NBC’s Brilliant Minds is bringing groundbreaking LGBTQ representation to primetime network television! The series stars the incredible out actor Zachary Quinto as Dr. Oliver Wolf, an eccentric but incredibly gifted neurologist.
Quinto joined GLAAD’s Anthony Allen Ramos for a conversation about Brilliant Minds and the impact of playing the first openly gay doctor as the lead of a network medical drama.
“I’ve always said that if audiences see themselves in our stories, then we’re doing our job,” Quinto begins.
“No matter what perspective they might be coming from, my hope is that we’re able to include a variety of narratives in the stories that we’re telling and include authentic representation.” He continues, “That’s something that I think is really interesting to me and also to Michael Grassi, our show-runner, and it’s something that motivates us as we’re making the show.”
Quinto goes on to discuss how historic this series is, “To play the first openly gay doctor as a lead of a primetime network medical drama is an honor.” He continues, “It’s a distinction that I can’t ignore but I think that the significance of it is that for the character, his identity, his orientation, is only one aspect of who he is and what we explore of his psyche on the show.”
Quinto shares that, “I love the fact that it’s not the centered issue, right? It’s an ancillary issue. It’s something that comes in and informs his life in different ways, the way that anyone’s identity would.” He adds that, “I think that’s a testament to the progress we’ve made culturally as a society.”
Quinto’s character on the show is inspired by the real life of Dr. Oliver Sacks, a gay neurologist and author, and pioneer in the medical field. Quinto shares that while he was familiar with Sacks, he has grown to really admire him and his work. Prior to filming, Quinto says, “I didn’t know how influential he was on the field of neurology, I didn’t know how unconventional he was in his methods. I learned a great deal about him through this experience and developed a deep respect and affinity for him and and I’m only sorry that I didn’t get a chance to meet him while he was still alive.”
The series deals a lot with mental health and the importance of taking those issues seriously. Quinto says that, “I’m a huge mental health advocate. I have been in therapy myself for over 20 years.” He shares his hopes for the series, “This has connected me to the vital importance of mental health and mental health care. And one of the things that it’s really focused my attention on is, how can we make mental health care more accessible for people? I’ve been really fortunate to have the resources to cultivate that aspect of my experience. Not everyone is in a similar position. So, that’s something that I find really valuable and important to look at is, what can we do? How can we continue to humanize, destigmatize, normalize and and include conversations about mental health in more consistent ways within our family, in our communities and our friend groups. And I think our show maybe in its own small way is, is hopefully able to encourage at least the conversations.”
To close, Quinto says, “I’m just really enjoying this part of the process, which is sharing it with people and inviting people in and hoping that they both enjoy what they’re seeing and also are given something to think about.”
New episodes of Brilliant Minds premiere Monday nights at 10/9c and are available for streaming the next day on Peacock.