Daniel Letterle first came to our attention playing perhaps the only straight boy in the film CAMP, learning how to skateboard and play the guitar for the role. Now he's done a 180 and is playing the gayer than gay title role in THE MOSTLY UNFABULOUS SOCIAL LIFE OF ETHAN GREEN, based on the comic strip and soon to light up theatre screens across the country.

Daniel moved to New York from a small town in Ohio when he was just 17 and enrolled in the American Musical & Dramatic Academy (AMDA) while living in a tiny one room apartment on the Upper West Side. His goal was to make it on Broadway, but things have changed for him along the way. We met Daniel in a noisy coffee shop in the West Village for a little chat.

New Queer Cinema: How did you get started in New York?

Daniel Letterle: When I left AMDA I started with Back Stage [a theatrical casting newspaper]. I was all musical theater and was looking for chorus positions, going out for anything - JOSEPH in Iowa, or whatever, any dinner theatre. The first thing I got was a small production of WEST SIDE STORY in Philadelphia. I did that kind of thing for a couple of years and went to Europe in another production of WEST SIDE STORY, ending up in Milan at La Scala.

NQC: Well, being a chorus boy -- that's pretty gay isn't it?

DL: It's very gay. All my friends were all gay and we had a really good time together. So I learned all about gay culture in my chorus days, early on. When I came back from Italy I decided to try get out of theatre and work in TV and film. I tried to get managers and get sent out for commercials. I got as many managers as I could; anyone interested. I got submitted for FAME; they were going to make a FAME movie.

NQC: Another one?

DL: Yes, another one. I got seen for that, but I guess they canned that project. I was called in for CAMP shortly after that. That's how I got into film.

NQC: I hear you were interviewed for two weeks for that?

DL: Yes, I was. It was grueling. It was so grueling. Unbelievable.

NQC: They were going to let you know before the weekend if you got cast, and then -- Bloody Friday?

DL: You heard about Bloody Friday? Where do you get this information?

NQC: The internet - it's a scary place.

DL: Oh my gosh.

NQC: So on Friday you fell down some subway stairs and had to go to the hospital. Then you didn't hear anything from the casting directors of CAMP till the following Tuesday. They offered you the role and you said "maybe." Was that because you were so banged up or because you were pissed off they waited so long to contact you?

DL: I was pissed off. After all that... Geez. It's hard. But I felt so attached to CAMP - I felt like I really wanted to do that; I really felt like it was right. That rarely happens. Actually, it happened with ETHAN GREEN. It happened with CAMP. The first time it happened was WEST SIDE STORY. It's like you have this feeling that it's what you have to do. This is where I'm supposed to be. Rarely.

NQC: So how did you get cast in ETHAN GREEN?

DL: Well, I'm sure they went after a lot of names. I wasn't a name at all, but I was with the Gersh agency at the time. The film was getting close to its start date and they didn't have anyone. I got the script from my agent and I read it and I loved it. I was like, I have to do this. The director's number was on the script and I called him up, and told him that I really had to do this movie. I went on tape with my agent here in the city and sent it out to them.

NQC: So they cast you from that, without seeing you in person?

DL: Yes.

NQC: So you didn't have any reservations about playing a gay character?

DL: No. It was so well written. David Vernon [the screenwriter] is so talented. It just drew me in. It was more like a story than a screenplay.

NQC: What were the challenges of playing that role?

DL: The challenge was I got the part, and in five days I was in Hollywood shooting. I like to take time to get the character in the body so I don't have to stress out too much. To just jump in like that and know all the relationships with everybody, that was really hard to do. As far as playing a gay character, you know, getting beyond kissing guys and everything, other than that, it's all the same. After that, it's easy.

NQC: There's a lot of sex in the comic strip. Is there in the movie as well?

DL: There is, yeah.

NQC: What do your friends say about that?

DL: Actually, not many of my friends have seen the movie yet. It will be interesting to hear what they have to say.

NQC: How about your girlfriend?

DL: My girlfriend didn't really have a problem with it. She clenched a little bit, but that was only once. She understands.

NQC: Until the next one comes along.

DL: Exactly. I think the next step - I don't think there'll be a next step. As far as the level of intimacy that's displayed on that screen, the next step would have to be porn. It won't get any more intimate than that.

NQC: Some gay people have a problem with straight actors playing gay roles. How do you feel about that?

DL: I don't understand that. It's acting. You can play anything.

NQC: They didn't ask you if you were gay when they cast you.

DL: No. Actually, the cast was mixed up. Two out of three of my boyfriends in the movie were straight; it's just the way it goes. I don't think it really matters what your sexuality is.

NQC: The Variety review of ETHAN GREEN said that the film "may be so aggressively gay as to limit its appeal even among intended audiences." What does that mean?

DL: Well, [Laughs] the writer is pretty all out. There are a lot of visuals - with a lot of scenes - there's internet hookups with gay men, it's all there on the screen. There's a lot of kissing, there's a lot of sex. I don't know. I just think it's sort of real. I mean, he really pushes everything. It's really racy. It's just commenting on what goes on.

NQC: So you think it's realistic in the way the gay characters are depicted? It is based on a comic strip.

DL: Well, it does keep that heightened reality. It's like a French farce; it's fast paced. It does step out the realm of reality but it tries to stay grounded.

NQC: How do you feel about having gay fans and being a gay pinup boy?

DL: It's great. Fine with me. I'll take any fans I can get.

NQC: What kind of music are you currently listening to?

DL: Currently, it's really strange. I'm in this Folk/Rock mood -- like Chip Taylor, Cat Stevens. I don't know why. Just getting my head somewhere else.

NQC: What are you currently reading?

DL: Currently I'm reading Frankenstein, for some reason. I don't know why - I've read the book twice before. It's really really good. Usually I read it in the winter, the past two times.

NQC: Is that a favorite?

DL: Yeah, I really like it.

NQC: Do you tend to revisit books?

DL: I do, I'm a book revisitor.

NQC: Do you still skateboard and play the guitar?

DL: I don't skateboard, but I do play the guitar. I think I would get killed skateboarding around here.

NQC: How about some either/or?

DL: Okay.

NQC: Cher or Elvis?

DL: Um, Cher.

NQC: Jerry Herman or Stephen Sondheim?

DL: Oh my God, Jerry Herman! [laughing]

NQC: Broadway or Hollywood?

DL: God. I think Hollywood.

NQC: Boxers or briefs?

DL: Briefs.

NQC: Gay or Straight?

DL: [Laughing] Straight.

NQC: So what's up next for you?

DL: I've done another movie, DEBATING ROBERT LEE. I really hope it gets sold, because it's a great movie. I'm really happy with it. ETHAN GREEN was really fortunate in that it got picked up right away.

NQC: Anything else?

DL: That's it right now. I've just been auditioning for a lot of films. But it's been tapering off in the city, and I'm thinking of going to LA, so I'm getting in the mindset of getting out of here and setting up camp out there.