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
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/
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