I’d love to be one of the greatest actors in the world. But acting often equates with fame. If you could be an actor, yet not be famous, that would be brilliant. - Jaye Davidson
I do believe I feel a painting coming on.
The reluctant star is a well-worn concept in the movie business. Half-shielding ones face while making an “unexpected” appearance in some hotspot, huge sunglasses and faining horror after accidentally flashing one’s bare crotch to paparazzi are de rigueur these days. I’d be hard-pressed to fall for such pretense delivered by anyone except perhaps Jaye Davidson, had he not disappeared entirely.
As our photo-evidence shows, Jaye is a deserving icon of sexual ambiguity. A striking unique appearance combined with natural acting talent landed this sometimes-destitute London fashion assistant three film roles and even an Oscar nomination, but more interesting is just how much Jaye genuinely hated his sudden fame.
Before The Crying Game even started filming in 1991 he attempted to break his contract, the only thing stopping him was advance money he’d already spent. After the Oscar nomination and media hullabaloo that followed he went off the radar, saying “The reason I haven’t got an agent is so that no one can contact me to offer me a film part”.
No one could accuse him of playing coy, either - Jaye’s only had two film parts since. He starred as himself in Catwalk, a documentary about the fashion industry, and as an ancient god in Stargate - a part someone half as vain could hardly refuse. In fact, Jaye didn’t agree to the role of Sun god Ra until after he saw the costumes - one of the lavish outfits cost $65,000!
Every interview I’ve read paints Jaye as an appropriately enigmatic and conceited creature. He spent much of his Crying Game money on clothes, surviving on rice and ketchup when the Stargate offer came. His distaste for fame is punctuated by how well he’s covered his tracks, but is shouldn’t be mistaken for modesty. He practically oozes confidence with each lightly insolent word and spouts some downright endearing idioms: “I’ve sold a very small part of myself, but certain people think they’re entitled to the rest of me. Of course, I am an incredibly strange person for the norm, so strange that I’m more normal than they’ll ever be.” Hilarious, yes, but he was only 24 at the time - perhaps he can be forgiven?
A beacon of reserve, Jaye’s been retired from acting for over 10 years. He’s probably getting by, having left the public eye at exactly the right moment to be remembered indefinitely. I still think someone ought to drag that man back into the spotlight where he so clearly belongs, if only to watch him squirm. In parting, two more entertaining quotes on the topic of femininity from mister Davidson.
“I went to the Ritz a couple of weeks ago, in London, where men have got to wear suits and ties. I’m sitting there in a whole suit, and they were still calling me “Madame”
“Gay men don’t really go for the way I look. Because obviously they’re into men. If you look a bit feminine, obviously they’re not really going to be into that. But I can’t say I’m really, really worried about not getting loads of offers.”
February 13th, 2008 at 8:35 am
I agree. It’s wonderful seeing him act. We don’t have enough androgynous actors, and most of the “normal” ones are too vanilla for my taste. Sadly, interesting people know better about the dangers of being in the public eye. Or maybe they’re just teasing us.
February 13th, 2008 at 10:34 am
*unf!*
*bites fingers*
THANK YOU FOR THIS, MISS ZOE — I WILL NOW BE IN MY BUNK.
– A ^_^
February 13th, 2008 at 11:19 am
Um. Wow. Yum, nipple rings and all.
*needs a moment*
February 13th, 2008 at 11:28 am
I wish he hadn’t dissappeared. Last I heard he was still trying to do fashion in LA.
February 13th, 2008 at 11:41 am
Skepticle - my research suggests he’s gone back to London to work in fashion as he was before his stardom. Hopefully he’s got enough money to avoid the ketchup and rice diet!
Ampersand and Ashebt - mhmm.
Dave - yeah - though he didn’t exactly have much of a chance to ACT in Stargate, I really think he could have played other roles. There really isn’t anyone out there who has the same sort of presence.
February 13th, 2008 at 2:04 pm
Back when they were talking about doing a miniseries adaptation of Clive Barker’s IMAJICA, I always wanted to see Jaye Davidson play the character of the androgynous assassin Pie ‘Oh’ Pah. The physical description Barker provides is actually, basically, Davidson with dreads.
February 13th, 2008 at 4:43 pm
Whoa. Now that I think about it, I haven’t seen hide nor luscious hair of Jaye since Stargate. Unfortunately Crying Game wasn’t as spectacular as it could have been for me, even though I saw it the week it came out, the big spoiler was pretty much front page news for a month before that.
