Entertainment
CONTACTStaffCAREER OPPORTUNITIESADVERTISE WITH USPRIVACY POLICYPRIVACY PREFERENCESTERMS OF USELEGAL NOTICE
© 2024 Pride Publishing Inc.
All Rights reserved
All Rights reserved
By continuing to use our site, you agree to our Private Policy and Terms of Use.
Bryan Batt is hiding in plain sight on Mad Men, the new cable drama about a group of day-drinking, chain-smoking, skirt-chasing ad guys living it up in swinging 1960. Batt plays Salvatore, the agency's art director, and no one on the show bats an eye at his straight-faced declarations of love for Joan Crawford or use of a half-naked male neighbor as model for a cigarette ad.
On tonight's episode, "The Hobo Code," airing on AMC at 10pm, Sal gets a little too cozy with a new client. Batt spoke to Out.com from New Orleans, where in the off-season he plays every role "from stock boy to gift wrap girl" at the boutique he co-owns with his partner.
Out.com: Finally your character gets a big story line! What's up with the art director?
Bryan Batt: We find out a little bit more about him. he comes to terms with -- or starts to explore some possibilities that we in 2007 have all already noticed about him. To a person in the '60s maybe it's less obvious. He's not dealing with it so well.
So Sal hasn't even had a secret gay life yet? It's never been clear.
No. I don't know if that happens later on. It's an episode about discovery. And like all our shows, what you think is going to happen doesn't happen, but you're still happily surprised. It's really smart.
You lead a double life as a stylist. Mad Men's period-perfect design must be like heaven.
The costumes -- oh, my God! Because our costume designer knows I'm from New Orleans, she gave my character this little vest. It has fleurs-de-lis embroidered on it!
And the sets look amazing.
It's all mid-century modern, which I think is the last really honest, truly American era of design. It's so iconic. Everything since has been retro or a throwback.
Which pieces are you secretly dying to steal?
There's a pair of paintings in the conference room -- blue, yellow, and green horizontal abstracts. I would kill people for them! And there's a pair of chairs in Don Draper's office that I covet.
I hope you'll take this as a compliment -- you have the gayest resume ever.
[Laughing] I know! But what's funny is only in La Cage and Jeffrey were they actually gay roles. I was in Cats and Sunset Boulevard in straight roles, but they had a campy kitsch effect. I've enjoyed every show I've been in.
Many people think Hollywood is the most closeted workplace in America.
You might be right. There's this double standard. I'm just one of those people -- I cannot live a lie. I just can't. I was very lucky. I met my partner, and we've been together for 18 years. I was coming of age during the AIDS crisis; everyone on Broadway was dying around me. Even when I did Jeffrey, people were telling me, "Don't come out, don't come out." I was like, I am out. I already am. I never dated girls -- I was with Tom. I'm lucky to be able to live my happy life. There are some actors who live these quiet and duplicitous lives where they can't really have what they want. But I say, sooner or later, love is gonna get you.
Has playing Sal given you any new insight into what it would be like to be closeted?
It's reminded me of when I was in high school. I remember trying to walk more like the other guys did -- and talk like them. I had big gestures I tried to pull in. I was pretending. It was just like Eliza Doolittle. People do try to conform to what they think is acceptable. But you should find the people to be around who accept you for who you are.
Tell me about your other love, New Orleans.
The city is bouncing back. I think people should come down here, have a good time, but also tour the devastation, drink a Hurricane -- because you're gonna need it -- and then go back and write their public officials asking why we keep pouring money into Iraq when we need to rebuild the levees.
Catch Batt hosting the NO/AIDS Walk in New Orleans on September 16 and Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS Flea Market in New York City's Shubert Alley on September 23.
Want more breaking equality news & trending entertainment stories?
Check out our NEW 24/7 streaming service: the Advocate Channel!
Download the Advocate Channel App for your mobile phone and your favorite streaming device!
From our Sponsors
Most Popular
38 Male Celebs Who Did Full Frontal Scenes
November 17 2023 5:18 PM
These are all the celebrities Who came out as LGBTQ+ in 2023
December 31 2023 12:19 PM
29 LGBTQ+ celebs you can follow on OnlyFans
April 18 2024 1:00 PM
26 actors who showed bare ass in movies & TV shows
February 28 2024 1:50 PM
16 times male celebrities had to say they weren't gay
April 17 2024 11:57 AM
21 LGBTQ+ reality dating shows & where to watch them
April 03 2024 4:01 PM
15 Unforgettable Gay Kissing Scenes From TV & Movies
February 14 2024 10:20 AM
14 queens who quit or retired from drag after 'RuPaul's Drag Race'
April 04 2024 12:56 PM
40 steamy celebrity Calvin Klein ads we'll always be thirsty for
January 04 2024 10:54 AM
The 15 Best LGBTQ+ Movies of 2023
December 04 2023 10:32 AM
Watch Now: The Daily
Trending stories from our video partner Advocate Channel.
For more videos and shows go to advocatechannel.com.
Trending stories from our video partner Advocate Channel.
For more videos and shows go to advocatechannel.com.
Latest Stories
Laurence Fox ordered to pay $220k to 'Drag Race UK' star Crystal
April 25 2024 1:29 PM
Zendaya wants to do even more movies with Luca Guadagnino
April 25 2024 1:09 PM
Sophia Bush defends Ashlyn Harris in emotional essay about sexuality
April 25 2024 12:27 PM
Jonathan Bailey joins 'Heartstopper' as the celebrity crush of our dreams
April 25 2024 10:36 AM
10 times Kehlani had our heads spinning with her iconic looks & style
April 24 2024 8:41 PM
Andy Cohen's alleged Bravo exit & 'Housewives' legal drama—here's what we know
April 24 2024 8:11 PM
10 iconic fictional pop stars in film & TV that we're still stanning
April 24 2024 7:22 PM