“Fellow Travelers” Stars Jonathan Bailey and Matt Bomer Open Up About Provocative Love Scenes
In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Jonathan Bailey, the star of Netflix’s Bridgerton, discussed the controversial toe-sucking scene with co-star Matt Bomer in the Showtime limited series “Fellow Travelers.” Bailey described the direction for the scene as “very, very precisely written down,” and expressed that he saw it as an incredible way to dissect power, rather than being intimidated by it.
Based on the 2007 novel by Thomas Mallon, the series explores the love affair between two political staffers in the 1950s, a time when openly gay men were barred from holding positions in the federal government. The show has received critical acclaim, particularly for the love scenes between Bailey’s character and Bomer’s.
Bomer also shared his perspective on the love scenes, describing them as a powerful and psychologically impactful representation of the characters’ internal and emotional turmoil. He emphasized the importance of depicting gay love scenes in an unflinching way on screen.
Bailey also discussed the significance of his character’s habit of drinking milk throughout the series, describing it as a deliberate and brilliant way of portraying naivete and an outsider’s perspective. He even humorously suggested that the milk’s character arc is more dramatic than everyone else’s and should have its own spinoff.
In another interview with People, Bailey expressed his pride in being part of “Fellow Travelers,” stating that he had been searching for a sweeping gay love story and had finally found it in the series. He also emphasized the importance of celebrating the strength and uniqueness of queer individuals in storytelling and creativity.
“Fellow Travelers” airs on Showtime Sundays at 9 p.m. ET.