Jared Leto on 'Dallas Buyers' Role: "Rayon Lived as a Woman, Not a Drag Queen"

FUSE TV - Jared Leto on 'Dallas Buyers' Role: "Rayon Lived as a Woman, Not a Drag Queen"

Not long after Jared Leto coolly addressed a heckler who told him "trans misogyny does not deserve an award," the singer-actor has shed more light on Rayon, the HIV-positive trans woman he plays in Dallas Buyers Club, a role that's earned him a Best Supporting Actor Oscar nom.

The 30 Seconds to Mars frontman told Flaunt magazine that Rayon was initially presented to him as a Marc Bolan-esque, glam rock-inspired character by the film's director, a conceptualization he actively opposed. "I made it very clear early on that I saw Rayon as a man who wanted to live his life as a woman, not someone who enjoyed putting on women’s clothing," Leto told Flaunt.

During this interview, Leto revealed that he worked to tone down Rayon's love of glam rock icon Marc Bolan (of T. Rex) in the film. "If they wanted that kind of performance—anything glam, or anything drag queen-y—I wasn't the person for the part," Leto said. "The Marc Bolan element and the glam rock element of the film was the director's [Jean-Marc Vallée] contribution. I actually opposed that."

Leto said his insight into the complex role comes from his connection with Rayon. "I feel like she became a person, a real person," he said. "Especially because I was so deep inside of her. I really feel like I got to know this person. It became like a living, breathing life. It was a once-in-a-lifetime role."

The 30STM singer is up against tough competition for Best Supporting Actor, including Bradley Cooper in American Hustle and Michael Fassbender in 12 Years a Slave at the 2014 Academy Awards. Pharrell, Pink, Karen O and more will perform at the March 2 ceremony.

"I'm Not A Role Model"

23m

"I'm Not A Role Model"

What Not To Ask A Trans Woman

1m

What Not To Ask A Trans Woman

One Busy Queen

21m

One Busy Queen

It's Not a Vacation, It's a Movie

20m

It's Not a Vacation, It's a Movie

Vacations: It’s Not a Luxury, It’s a Necessity

2m

Vacations: It’s Not a Luxury, It’s a Necessity

Coming of Age as a Latina

20m

Coming of Age as a Latina

Bougie On A Budget

2m

Bougie On A Budget

If Clash of the Corps Stars Could Role-Play For A Day

1m

If Clash of the Corps Stars Could Role-Play For A Day

Bougie on a Budget Music Video

2m

Bougie on a Budget Music Video

Shakira: Latin Queen

59m

Shakira: Latin Queen

Bambiana’s Mom Is Not A Fan of Twerking or Sexy Photos

41s

Bambiana’s Mom Is Not A Fan of Twerking or Sexy Photos

Is Nya A Baller On The Low?

51s

Is Nya A Baller On The Low?

What The Hell Are We? Are We Living In A Simulation?

18m

What The Hell Are We? Are We Living In A Simulation?

Freedia's Manager Drops a Unexpected Bomb on Her...

3m

Freedia's Manager Drops a Unexpected Bomb on Her...

The Queen Diva Is Back

41m

The Queen Diva Is Back

Dolly Parton: Queen of Country

59m

Dolly Parton: Queen of Country

Big Freedia: Queen Of Bounce

Big Freedia: Queen Of Bounce

Queen: How They Broke Free

59m

Queen: How They Broke Free

Once a Stripper, Always a Ho

24m

Once a Stripper, Always a Ho

Not Quite Latino

23m

Not Quite Latino

Not Having It

20m

Not Having It

Not Quite Done

46m

Not Quite Done

Refreshingly Not Racist

21m

Refreshingly Not Racist

Young M.A On The Struggle of Giving Up Meat

9m

Young M.A On The Struggle of Giving Up Meat

A Sexplanation

1h 16m

A Sexplanation

Rock Hill: McQueen vs. Caballero

44m

Rock Hill: McQueen vs. Caballero

The King and Queen of  Bounce

21m

The King and Queen of Bounce

Featherweight Championship: Birr vs. McQueen

44m

Featherweight Championship: Birr vs. McQueen

A$AP Ferg Learns A Magic Trick

4m

A$AP Ferg Learns A Magic Trick

A Glove That Fits Like a Dress

41m

A Glove That Fits Like a Dress

Celebrities Are Not Politicians

24m

Celebrities Are Not Politicians

It's Offensive, Not Artistic

24m

It's Offensive, Not Artistic

A New High

1h 39m

A New High

What a Bummer

47m

What a Bummer

Address Queen Ts Madison Correctly (Extended Cut)

14m

Address Queen Ts Madison Correctly (Extended Cut)

