Best known for his stints in the first two Pitch Perfect movies, Ben Platt is giving those who identify as queer representation they deserve in his new show.
In Netflix’s “The Politician” Platt stars as a politically ambitious high school student. The character, Payton Hobart, dreams of taking a seat at the White House’s Oval Office one day. To start with, Hobart has to win the race for student body president at the fictional school for the rich, San Sebastian Highschool. Platt’s character navigates his way through the intricacies of politics all while facing the struggles of being a closeted queer man.
Speaking to The Big Ticket, Platt says that never in his wildest dreams did he imagine starring in a series like this. The Politician is created by Ryan Murphy, Brad Falchuk, and Ian Brennan for Netflix.
“I didn’t think I could be a star of a show, in general, starting out. I think I was like, ‘I’ll do Broadway. I can be on stage and I can play Jimmy in “Thoroughly Modern Millie” and Nathan Detroit [in “Guys and Dolls”] and that’ll be that,’” Platt tells the podcast.
He continued, “I’d still like to do those things, but I think as life has progressed, my view of what’s possible has just grown and grown and grown.”
As for the show’s portrayal of queerness and sexual fluidity the actor says:
“No one is free from the queerness, really, on the show.”
The Politician is currently available for streaming on Netflix with its second season’s production beginning late this month.
