Eric McCormack doesn’t believe an actor’s sexuality should get in the way of the characters they play onscreen.

The Will & Grace star said this week he feels “the best person for the role” should be cast in all projects, regardless of the actor’s personal identity or sexual orientation.

McCormack, who is straight, played protagonist Will, who is gay, on NBC’s beloved Will & Grace. The actor said during a Monday appearance on ITV’s Good Morning Britain reported by Out magazine that “I didn’t become an actor so that I could play an actor.”

“There’s no part I’ve ever played where I wasn’t playing something I’m not,” McCormack continued. “It’s part of the gig. And I’ve always said, if gay actors weren’t allowed to play straight actors, Broadway would be over.”

Will & Grace ran from 1998 to 2006, and then NBC released 3 reunion seasons from 2016 to 2020.

Along with McCormack, the show starred Debra Messing as Grace, Will’s straight friend, Megan Mullaly as Karen, Grace’s assistant, and Sean Hayes as Jack, Will’s close friend who is also gay. (Sean Hayes is openly gay).

In celebration of the show’s 25th anniversary last summer, the Paley Center for Media presented costumes and props from the show, along with panel featuring McCormack and Messing alongside co-creators and executive producers Max Mutchnick and David Kohan.

“Will & Grace broke barriers and was a driving force in leading to greater LGBTQ+ representation in media,” said Maureen J. Reidy, president and CEO of the Paley Center at the time. “The Paley Center is thrilled to celebrate the series’ milestone anniversary and showcase its profound and enduring impact on television and culture with this exclusive exhibit at the Paley Museum.”