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Nurse Jackie's Haaz Sleiman Finally Comes Out ... As Straight

Last month Showtime's new hit series Nurse Jackie debut to record-breaking numbers. Part of the series' success and much of its gay following is probably due to the gay character named Mo-Mo, played to perfection by Haaz Sleiman and described as "the only gay character of Middle Eastern descent currently on the air and one of the few to have ever been portrayed on television." The Lebanese-born actor talks to Brandon Voss at The Advocate about his role.

On representing the gay community "respectfully":
It’s definitely my responsibility not to stereotype any character, but especially a gay character because of the misperceptions people still have about gays. I really struggled in the beginning with the character because I was trying to find balance and be as authentic as possible, but the way I finally saw it is that he’s just a guy. Even though he’s gay and Muslim, which is a really interesting combination, that doesn’t define him. It’s just a part of who he is.

On being "butch" compared to the other male nurse Thor:
Initially, I didn’t want Mo-Mo to be at all effeminate. I really wanted to focus on his qualities as a person rather than the physical. The director who directed the pilot was leaning more toward the effeminate without even realizing he was doing it, but I didn’t like that, and the writers and the producers were on my side. In terms of Thor, I think the actor himself is very similar to the character, so there is a sense of authenticity there in terms of physicality.

The actor also gives the inside scoop on how he perfected this line: "If I had to choose between George Clooney’s cock and this cup of coffee, I’d say coffee."

Haaz shot to fame as flirtatious muscle boy "Tyson" in Maurice Jamal's The Ski Trip. Although he has been identified by several on-screen gay roles, Haaz Sleiman finally comes out ... as straight ... in the interview and says he doesn't mind the speculation. "It’s not something that would bother me if it did. It’s all about doing good work, and the stuff that comes with it afterward, it is all fun"

Pilot episode of Nurse Jackie is free at iTunes.

Jackie's Strength [The Advocate]

Thanks BOUTRIE

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Haaz Sleiman to "Play" Gay Muslim in New Showtime Series

It boy and actor-of-the-moment Haaz Sleiman returns to television, this time to "play" a gay Muslim character on the new Showtime series Nurse Jackie.

The series stars Edie Falco of The Sopranos as as an "iconoclastic, opinionated, self-medicating nurse in New York City" and Haaz is cast as "Maurice, a gay Muslim who is one of Jackie’s co-workers and best friends," reports Michael Jensen at After Elton "When asked if Maurice was originally written as a gay Muslim character—something still of a novelty for American television—or was something the network suggested, [Showtime Entertainment President Robert] Greenblatt said, 'He was a gay Muslim character [from the start]. We had to find an actor to play that, but it’s not the largest talent pool. We found Haaz Sleiman. He’s a terrific actor.' "

The Lebanese-born Sleiman first caught our attention as the flirtatious muscle boy "Tyson" in Maurice Jamal's The Ski Trip. Recently he has guested on 24, ER, Veronica Mars and Navy NCIS, and, was featured as one of the co-stars of Thomas McCathy's drama The Visitor and that performance received rave reviews at Sundance and the Toronto Film Festival. This would be Sleiman's first time as a principal character on a television series, and he is breaking ground as "the only gay character of Middle Eastern descent currently on the air and one of the few to have ever been portrayed on television." After playing a series of improbably handsome Muslim terrorists in crime shows, it was a strong move on Sleman's part to take a role with some meat.

Showtime Orders New Series with Gay Content [After Elton]

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Actor-of-the-moment Haaz Sleiman is the newest "it boy" to glam it up for Flaunt, the edgy Los Angeles-based fashion bible whose almost-monthly editorials featuring black and Latino models and actors have become required reading. Sleiman stars in Thomas McCathy's new drama The Visitor, which has drawn rave reviews from the critics at Sundance and the Toronto Film Festival. More on the film and YouTube trailer is here.

Haaz Sleiman should look familiar. We first spotted him starring as the flirtatious muscle boy "Tyson" in Maurice Jamal's The Ski Trip. Since then, notes Mad Professah, the actor has been featured as ""another improbably handsome muslim terrorist" in 24 and Navy NCIS. Not bad work if you can get it.

Photographer Kevin Amato lensed the seven page editorial. Long Nguyen is the style director. It's a beautiful shoot, very monochromatic, lots of greys and blacks. Tom Ford, Thom Browne, Prada and Lanvin are represented here. Lanvin was one of the iconic houses of the 1960s and 1970s, its great to seem them making such a comeback. More photos in the magazine.

Photographer: Kevin Amato.
Styling: Long Nguyen

New Haaz Sleiman Movie: The Visitor [Mad Professah]
Movie Trailer: The Visitor [Professor GQ]

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