“I’ve heard it for years: ‘You shouldn’t take a gay role for your first big role because then people are gonna think you’re gay, or they’re gonna think you only play gay roles.’ And it’s like, what does that matter? Why does that matter?” “I’ve heard that before, plenty of times,” Cimino said during a recent phone interview.

It’s almost impossible to imagine anyone advising Cimino against taking such a substantial role in a high-profile project, but Cimino said the fear around playing gay - whether the concern behind it is real or imagined - persists among actors. It’s Cimino’s first leading role and his biggest one yet, and, propelled by the success of “Love, Victor,” a fruitful career should lie ahead. Fresh-faced and emanating a contagious positivity, Cimino radiates warmth and charisma as Victor, who remains upbeat as he balances a new school, new girlfriend, and a very distracting new boy crush. Set in the world of “Love, Simon,” the TV series focuses on Victor Salazar (Cimino) and the unique challenges he faces in accepting an alternative sexuality while navigating his tight-knit Colombian-American family. Quentin Tarantino's Last Movie: 18 Unmade Projects That Could Be His Final Film How 'Desus & Mero' Got Denzel Washington and More to Open Up Like They Never Have BeforeĮlle Fanning Rules 'The Great' and 'Girl from Plainville' - Long May She Reign