February 13th, 2008 at 5:55 pm
Oh man, his role in Stargate blew my mind. The very way he walked! I developed a bizarre crush on James Spader then as well. I was so young in 1994! On the verge of puberty. What a thing to see then…
February 14th, 2008 at 8:45 am
I always wanted to smack him and say “Just have fun!” but he was so much a product of his era (unique looks aside) that you can forgive the guy. I wouldn’t put him in the generic Gen-X label but he did take a lot of the early attitude that label had and…just went to that next ego fueled level. I don’t think he would have been as interesting in the late 90’s early 00’s indie movie scene or the even more gigantic than Stargate blockbuster scene of trilogy flicks…still it’s a shame the fashion industry got him…Hollywood could have done some real magic with him…I’m sure we can each think of a half dozen films that would have been more interesting with him as a lead.
And I don’t care if I lose some cool points for this…he’d have made a great Anne Rice vampire :P
February 14th, 2008 at 8:48 pm
I have vague memories of of reading an interview with him at the time of Stargates release which said that he became so sick of being hounded by the production team during casting, that he demanded one million dollars for the role in the hopes of scaring them away.
Instead (and much to Mr Davidsons surprise) they agreed to the fee.
Of course there’s about fourteen years worth of living between me and that interview, so I could be entirely mistaken.
February 14th, 2008 at 11:04 pm
Marc, you’re absolutely right. Jaye didn’t want to be part of Stargate and demanded a million as a laugh - he expected to be denied or laughed at!
Tequila - I’d not hold that against you. The Interview with a Vampire film made even Tom Cruise hot for a moment! Imagine the damage Jaye would do.
February 15th, 2008 at 1:00 am
I’m so glad you profiled him…I’ve always found this boy to be rather delectable.
February 15th, 2008 at 11:26 am
Joshua E. - we just rescued your comment from the spam filter. Jaye would have been absolutely perfect in that role!
March 18th, 2008 at 1:09 pm
How’d I miss this post!?!? I’ve more outright lust for this man than I’ve had for half of ze women I’ve growled after. Und hell, ALL of ze men. Jaye is almost unbearably fetching.
April 16th, 2008 at 6:58 am
I’m a straight guy, and even I thought Jaye was hot in the Crying Game. Had me fooled.
April 21st, 2008 at 3:54 pm
I saw a guy that looked just like him on the train today here in Chicago; the guy I saw had to be like, 6′5″ though, he was really tall. Still, he reminded me a lot of Jaye.
Hope he’s happy, wherever he is.
April 27th, 2008 at 10:34 pm
I loved Stargate and never forgot Jaye’s look. He had a look that I guess was unforgettable. Of course I never saw him in a film again or anything. So I was flipping through TV channels tonight and saw him on this Spanish speaking channel. Wanting to know what movie I had just seen him in, led me to do more research on him. Found out it was the Crying Game. But that’s how unforgettable his look is, just a brief scene on TV got me interested in finding out where he disappeared to. Interesting information regarding his brief career in movies and who he is. And coming from a straight guy, yeah, he is a pretty boy.
May 11th, 2008 at 7:36 pm
I didn’t see The Crying Game when it first appeared, I only knew this beautiful lad from 1993 Academy Award. Then I watched Star Gate and to my horror that one sexy beautiful lad who filled the screen completely! I kept guessing is this a girl or a boy, a girl or a boy. None of the story made sense or even the casts. Since that, that sexy lovely character stays in my mind completely. Furthermore, Hollywood seems can not or do not want to loose him/her completely, judging by the black actresses (even white with black curly hair) or other films that more or less trying to remain the audience of the existence of that sexy lovely character. Just like Fergus, we can’t just let her go.
June 6th, 2008 at 8:38 pm
jaye davidson is the only person whose beauty took my breath away.
it happened when i watched ’stargate’
the most beautiful man in the world.
July 4th, 2008 at 8:24 am
theirs only a couple of actors who were naturally talented in front of the camera as Jaye was one of them was James dean .Raw energy so seldom seen on screen anyway wish he would come out of retirement would definitely go see film .do everybody a favor make another film
July 5th, 2008 at 8:25 pm
I truthfully found Jaye as a talented actor with much to give to the movie scene. I do think he hung up his gloves far too soon, but one can only do what they feel is best for them. Not everyone is meant for the spotlight and if that’s not something he wanted to do, then I for one respect his opinion.
I agree 100% though that if he ever returns to the screen, I’ll be the first one to buy tickets. Peace.
August 12th, 2008 at 11:03 am
Here’s one for you: He looks like Shakira. Please, someone tell me I’m not crazy to think this?