In a recent interview with GQ magazine, everyone’s favorite crossbow wielding zombie killing badass Norman Reedus (who plays Daryl Dixon on AMC’s The Walking Dead) did some talking about the popular notion of his character being gay.  The interviewer starts off by asking Norman abut a previous statement where he stated he portrayed the character of Daryl as if he had no experience with the more amorous side of physical relationships:

I was interested in what you said once—that you play Daryl as if he’s a virgin.
I don’t know if it’s like a virgin, but it’s definitely somebody that’s not got game. He’s definitely not a ladies’ man or thinks of himself as having enough confidence to be that type of person. I want to play him searching for confidence, not full of confidence, you know what I mean? I like all the little things that are awkward. I like when a boy meets a girl, doesn’t know what to say, and says the wrong thing, and she notices that, and he notices that she notices that. I think that’s all very interesting, and I would rather play him like not somebody that’s got cool-guy moves or anything like that.

I do like the extremity of him perhaps being a virgin.
Yeah, totally. You know, a virgin is interesting. I remember Frank Darabont, after the first season, we were at a party in L.A. He said, “I’ve got an idea for Daryl. He’s gay. Would you be interested in that?” I was like, “Let me hear you out.” He said, “Well, he’s prison gay. Like, you’ll catch him looking at a member of the same sex, but if you mention it to him, he’ll just stab you and be like,What the fuck? He will never admit it.” I was like, “That’ll blow minds—let’s do that.” And he said, “I knew I hired you for a reason.”

And then they fired him.
Had nothing to do with that. But I like playing all these different things. Daryl’s not the type of guy who’s gonna throw somebody up against a tree in the moonlight. I don’t see him as having that kind of confidence. You could drop him off in the middle of the woods with a stick and he’ll come back well fed and doing well, but I don’t think in matters of the heart he’s real secure.

Let us know in the comments what you think!

ABOUT >> Mary Anne Butler
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  • BIO >> Mary Anne Butler (Mab) is a reporter and photographer from San Francisco California. She is a lifelong geek, huge music nerd, occasionally cosplays at conventions, does Renaissance Faires, and in general lives the life of a True Believer. She may be short, but she makes up for it with a loud voice.
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