Diversity Rules Magazine

Rugby Star Ben Cohen Makes His Ac ng Debut This Summer in New LGBTQ+ Bri sh Comedy Series, Pa erns Ben Cohen, the Rugby champion and long me ally of LGBTQ+ rights, is making his ac ng debut this summer in Pa erns, a new LGBTQ+ series acquired by TLA Releasing that began streaming exclusively on Dekkoo on July 27. In mini-narra ves, the Brit- ish camp comedy explores several unique themes that make up the lives of LGBTQ+ people and its al- lies, including family dynamics, coming out, da ng, therapy and surviving an existen al crisis. Each epi- sode tells its own dis nct story, but all episodes take place in the same universe so that a minor character in one episode may reappear as the lead in another and vice-versa. "Pa erns was created to be a reflec- on of everyday queer life and how we navigate dif- ferent social circles at work, with friends and family, behaving differently within each circle we frequent," explains director Rex Glensy. "The beauty of the se- ries is that it explores this dynamic with humor and heart." "When I first read the script for Pa erns, I knew I needed to be a part of the series as it spoke to my life-long allyship with the LGBTQ+ community," says Ben Cohen, who in 2011, launched the Ben Cohen StandUp Founda on to combat bullying of children who might be lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender. "Also, I have always been a bit curious about appear- ing in front of the camera as an actor. The first scene I filmed for Pa erns was even more nerve-wracking than when I played for England the first me!" The premiere episode of Pa erns stars Tayler Mar- shall as Christopher, a good-looking man in his early twen es who ques ons whether his rela onship with vain boyfriend Foster, played by Rufus Shaljean, has real substance, or if Foster is only interested in him for his good looks. The second episode takes view- ers in an en rely new direc on as we meet Liam, a teenager with a ques onable obsession for his favor- ite athlete. Played by newcomer Rufus Gleave, Liam tends to retreat into the world of ballet and a very ac ve fantasy life. Ben Cohen stars as Liam's personal superhero who helps lead him out of his inner tur- moil. The third episode of Pa erns stars hunky Jack Arm- strong as Lionel who loves the company of other men and becomes obsessed with his pizza delivery man. "Lionel is a hopeless roman c and while he appears simple minded, he is quite complex," Jack Armstrong, the actor who plays Lionel, explains. Ac- 4 | Diversity Rules Magazine | Aug 2023 Patterns Premiered July 27th Rugby champion and long me LGBTQ+ ally Ben Cohen will make his ac ng debut this summer in new LGBTQ+ series

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