Out 'Rustin' Star Colman Domingo Says 'Euphoria' Production Not So Chaotic: 'Be Professional'

Reports of HBO's teen drama "Euphoria" being a disorganized work environment for its cast have been exaggerated, openly gay star Colman Domingo said, pointing instead to a "work ethic" that some "young actors" might lack.

IndieWire notes that the popular series, created by Sam Levinson, has been the subject of stories "about the show's lengthy shoots and alleged mistreatment of actors, with many voices speculating that Levinson's complete creative control and decision to direct most episodes himself has needlessly slowed the process down."

Not so, Domingo – who plays "recovering drug addict Ali Muhammad" a recurring role on the show – maintains, IndieWire relayed.

Domingo, in an interview with British newspaper the Independent to promote his Netflix biopic "Rustin," addressed those reports about the "Euphoria" set, IndieWire reported, "saying that long hours and difficult shoots are a standard part of any actor's job."

Noting that television production can mean "long hours," Domingo told the Independent, "Sometimes you work up to 14 hours a day. And then you have to go home and prep. You have to really live and work in a very methodical way. A lot of young actors may not be up for the task, or have that same work ethic."

The actor, who has been drawing plaudits for his portrayal of gay civil rights icon Bayard Rustin, went on to add: "I've been in this business for 32 years. I know what hard work is. So when I heard those 'reports' I thought, 'Where is this coming from? That's just a normal work day.' Be a professional."

"'Euphoria' is not the only Sam Levinson project that was embattled by rumors of a chaotic set, as "The Idol" faced similar charges during its lengthy reshoots," IndieWire noted.

Domingo inisisted that Levinson does right by those with whom he works, saying, "There's no one that's going to mistreat you on the set of 'Euphoria'."

Added the actor: "Sam Levinson is joyful, and collaborative, and could not be a bigger advocate for his actors."

"Rustin" has already enjoyed a limited theatrical run, and is streaming now at Netflix. The biopic "features a coruscating lead performance by Domingo" in the title role, "a brilliant and important activist whose role in the civil rights movement has historically been under-acknowledged."

Domingo corrected the journalist's assessment, the account noted, saying, "Not under-acknowledged. Erased. It was erased because he was openly gay."

Added the actor: "Black folks, especially in the Fifties and Sixties, had to show the 'best' of ourselves, because images were everything. Television, how we're perceived. So there was a monolithic idea of how we had to present ourselves. And Bayard was such an outlier in every single way."

Domingo went on to talk about his process for finding the character of Bayard Rustin, noting, "It's funny... if people know that we're both openly gay, they think there must clearly be some part of me in him. But I had to build this character like any other.

"The vicious pimp I played in "Zola" [2020], or the father in "If Beale Street Could Talk" [2018]... I had to build them the exact same way, and then infuse with what I can access in my soul."

The star also offered his "strong opinions" about the ongoing debate around whether straight and cisgender actors ought to play LGTBQ+ roles.

"If there's been any bristling, it's because there's been less opportunity for LGBTQIA+ people" to appear in roles that are authentic to their own identities.

However, "Do I think that only queer people should play queer people?" Domingo added. "Absolutely not. That doesn't make sense to me at all.... would that mean I can't play straight people? I should be able to. I should have the heart, and the aptitude, and the courage to play many different characters – black; white; queer."

Check out some of the photos Domingo has shared at his Instagram.