9 REAL Acting Moments Created By Deception
6. The Writers Told Messala (But Not Charlon Heston) That He Was In Love With Judah - Ben Hur
Unfortunately, this one remains in the realm of unverifiable myth as most of the major players involved took the secret of whether or not this rumour is true to their grave.
Apparently, screenwriter Gore Vidal (of Myra Breckenridge fame, as well as many non-embarrassing critically-adored other works) convinced one of Charlton Heston’s co-stars to play his character as a gay man enamoured with the titular hero—without anyone informing the extremely conservative Heston.
Now admittedly the story is impossible to prove, but the next time you find yourself landing on this Biblical epic whilst channel-hopping on a Sunday afternoon, watch Stephen Boyd’s portrayal of Messala closely. There’s a tenderness to the role which implies there may be some truth to the rumour, and deepens the relationship with the pair despite Heston’s supposed cluelessness.