Watch: Matt Damon clarifies commments about gay actors on Ellen

Matt Damon has been quick to clarify comments he made in a recent interview about gay actors and being out in Hollywood.

The 44-year-old Martian star attracted criticism yesterday after he implied that gay actors were better off professionally if they stayed in the closet.

“I think you’re a better actor the less people know about you period,” he told the Guardian. “Whether you’re straight or gay, people shouldn’t know anything about your sexuality because that’s one of the mysteries that you should be able to play.”

Appearing on Ellen just as the news broke, Damon said it was “painful” that his quotes had been taken out of context.

“I was just trying to say actors are more effective when they’re a mystery, right?” he told host Ellen DeGeneres.

“And somebody picked it up and said I said gay actors should get back in the closet. Which is like, I mean it’s stupid, but it is painful when things get said that you don’t believe. You know what I mean? And then it gets represented that that’s what you believe.”

The Bourne Identity star also criticised some of the sensational headlines that had accompanied the story, saying: “There’s no real penalty for just taking the ball and running with it. You know what I mean? You’re just trying to get clicks on your thing.”

“I know you and I know you’re not that guy,” added DeGeneres.

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