Michael Johnston played gay characters in Teen Wolf and Slash while he was still figuring out how open to be about his own sexuality. Speaking to Attitude magazine, the now 30-year-old, openly gay actor reflected on those roles. The Obsession star discussed what those early roles gave him and the representation he wants to offer someone else.
Johnston played Corey Bryant, an openly gay character, in Teen Wolf and also starred in the queer drama Slash. “Playing those roles early on definitely helped me to accept and to change my view on my sexuality,” he said. He said he now sees his sexuality as a strength because it has made him more empathetic.
Growing up in the Bible Belt shaped his desire to tell a meaningful queer story. Seeing gay characters gave him a sense of belonging, something he hopes his own work can give another viewer. “So if I’m going to be that for someone else… that’s incredible,” he said.
The box office success of Obsession has given Johnston more freedom to choose his roles. He’s previously said he’d like to play a queer role with intention and meaning, and even floated writing one himself. Now he’s teasing a project that would give him that opportunity: “There will be a really incredible queer story in my future, and I’m so excited to play it and to have my steamy moment.”
