Actress Gina Gershon recently shared a revealing glimpse into the challenges she faced early in her career when she decided to take on the role of Corky in the 1996 film “Bound.” Speaking on the “It Happened in Hollywood” podcast, Gershon recounted how her agents at the time strongly advised against her playing a lesbian character, warning that it could potentially ruin her career.
“My agents were like, ‘We will not let you do this movie. You are ruining your career. We will not be able to let you represent. You will never work again,'” Gershon recalled. The pushback came shortly after her performance in Paul Verhoeven’s controversial film “Showgirls” (1995), with her representation concerned about the potential risks of taking on another provocative role.
Despite the pressure, Gershon stood firm in her decision to participate in “Bound,” recognizing the quality of the script and the talent of first-time directors Lana and Lilly Wachowski. “It was a great script and I could tell they were incredible directors,” she explained. Gershon went as far as to say she was willing to change representation if necessary to take on the role.
The actress expressed frustration with what she perceived as a narrow-minded view of the film. “First of all, it’s so shortsighted to say this is a lesbian movie,” Gershon stated. “I mean, they happen to be lesbians, they happen to be into women. But it was really a movie about trust, there’s a bigger issue.”
“Bound,” which has since become a cult classic, tells the story of Corky, an ex-con who becomes involved with Violet (Jennifer Tilly), the girlfriend of a mob boss. The two women plot to steal $2 million from the mafia. Gershon praised the opportunity to play a heroic character, saying, “I get the girl. I get the car. I screw over the mob. It’s a win-win all around.”
The actress’s decision to take on the role despite industry reservations has proven prescient. “Bound” served as the directorial debut for the Wachowskis, who went on to create “The Matrix” franchise. Gershon herself has continued to have a successful career in film and television.
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Gershon’s revelation sheds light on the challenges faced by actors when taking on LGBTQ+ roles in the mid-1990s, highlighting how far the industry has come in its representation and acceptance of diverse characters and storylines.
