Gay Welsh rugby icon Gareth Thomas is set to appear on Ellen on Tuesday, which is, I believe, his first TV interview stateside.
Mickey Rourke, who has been talking up playing Thomas for a film biopic seems ready to make every sacrifice, including his two front teeth.
Thomas’ agent, Emanuele Palladino, tells Britain’s Daily Express, “Mickey intends to get as close to the character as he can. He is going to get rid of his two front teeth – he will be taking them out.”
In a 2006 interview with the BBC, Thomas discussed the loss of his teeth:
"John Davies (the Llanelli Scarlets prop) knocked one of them out – I'm not happy with that, that was a cheap shot! – and the other one… I haven't got a clue, but that was rugby again….[I'll] Never [get a clear gumshield]! Because the only time I've ever had white teeth is when I've got a white gumshield in, so there's not a hope in hell of me changing that!"
Thomas came out of the closet in December 2009, making him one of the few professional athletes in the world to do so.