RIP Terence Stamp: 3 films in which the actor played a perennial queer character
Terence Stamp has portrayed a variety of compelling characters over his long career, including several notable roles where he played gay or queer-coded characters, pushing the boundaries of what it means to be gay, trans or bi. Sadly, the actor passed away this week, aged 87, but in his wake he’s left a great range of acting for us to admire. Here are three great films to check out if you haven’t already.
Teorema (1968)
- Character: The Stranger
- Role: Mysterious, sexually ambiguous visitor
- About: Directed by Pier Paolo Pasolini, this Italian art-house classic features Stamp as a beautiful and enigmatic man who seduces every member of a bourgeois family—father, mother, son, daughter, and maid—before abruptly disappearing. You could say it posseses shades of Saltburn (but released way before that film hit the big screen). While the film never labels the character’s sexuality, his bisexual / pansexual nature is central to the story.
- Why it’s great: It’s a surreal, provocative exploration of desire and existential crisis, with Stamp at the centre of its hypnotic spell.
The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert (1994)
- Character: Bernadette Bassenger
- Role: A transgender woman and former drag performer
- About: In this beloved Australian road movie, Stamp plays Bernadette, who joins two younger drag queens on a journey across the Outback in a lavender bus named “Priscilla.” It’s a heartfelt, humorous exploration of identity, acceptance, and chosen family. Stamp’s sensitive and dignified portrayal of Bernadette was groundbreaking at the time and earned him critical acclaim.
- Why it’s great: The film mixes flamboyant spectacle with emotional depth, and Stamp’s performance brings gravitas and warmth to the ensemble.
Beltenebros (1991)
- Character: Darman
- Role: A British Communist spy with complex sexual undertones
- About: In this Spanish political thriller set in Francoist Spain, Stamp plays a former British agent investigating a betrayal in the Communist resistance. While not overtly labeled as gay, the film includes a complex and ambiguous sexual atmosphere, with Darman’s relationships and the homoerotic tension being key elements.
- Why it’s great: It’s a stylish, noir-influenced mystery with a strong central performance by Stamp and layers of political and personal intrigue.
Compiled by Michael Mastess.
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