Can you be a gay actor, a man of faith, and a bold truth-teller in an industry that often expects you to pick one?

This week, John Corella sits down with actor and LGBTQ+ activist Danny Franzese, best known as Damian in Mean Girls. Danny shares what it was like to play an openly gay character while still closeted in real life, and how that disconnect shaped his early career. The conversation pulls back the curtain on what many actors face behind the scenes, especially when their identity challenges what the industry expects or understands.

Danny also introduces a less-talked-about influence in his journey: the Alexander Technique. For him, it wasn’t just a posture tool. It became a way to find alignment, physically and emotionally. How do you carry yourself when no one’s watching? Can you feel present in your own skin, even in chaos? Danny makes a case for the connection between movement, intention, and inner peace.

John and Danny also discuss the ongoing debate around representation in the media. Should gay roles be reserved for gay actors? What does authentic storytelling really require, and who gets to tell which stories?

This episode is part personal story, part thoughtful critique, and part reminder that the body, the voice, and the truth all deserve space. Danny brings depth, humor, and honesty to a conversation that speaks to anyone who’s ever wondered whether they’re “too much” to be fully seen.

Episode Breakdown:

00:00 Introduction

04:44 Alexander Technique

10:53 Stage Performance and Authenticity

14:48 Acting and Being in the Moment

19:29 Past Danny and Future Danny

23:19 Coming Out and Mean Girls Experience

26:40 LGBTQ+ Representation in Media

29:15 Career Challenges Post-Mean Girls

32:14 Becoming an Advocate

34:07 LGBTQ+ Films and Representation

38:55 Wokeness and Diversity

41:14 Realistic Representation in Media

Links

Connect with Danny Franzese: www.instagram.com/whatsupdanny

www.yassjesuspod.com/

patreon.com/TheonlyDanceDadwithJohnCorella

@dancedadpodcast.bsky.social

Dance Dad with John Corella on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dancedadwithjohncorella/

John on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/john_corella/

Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm