The Witcher: Blood Origin Star Nathaniel Curtis' On-Set Nickname Was 'Fancy Gay Jesus'

While filming The Witcher: Blood Origin, out British actor Nathaniel Curtis was nicknamed "Fancy Gay Jesus" due to his signature long locks (that he says are all his), his character's long, flowy robes, and a plethora of jewels. His character, Brian, is also openly queer on the show.

Curtis had initially gained attention for his work in Russell T Davies' AIDS drama series It's a Sin. Having grown up loving the fantasy genre, he says his Blood Origin role "means the world to me."

"I had so much fun on that set," Curtis told Variety of his time creating the prequel series. "To be asked to play the first openly queer character in the Witcher universe, when I heard that, it kind of sunk in that it wasn't even just about me."

Reflecting on a lack of representation in the genre throughout his life, Curtis said his casting filled a void for those who "longed to see queer people of color in the fantasy world."

His audition was a self-taped reading of a three-page monologue about Brian's backstory, in which Curtis detailed his character running off with a boy he loved who then died at sea.

Curtis was also among legions of fans who were shocked at the sudden announcement of Henry Cavill's departure from the original The Witcher series.

"Honestly, I'm devastated," he said. "I shall never recover."

That being said, he's still a fan of Cavill's replacement, Liam Hemsworth, and notes he'll continue to watch the show. However, he would also love to see Brian pop up on The Witcher, saying, "If anybody wants to bring him back 1,500 years later, I'll do it."

The Witcher: Blood Origin is streaming on Netflix.

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