Philomena Lee On Her Gay Son Anthony, Judi Dench In 'Philomena'

The Woman Whose Story Inspired 'Philomena' Talks About Her Gay Son

The woman whose story inspired "Philomena," the new film which just landed actress Judi Dench an Oscar nod, is speaking out about the experience.

In an exclusive chat with UInterview, Philomena Lee said it came as no surprise to her that Anthony was a closeted gay man.

"I knew I was gay ... working as a psychiatric nurse for 30 years, I worked with a lot of gay young men," she said. "I had no issues about him being gay at all. The only sad part being that he had died."

As for the gay film fans that have embraced Lee's story because of the movie, she added, "I was ... really, really happy about that. Being that Anthony was gay ... and I hoped [it] has helped the gay community."

And what did she think about Dench's portrayal? "She portrayed me so well," Lee noted. "She did a wonderful job, she really did."

Before You Go

"American Hustle"
AP
Now in theaters

Nominations: Best Picture, Best Director (David O. Russell), Best Actress (Amy Adams), Best Actor (Christian Bale), Best Supporting Actress (Jennifer Lawrence), Best Supporting Actor (Bradley Cooper), Best Original Screenplay (David O. Russell and Eric Warren Singer), Best Film Editing, Best Costume Design, Best Production Design
"12 Years a Slave"
AP
Now in theaters

Nominations: Best Picture, Best Director (Steve McQueen), Best Actor (Chiwetel Ejiofor), Best Supporting Actress (Lupita Nyong'o), Best Supporting Actor (Michael Fassbender), Best Adapted Screenplay (John Ridley), Best Film Editing, Best Costume Design, Best Production Design
"Gravity"
AP
Now in theaters

Nominations: Best Picture, Best Director (Alfonso Cuaron), Best Actress (Sandra Bullock), Best Original Score (Steven Price), Best Cinematography, Best Film Editing, Best Production Design, Best Visual Effects, Best Sound Mixing, Best Sound Editing
"The Wolf of Wall Street"
AP
Now in theaters

Nominations: Best Picture, Best Director (Martin Scorsese), Best Actor (Leonardo DiCaprio), Best Supporting Actor (Jonah Hill), Best Adapted Screenplay (Terence Winter)
"Dallas Buyers Club"
Now in theaters

Nominations: Best Picture, Best Actor (Matthew McConaughey), Best Supporting Actor (Jared Leto), Best Original Screenplay (Craig Borten & Melisa Wallack), Best Film Ediitng, Best Makeup & Hairstyling
"Nebraska"
AP
Now in theaters

Nominations: Best Picture, Best Director (Alexander Payne), Best Actor (Bruce Dern), Best Supporting Actress (June Squibb), Best Original Screenplay (Bob Nelson), Best Cinematography
"Captain Phillips"
AP
Available on iTunes and DVD/Blu-Ray on Jan. 21

Nominations: Best Picture, Best Supporting Actor (Barkhad Abdi), Best Adapted Screenplay (Billy Ray), Best Film Editing, Best Sound Mixing, Best Sound Editing
"Philomena"
Now in theaters

Nominations: Best Picture, Best Actress (Judi Dench), Best Adapted Screenplay (Steve Coogan and Jeff Pope), Best Original Score (Alexandre Desplat)
"Her"
AP
Now in theaters

Nominations: Best Picture, Best Original Screenplay (Spike Jonze), Best Original Score (William Butler & Owen Pallett), Best Original Song ("The Moon Song") Best Film Editing, Best Production Design
"Blue Jasmine"
AP
Available on iTunes and DVD/Blu-Ray on Jan. 21

Nominations: Best Actress (Cate Blanchett), Best Supporting Actress (Sally Hawkins), Best Original Screenplay (Woody Allen)
"August: Osage County"
Now in theaters

Nominations: Best Actress (Meryl Streep), Best Supporting Actress (Julia Roberts)
"Frozen"
AP
Now in theaters

Nominations: Best Animated Feature, Best Original Song ("Let It Go")
"Saving Mr. Banks"
AP
Now in theaters

Nominations: Best Original Score (Thomas Newman)
"Inside Llewyn Davis"
AP
Now in theaters

Nominations: Best Cinematography, Best Sound Mixing
"20 Feet From Stardom"
Available on iTunes, Amazon Instant Video and DVD/Blu-Ray

Nominations: Best Documentary
"The Great Gatsby"
AP
Available on iTunes, Amazon Instant Video and DVD/Blu-Ray

Nominations: Best Production Design, Best Costume Design
"Before Midnight"
AP
Available on iTunes, Amazon Instant Video and DVD/Blu-Ray

Nominations: Best Adapted Screenplay (Richard Linklater, Julie Delpy, Ethan Hawke)
"The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug"
AP
Now in theaters

Nominations: Best Sound Editing, Best Sound Mixing, Best Visual Effects
"Despicable Me 2"
AP
Available on iTunes, Amazon Instant Video and DVD/Blu-Ray

Nominations: Best Animated Feature, Best Original Song ("Happy")
"All is Lost"
AP
Now in theaters; available on iTunes and DVD/Blu-Ray on Feb. 11

Nominations: Best Sound Editing
"The Act of Killing"
AP
Available on Netflix instant streaming, iTunes, Amazon Instant Video and DVD/Blu-Ray

Nominations: Best Documentary
"Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom"
Getty Images
Now in theaters

Nominations: Best Original Song ("Ordinary Love")
"The Book Thief"
AP
Now in theaters

Nominations: Best Original Score (John Williams)
"The Great Beauty"
AP
Available on iTunes and DVD/Blu-Ray on Feb. 25

Nominations: Best Foreign Language Film
"The Hunt"
Drafthouse Films
Available on Netflix instant streaming, iTunes, Amazon Instant Video and DVD/Blu-Ray

Nominations: Best Foreign Language Film
"Lone Survivor"
AP
Now in theaters

Nominations: Best Sound Editing, Best Sound Mixing
"The Lone Ranger"
AP
Available on iTunes, Amazon Instant Video and DVD/Blu-Ray

Nominations: Best Makeup and Hairstyling, Best Visual Effects
"The Grandmaster"
Bona Film Group
Available on iTunes, Amazon Instant Video and DVD/Blu-Ray

Nominations: Best Cinematography, Best Costume Design

Popular in the Community

Close

What's Hot