Tom Hanks has admitted he wouldn't take the Philadelphia role which landed him an Oscar if he was offered it today.
The actor, now 65, played the role of a gay man living with the HIV virus in the 1993 movie but says he understands that he couldn't play the part nowadays.
Speaking to The New York Times Magazine, the Hollywood star said: "Let's address, 'Could a straight man do what I did in Philadelphia now?' No, and rightly so."
He played the part of lawyer Andrew Beckett, a gay man who was fired from his job at a law firm after his bosses discovered his sexuality.
He revealed that the movie's message was to not be afraid and claimed that "one of the reasons people weren't afraid of that movie is that [he] was playing a gay man".
Tom continued: "We're beyond that now, and I don't think people would accept the inauthenticity of a straight guy playing a gay guy.'
"It's not a crime, it's not boohoo that someone would say we are going to demand more of a movie in the modern realm of authenticity. Do I sound like I'm preaching? I don't mean to."
The Forrest Gump actor called the production a "timely movie" and admitted it may not have been able to be made in today's age as social media would pick it apart.
When he accepted his Oscar for Philadelphia, Tom spoke about the death toll caused by HIW/AIDs.
He said at the time: "I know that my work in this case is magnified by the fact that the streets of heaven are too crowded with angels.
"We know their names. They number a thousand for each one of the red ribbons that we wear here tonight. They finally rest in the warm embrace of the gracious creator of us all.
"A healing embrace that cools their fevers, clears their skin and allows their eyes to see the simple, self-evident, common-sense truth that is made manifest by the benevolent creator of us all and was written down on paper by wise men, tolerant men, in the city of Philadelphia 200 years ago."
The actor's latest role sees him play Colonel Tom Parker in Baz Luhrmann's Elvis.
He also opened up on why he decided to leave the world of Twitter, explaining he felt the social media platform was "an empty exercise".
"I have enough attention on me," he said. "But also I'd post something goofy like, "Here's a pair of shoes I saw in the middle of the street," and the third comment would be, 'F*** you, Hanks.'"
Do you have a story to sell? Get in touch with us at webcelebs@mirror.co.uk or call us direct 0207 29 33033.
