'Glee's' Darren Criss honored to play gay student Blaine

Darren Criss, who plays out-and-proud gay student Blaine on the Fox musical-comedy hit Glee, says he's honored to play the role.

Blaine is living in an idealized world of acceptance at the Dalton Academy, which has a zero tolerance policy against discrimination.

Gay McKinley High student Kurt Hummel, by contrast, has fled his tormentor Dave Karofsky, played by Max Adler, after school officials decided against disciplining the bully.

Kurt is now attending the same school as Blaine, and has admitted that he has a crush on his mentor, but whether the pair are headed towards romance remains to be seen.

In an interview with monthly Interview, Criss says he's not concerned about being typecast as the gay kid.

"Not at all," Criss says. "To be quite honest, that doesn't take up a huge chuck of what really matters about Blaine."

Blaine "makes such a great addition to the many-colored palette that is Glee. So as far as me having any reservations about it, no. I read it being like, this would be so cool, whoever gets to play this, it's going to be a great thing for an already great show."

And he adds that his character has a lot of potential to have a positive influence: "Of course, being gay really is an important part of who he is. … It's a really positive thing, and I feel very privileged to be the vessel for that, and I hope it speaks to a lot of people who struggle to find a model for who they are and where they fit in."