Non Threatening Boys*: Mark Indelicato on Ugly Betty, Hacks, Gay Superheroes and Tumblr
"I could totally fit into the Marvel Cinematic Universe. My superhero call would be 'Let’s go lesbians!'"
Tie: Vintage via Lidow Archive | Shirt: Comme des Garçons via Lidow Archive
Mark Indelicato has funny bones. He’s never without a quippy comment, and humour practically oozes from his every word and gesture. That’s what happens when you’ve been a comedian for most of your life – we first saw him on TV 18 years ago, as the lovable, fashion-obsessed Justin Suarez in Ugly Betty.
Indelicato took on the role aged just 11. It not only showcased his precocious acting chops but also positioned him as a trailblazer for young queer representation on television. Now, he's still making audiences laugh with his portrayal of Damien on HBO's Hacks, a series that continues to break boundaries in its three dimensional depiction of LGBTQ+ characters. But there's so much more to Mark than his on-screen personae.
Our conversation delved into Mark's early life, his transformative experiences in the entertainment industry, and his thoughts on the evolution of queer representation in media. We also explored his love for fashion – a passion that harks back to the days of Tumblr blogs and DIY creativity – and how it continues to influence his artistic expression today.
Pullover: Vintage via Lidow Archive | Boxers: Fruit of the Loom
Polyester: Could you tell us about your early life in Philadelphia and your childhood and how it influenced your career in the arts?
Mark Indelicato: I grew up in a small town outside Philadelphia where everything was quite heteronormative. Many people from my town never leave, which is fine, but my grandmother, Joanne, had bigger ambitions. She wanted to be an English professor and leave the small town, but her mother discouraged her, saying it wasn't suitable. As a result, her dreams were dashed.
She had a deep love for the arts and took me to New York City to see every Broadway show. She introduced me to many movies, and was an avid reader. By the time I was six or seven, I realised I wasn't good at sports, which was a big part of my family's interests. My grandmother suggested to my mom that I might have artistic potential. So, I started taking acting classes in Philadelphia. It was there that my current manager discovered me and started sending me on auditions, which is how my career began. My family had no initial ambitions for this to become a career; it was more of a creative outlet.
Did you start off as a Disney kid? I feel like you were in an episode of a Suite Life of Zack and Cody.
We did the first season of Ugly Betty, and during that time, I was asked what I wanted to do next. I said I wanted to be on The Suite Life of Zack & Cody. We made that happen, and that's where I met Dylan and Cole Sprouse, who are still two of my amazing friends today.
Shirt: Archive Dolce and Gabbana via Lidow Archive | Sunglasses: Vintage via Lidow Archive | Briefs: Calvin Klein
Speaking of – how did your role on Ugly Betty shape your career and personal life?
I mean, I was so young. And so is this character. Back in 2006 or 2007, it was unfortunately more common to sexualise children, which is now rightly seen as unacceptable. At that time, there was an assumption that an 11-year-old could understand their own sexuality, which wasn't true for me. Today, we see more young trans kids, and there are discussions around sexuality at younger ages too, but that wasn't my experience, especially considering the socio-cultural attitudes in the U.S., which can be quite homophobic. This made things tough for me, as these issues were projected onto me before I could fully understand my own identity. The silver lining was that this experience informed my portrayal of my character, Justin. In a weird meta way, Justin's journey mirrored my own, which was comforting and made me feel less alone.
That is meta. Were you coming to terms with your own sexuality as you were playing Justin?
Mark: I think the things that were being written for Justin didn’t necessarily apply to my own journey, but opened up the conversation for me. It was a role that was actively trying to open up a conversation about queerness and young people's sexualities, and I am grateful to have been a part of telling that story, because, for the longest time I was in the trenches. It really opened my eyes to things as a young queer person in a state of flux and figuring things out.
Would you say acting as a craft is healing to you?
Sure, acting can be a double-edged sword; it's quite draining. As a young person, I wasn't prepared to become the poster child for gay kids during the time Ugly Betty was on the air, and even still today. However, I enjoy talking about it now as a 30-year-old who has had a career since then. People still ask me about Ugly Betty, which I appreciate, although I only watched the show for the first time recently. The drama around the media's portrayal of me, often in derogatory terms, initially made me avoid experiencing the show. I also needed to distance myself from being labelled as a poster child for "gays" for my own sanity. Now that enough time has passed, I can appreciate Ugly Betty for what it was.
How do you think queer media has evolved from your time at Ugly Betty to now playing Damien in Hacks?
I think the biggest thing for me that I love about Hacks and about Damien and the way that he's written and the way that they let me portray him, is that his sexuality has never been a subject of conversation. I think one of the things that I really like now is that there isn't this huge coming out story, that the existence of a queer person is not like an event.
It's not a personality trait!
It’s not! I also appreciate that we're now seeing more diverse representations of various identities, including queer characters. I don't like the idea of a queer person or character being portrayed as completely virtuous all the time, as if they are always the voice of reason. In reality, everyone has flaws, and making queer characters perpetually virtuous robs them of a fully formed human experience. It's important to portray them as well-rounded individuals, not just as saints or villains. I think it's fairer and more realistic to depict queer characters as multifaceted individuals.
Custom helmet by Lidow Archive | Tie: Archive Jean Paul Gaultier via Lidow Archive | T-shirt: Archive Vivienne Westwood | Boxers: Fruit of the Loom
What has your favourite moment on the set of Hacks been so far?
