Lithgow no stranger to love

John Lithgow.

John Lithgow may be an American acting institution but you don't often see him in leading roles. The former 3rd Rock from the Sun sitcom star's latest supporting turn is in Christopher Nolan's Interstellar as Matthew McConaughey's father-in-law. In the movies at least - he's long been a fixture on the Broadway stage - he's been a supporting character actor kind of guy.

But in acclaimed independent drama Love is Strange he's one of two leading men opposite Brit Alfred Molina. The pair are a gay married couple who are forced to live separately when Molina's George loses his job teaching music in a New York Catholic school because of their recent marriage.

"We don't regard it as a niche film," Lithgow says. "We regard it as a film about love in many forms and it's certainly about family.

"It's about the little dramas of life that happen to all of us, losing a job, losing an apartment getting in financial trouble and having to live with relatives.

"These are very domestic crises but they're very painful and funny and they're treated with a kind of gentleness."

Lithgow says it was easy and natural playing the romantic relationship with Molina.

"I knew it was going to be very easy because I've known Fred for 20 years without ever acting together," Lithgow explains.

"But even then I didn't know him that well but I knew we'd work fabulously together and thought we'd make a great couple."

So you fell in love with each other?

"We did. We literally did. We were inseparable on the set. He's such a delightful, funny, bighearted man and we made each other laugh so hard."

Says Love is Strange director Ira Sachs: "I think the pleasure for the audience is in seeing these men who are most comfortable when they are with each other. As a couple they're appealing. I wanted to make a film about the possibility of love to blossom over time and it's something I hope for myself.

"It's something I've observed about my mother and stepfather ... it's inspiring to see people who still love each other 40 years later."

Who: John Lithgow

What: Love is Strange and Interstellar

When: At cinemas now