A$AP Ferg

20m

A$AP Ferg

A Soldiers Story

24m

A Soldiers Story

A Model Recap

43m

A Model Recap

A Big Splash

21m

A Big Splash

Like a Virgin

47m

Like a Virgin

A Perfect 14

1h 42m

A Perfect 14

Strike a Pose

1h 25m

Strike a Pose

Young M.A

20m

Young M.A

A$AP Ferg

20m

A$AP Ferg

A Tough Sell

22m

A Tough Sell

A Robot's Erection

20m

A Robot's Erection

Like A Girl

Like A Girl

Young M.A On Her First Time Directing An Adult Film & More

1m

Young M.A On Her First Time Directing An Adult Film & More

Young R.E.A.D Feat.Young M.A

20m

Young R.E.A.D Feat.Young M.A

Young M.A Plays 2 Truths and A Lie

1m

Young M.A Plays 2 Truths and A Lie

#DigitalLivesMatter

1h 25m

#DigitalLivesMatter

This Is Not Financial Advice

1h 29m

This Is Not Financial Advice

Anything Can Be a Bag, A Bag Can Be Anything

42m

Anything Can Be a Bag, A Bag Can Be Anything

More Than A Model

22m

More Than A Model

Freedia Got a Gun

1h 23m

Freedia Got a Gun

A Sign From Above

22m

A Sign From Above

I Need A Plane

21m

I Need A Plane

A Sex Toy Story

20m

A Sex Toy Story

Everybody Loves A Party

20m

Everybody Loves A Party

A Pound of Flesh

23m

A Pound of Flesh

Luck Be A Lady

44m

Luck Be A Lady

Jane Wants a Boyfriend

1h 37m

Jane Wants a Boyfriend

Jasmine Is a Star

57m

Jasmine Is a Star

Everybody's A Bruja Now

20m

Everybody's A Bruja Now

3's A Blast

21m

3's A Blast

Xristina Tries To Romance A Ghost At A Haunted B&B

2m

Xristina Tries To Romance A Ghost At A Haunted B&B

Ceraadi Upgrades A Basic Grilled Cheese Into A $462 Extravagant Sandwich

14m

Ceraadi Upgrades A Basic Grilled Cheese Into A $462 Extravagant Sandwich

Live at Home, Loser?

24m

Live at Home, Loser?

Elle and Tito Live

23m

Elle and Tito Live

Hiatus Kaiyote: Live Alive

19m

Hiatus Kaiyote: Live Alive

The Grind Never Stops When for the Queen Diva

2m

The Grind Never Stops When for the Queen Diva

To Shave, or Not to Shave

42m

To Shave, or Not to Shave

Azz Everywhere: NOLA's Queen Diva Big Freedia's Almost Famous

4m

Azz Everywhere: NOLA's Queen Diva Big Freedia's Almost Famous

Peder Cho Shows How to DIY a Blazer Into a Tweed Vest

9m

Peder Cho Shows How to DIY a Blazer Into a Tweed Vest

Toosii Takes a Lie Detector Test: Does He Have A Ghost Writer?

7m

Toosii Takes a Lie Detector Test: Does He Have A Ghost Writer?

You Need A Certification To Be A Fortune Teller!? Funny US Laws

5m

You Need A Certification To Be A Fortune Teller!? Funny US Laws

Mahalia Takes A Lie Detector Test: Was She Really A Bad Roommate?

9m

Mahalia Takes A Lie Detector Test: Was She Really A Bad Roommate?

Fat Joe: Teach a Trick

2m

Fat Joe: Teach a Trick

King Keraun Becomes a Cowboy

3m

King Keraun Becomes a Cowboy

How To Be A Disruptor

20m

How To Be A Disruptor

Heath Ledger: A Tragic Tale

41m

Heath Ledger: A Tragic Tale

A Time For RO-mance

20m

A Time For RO-mance

Frank Lucero, A.J. Jamal

45m

Frank Lucero, A.J. Jamal

This Is A Sex Toy

21m

This Is A Sex Toy

A Seat with Juicy J

4m

A Seat with Juicy J

Wolf Tyla & Her Manager Take A Lie Detector Test: Did She Write On "Simon Says?"

5m

Wolf Tyla & Her Manager Take A Lie Detector Test: Did She Write On "Simon Says?"

Tech With A Higher Purpose

20m

Tech With A Higher Purpose

Coi Leray Chooses Between A $2,500 Prada Fit & A $250 Thrifty Gem

5m

Coi Leray Chooses Between A $2,500 Prada Fit & A $250 Thrifty Gem

Weezy Finds a Familiar Face While Taking Over a Fuse Employees Dating Profile

8m

Weezy Finds a Familiar Face While Taking Over a Fuse Employees Dating Profile

King Keraun Learns How To Crochet A Face Mask From A Pro Knitter

8m

King Keraun Learns How To Crochet A Face Mask From A Pro Knitter

Jesus Was a Homeless Baby Too

21m

Jesus Was a Homeless Baby Too

Lil Jon Learns A Magic Trick

5m

Lil Jon Learns A Magic Trick

T-Pain's Encounter With A Roach

48s

T-Pain's Encounter With A Roach

Does Sports Need a Time Out?

23m

Does Sports Need a Time Out?

The Legend of Baron To'a

1h 39m

The Legend of Baron To'a

P.S.A – Phallus Service Announcement

21m

P.S.A – Phallus Service Announcement

She Wanna Have A Good Time

20m

She Wanna Have A Good Time

Young M.A Extended Scene 4

1m

Young M.A Extended Scene 4

The Unfortunate Mishap of A Sneakerhead

2m

The Unfortunate Mishap of A Sneakerhead

T-Pain and Young M.A

20m

T-Pain and Young M.A

Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information