When Chris Colfer auditioned for the part of a gay teen on Glee, he had no idea how close he’d be playing his own life. Just like his character, Kurt Hummel, Chris also tried to hide his sexual orientation first, before finally coming out to his parents and friends, thereby moving on to become an icon for teenagers across the globe.

Ask about the long-awaited liberal approach to exploring homosexual relationships on the small screen, and Chris says, “It’s not ground-breaking having gay teens on TV anymore. Earlier it was like ‘they’re together in a relationship, but don’t show it.’ We just know they’re in a corner doing God-knows-what. But they (his character Kurt and boyfriend Blaine) should be treated like any other couple. They should have fights like every other couple, so let’s get some more fights.”

Glee, which airs on Star World, propelled the small-town boy from Ohio to instant stardom overnight, complete with millions of raging fans and fashion followers.

But Chris admits that he operates under constant pressure, saying, “If I were to do something stupid, like hurt someone or get drunk at a club and fall down some stairs, all the credibility not only for me, but for the character would be gone. It is a lot of responsibility, but I think anyone in my situation would treat it with as much respect as I try to.”

The same adoring fans can sometimes turn into equally vicious haters when they disapprove of a situation or plot, as Chris found out. “There are so many times that I’m like, ‘Oh, they (the fans) aren’t going to like that line.’ But one of the big lessons I have learned from my journey is you can’t please everyone, so don’t try.”

Ask whether he’s ever thought of fighting back, and he says, “I have a sack of hate mail that I want to respond to. One day, when I’m tired or tipsy, I will respond and tell them what I think.”