Best. Gay. Week. Ever. (September 19, 2008)

THE NEW HOTTIES OF UGLY
It's always interesting to interview an actor who's an unknown quantity when it comes to gay-friendliness. But it's doubly interesting when he's tall, strapping, has eyes so sparkly that you could use them to find your keys in the dark and an Australian accent that could melt marble.

Exhibit A:

Grant Bowler

So imagine my delight when, without even introducing myself as a journalist from a gay outlet or asking any gay-related questions, newcomer Grant Bowler — who plays Mode's new CFO — took the conversation in this direction:

AfterElton.com: So you'll have a lot of your scenes with Wilhelmina and Marc?
Grant Bowler: I think I'm going to be sandwiched between Wilhelmina and Daniel and Marc and Betty.

AE: Any idea if you'll have a love interest?
GB: Hopefully all of them. That's what I'm hoping personally, but professionally I don't know, I can't say.

At this point I brought up that I was from a gay site and that I had a slight suspicion that he might gain some gay fans through this role. When I asked how he felt about that, he instantly replied:

"I'm from Sydney! (laughs) Look, it's fantastic. I came up and went to drama school in Sydney and Sydney is the gayest city in the world, and incredibly proud of it. I've been to every (Gay and Lesbian) Mardi Gras when I've been home for 15, 20 years - Sydney is a city where everybody exists very much in the mix, very much side-by-side, and it doesn't really become a conversation point, much less an issue. You know? You're just all at a party."

Well, Grant, in the spirit of neighborliness I'm going to try to help you on your way a bit to gay fandom. Folks, here's a few shots of the actor's body of work...

As Captain Gault on Lost

As my future husband Wolf on Outrageous Fortune

Also joining the cast this season as a love interest for Betty (we'll miss you, Henry!) is Val Emmich, an actor best known as being Tina Fey's adorable coffee delivery guy on 30 Rock. I wanted to ask Emmich how his life had changed since Judah Friedlander went "gay for Jamie", but he didn't stick around long enough, so I guess we'll never know. Here's a pic instead:

Val Emmich

Next Page: Vanessa Williams and Judith Light make me cry.