival.