Taye Diggs is preparing to take on the role of transgender rocker Hedwig in Broadway’s latest revival of Hedwig and the Angry Inch.
He spoke with ET special correspondent Janet Mock in NYC where he opened up about the gig.
via ET:
“I’ve always told my friends I have a flaming gay man inside of me,” Diggs said. “She is coming out now! It’s fun and difficult. I don’t know how you girls do it in heels all day every day.”
The 44-year-old actor will be the sixth person to take on Hedwig when he takes over the role from Glee star Darren Criss beginning July 22. Others who have taken on the character include John Cameron Mitchell, the show’s co-writer and original Hedwig; Michael C. Hall; Andrew Rannells; and the revival’s original star and Tony winner Neil Patrick Harris.
While seeing Diggs in heels and makeup may take some adjusting for those familiar with Diggs’s past roles in How Stella Got Her Groove Back and Brown Sugar, one person wasn’t thrown by the new getup — Diggs’ five-year-old son with ex Idina Menzel.
“[Walker] is so damn adjusted,” Diggs gushed. “He’s unfazed. I think he’s on the path of being a really cool adult.”
With Diggs being the first black man to take on the role, there were a few slight changes in the character’s backstory, but no other script changes were needed.
“That’s a testament to how great the show is,” Diggs said. “Anybody could get in there and put forth this message.”
Watch the interview below! If you haven’t seen Taye totally glittery and glammed-out for his role as Hedwig, click here.
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