In the '97 pilot season [of Will & Grace ], I got the male lead on The Jenny McCarthy Show.

I did The Commish and an episode of Neon Rider, and then I got the series called Street Justice, which I ended up doing about 18 episodes of.

We didn't, with 'Will & Grace,' set out to change the gay world. We just set out to be funny.

I'm doing a very funny show in which we talk about issues. I speak at Aids charities and things. It's great to do something fun with our days and yet we're told we're doing something important.

Mental illness is the last frontier. The gay thing is part of everyday life now on a show like 'Modern Family,' but mental illness is still full of stigma. Maybe it is time for that to change.

[Townies] was a huge cast. It was a bit ungainly, I think with 12 regular characters they had to keep writing for.

I never felt cool growing up. I was a bit of an outsider, but I discovered theatre very early on, which got me through.