People often ask us about our experiences on set, and I can never pinpoint a single anecdote. What stands out most to me is the respect and support everyone shows each other. It’s wonderful to walk onto a set where everyone genuinely wants you to succeed, and that feeling is mutual. It creates a collaborative atmosphere.
Even though the show focuses on Deborah Vance and Ava Daniels, the entire supporting cast plays a crucial role in making the show special. It would be easy for a lead actor, like Jean Smart, to dominate the space, but that's not the case here. Working on Hacks has been the first time since Ugly Betty that I’ve felt this strong sense of camaraderie. It makes going to work each day exciting, despite the long hours and hard work. The genuine friendships we have remind me of my time on Ugly Betty. Even years after the show ended, Ana Ortiz is still my best friend, and I was just in Santa Fe for America Ferrera’s 40th birthday. The cast of Hacks shares that same sense of connection. It’s not just a Hollywood cliché; our camaraderie is real, and it surprises people who see us together. Everyone involved – whether on camera or behind the scenes – should be proud of the family-like atmosphere we’ve created. It truly feels like a family.
100%. Do you naturally gravitate towards more dramatic or comedic roles? Because I could really see you in a horror film like a really campy, bloody horror film.
I would love that. I obviously gravitate towards comedic roles because that's what I enjoy and where I feel most comfortable, but I love horror films and I'm thrilled to see the genre gaining more recognition. The X trilogy and its offshoots have become really popular, and I still think Liv Tyler in The Strangers is one of the greatest performances – it's incredibly challenging to convincingly scream and cry. It's clear that the actors are putting in a lot of work. I'm also excited that production companies like Blumhouse are elevating the genre to new heights. While I still enjoy a good B-horror film, it's great to see horror being held in the same regard as other film genres.
T-shirt: Vivienne Westwood via Aralda Vintage
What cinematic universe do you think you’d fit right in?
I know I just mentioned it, but I would totally fit into the X trilogy.
You would! I see it.
I can’t get the X trilogy out of my head. From a monetary standpoint – I could totally fit into the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
Let’s make it happen.
Let’s make it happen! A gay superhero. My call would be “Let’s go lesbians!”
I’d be the first to report for duty.
I’d just steal that catchphrase from Billy Eichner.
Socks: Missoni | Loafers: Celine by Hedi Slimane
What messages or themes do you hope to convey through your work?
I think Justin's role on Ugly Betty really demonstrated our goal of telling more authentic queer stories and showing how such narratives can impact young people’s lives. While Ugly Betty wasn’t the first show to tackle these themes, it certainly paved the way for future stories and contributed to the current landscape. In the context of social justice and cultural impact, I believe we’ve achieved what we set out to portray. I also feel that comedy is still often undervalued as a genre. It’s surprising that we still need to argue for the value of comedy when it’s been shown time and again that making people laugh is just as challenging as making them cry. It's relatively easy to elicit tears with a dramatic story, but hitting someone's funny bone and making them laugh is a much tougher task. The work we do as comedic actors deserves the same respect and recognition as dramatic roles, and I think we’re still in the process of proving that.
While I was researching for our interview, I came across your Tumblr. When are you going to be reviving your blog the fashion gangster? Because I'm a fan.
It’s wild because I didn’t realise how influential Tumblr was in shaping my interests. Tumblr was a huge outlet for discovering and learning about fashion, and it eventually led me to platforms like Pinterest. I remember seeing things for the first time and being amazed, like, “What is this?” and then learning it was Galliano for Gaultier or something similarly iconic. It really opened my eyes to fashion as an incredible art form.
Back then, everyone had a blog. I don’t see that kind of explosion happening again anytime soon, but I have immense respect for that period. My friend James and I often reminisce about our first fashion shows and how Tumblr influenced our tastes. James still styles me perfectly, and you can see his work in the photos alongside this interview. Even though I don’t have access to my old Tumblr account anymore, I still cherish that time and its impact on my understanding and artistic expression.
How are you artistically expressing yourself these days?
The best way I express myself now is through collaboration with my friends, which feels like an extension of that DIY spirit I had back in the blog days. Back then, I was experimenting with self-timer photography, making videos with friends, and learning tools like iMovie. Today, I still love working with my friends on creative projects that reach a wider audience. For example, a few years ago, my best friend and stylist James Gallagher and I collaborated on a look for the SAG Awards that was featured in the New York Times, alongside celebrities like Austin Butler and Zendaya. Similarly, for my Polyester shoot, the same best friend styled it, another shot it, and yet another designed the deck. It’s gratifying to see these collaborative efforts evolve into mainstream successes and turn our creativity into something real and impactful.
Hat: Von Dutch | Shirt: Vintage via Lidow Archive | Pullover: Archive Comme des Garçons | Pendant: Dior by John Galliano via Aralda Vintage
Words: Sihaam Naik
Photographer: Lili Peper
Photographer Assistant: Andrea Nieto
Stylist: James Gallagher
Makeup: Caitlin Krenz for Exclusive Artists using R+Co
Production Designer: Sophia Apt
Non Threatening Boys* is Polyester’s platform for exploring all things masculine. To read more of our work, visit our Dollhouse platform, and subscribe to get Non Threatening Boys* directly to your inbox every other week.