Wentworth Miller, who came out last year, opened up to Details about coming out and being openly gay in Hollywood.

Last year, the Prison Break star put gay rumours to rest by coming out through an open letter declining an invitation to the St. Petersburg Film Festival in the midst of Putin passing Russia’s controversial anti-gay laws. He wrote, “The situation is in no way acceptable, and I cannot in good conscience participate in a celebratory occasion hosted by a country where people like myself are being systematically denied their basic right to live and love openly.”

Looking back, Miller (42) explained, “When the invitation arrived, I thought, there is no way I can say yes. Then it occurred to me that if I made my response public, it might help draw additional attention to the situation. It felt like the right move at the right time.”

When asked if his coming out might alienate his female fan base, Miller was positive that it wouldn’t. “The people onscreen aren’t the characters they’re playing,” he explained. “They’re our projection of who we want them to be. I think it’s possible to have a man-crush if you’re not gay or to have a crush on a guy you know to be gay if you’re a woman.

“Attraction is fluid, and I think our imaginations are strong enough to hold a container for all of this complexity, even if we know on a subconscious level something’s not what it appears to be.”

Miller is returning to the spotlight in the upcoming thriller The Loft, which will be released later this summer.