An Open, More Mature McKinley Belcher III Revisits 'A Guide for the Homesick' Off-Broadway

EDGE: I'm sure a lot of people ask you about your work on "Ozark," but I want to hear about "Death of a Salesman."

McKinley Belcher III: I never thought I would get to do that play, so that the reality that it even happened and that I got the call saying, "Do you wanna?," I am still dumbfounded by. It's an immense honor for someone who looks like me to get to do it on Broadway. What a gift.

Another fun fact: Rebecca Miller, the playwright's daughter, who is also an amazing documentary filmmaker and writer, said, "I've seen this play, I can't tell you how many times, but I've never heard it like this." In a way, she was describing hearing the play anew because of the rhythms and influences being different even though the text is the same. To me, that's a great way to do a revival of a classic.

EDGE: Not only did you got to work with Andre De Shields, but he officiated at your wedding.

McKinley Belcher III: I felt very honored that he wanted to do that for us. It's a very special thing to me. The play we were doing together is special, and the fact that we connected in a way that he felt like he wanted to do that was beautiful.

EDGE: What's next for you?

McKinley Belcher III: There's something that I can't talk about yet, but it's exciting. And on February 20 on Netflix there's a limited series called "Zero Day." It's a political conspiracy thriller with a whole lot of fancy people and me! Robert De Niro, Angela Bassett, Jesse Plemons, Connie Britton. I have a pretty significant role in it, and it was a sort of cool bucket list item to get to act almost all my scenes with Robert De Niro. Bob, as he likes to be called.

I also did a couple guest spots on "Law and Order: Organized Crime," and Alan Brown directed a queer indie film called "Other People's Bodies" that we'll be doing a festival circuit with, and hopefully there'll be a limited release in theaters.

EDGE: Do you think actors still have to worry about being labeled as a queer actor?

McKinley Belcher III: I think there will always be corners and pockets of the industry where it's limiting in some way, but it's something I choose not to worry about. I feel very strongly and passionately that I am the most powerful version of myself when I live my life and stand on my own two feet. The best way for me to do my job is not hiding anything. Being queer is an important part of who I am, but it's only a part. There are many other parts of me, and even my queerness isn't easily definable. I don't think about it at all, really, but I believe I should live out as loudly as possible, because that's important to me.

"A Guide for the Homesick" continues through February 2 at the DR2 Theatre, 103 East 15th Street, New York, NY. For more information, visit the show's website.