Home > TV Appearances > Conan – October 24, 2011 [x05]

Chris Colfer is “a gifted man” according to Allison Janney, who stars in his debut film.

The 21-year-old actor, who plays Kurt Hummel in Glee, has written a film called Struck By Lightening, in which he also stars.

Speaking at the Hollywood Film Awards in Los Angeles, The Help actress Allison said: “He’s such a gifted man, Chris Colfer, and he wrote this beautiful film called Struck By Lightning.

“I play his mother, not a very happy mum, not a very glamorous role for me. I’m not going to lie to you, I don’t look anything like I look tonight. But what a very, very fulfilling movie to get to do with him.”

Chris, who has won a Golden Globe and been nominated twice for an Emmy for his role as gay teen Kurt, takes the film’s lead role, while Mad Men actress Hendricks plays his stepmother.

Allison was at the awards with her The Help co-stars to claim an ensemble acting prize.

Emma Stone and Dallas Bryce Howard were also among the members of the female-led cast on hand to pick up the gong.

Allison said: “I love any awards show organisation that honours a cast, an ensemble.”

She added: “Acting is a team sport and I love the team that I was on. Team Help is a great team of actors so it just makes me beam with pride and joy to be here for this.”

The hit film is an adaptation of Kathryn Stockett’s best-selling novel, which examines the racial divides between white families in 1960s-era Mississippi.

I also have a great deal of respect for a man named Chris Colfer, who plays gay high school student Kurt Hummel on Fox’s Glee. With his high voice and dramatic presence, Colfer would probably send Allen’s Last Man Standing character into paroxysms of discomfiture, not to mention any number of men like him. But Colfer insists, “I’ve tried being other people, but being myself suits me best.” This in the face of a history of bullying, not only on the screen but in his real life. How’s that for bravery and strength?

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Chris will be on Conan this Monday, October 24!