'I sell records in countries where gay men get killed and that's a big thing for me': Sam Smith on being a spokesperson for the homosexual community

Published: 19:43 EST, 21 October 2015 | Updated: 16:39 EST, 22 October 2015

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Last year Sam Smith was asked about his role in the gay community and he said: 'I'm not trying to be a spokesperson.'

His comments sparked controversy but in a new interview the 23-year-old singer has finally set the record straight, insisting he does want to be a voice for the group, but also for many others too.

Speaking to NME he said: 'I’m a gay man who came out when I was 10 years old, and there’s nothing in my life that I’m prouder of.'

Out and proud: Sam Smith spoke to NME about being a spokesperson for the gay community

And addressing his previous comments he explained: 'What I was trying to say was that I didn’t want the album to appeal to just one community, I wanted it to appeal to all of them. I wanted anyone, gay or straight, to be able to relate to me singing about men, like I was able to relate to Stevie Wonder or John Legend singing about girls. I want to be a spokesperson.

'I want to be a figure in the gay community, who speaks for gay men. I sell records in countries where gay men get killed and that’s a big thing for me, because maybe one person in that country will pick up my album, realise it’s by a gay artist, and it might change their opinion.'

Sam, 23, also revealed that although he has lent his voice to Daniel Craig's new film, he isn't his favourite Bond actor.

Sam explained that he loved Daniel in the films but it was only after he watched some of the older offerings in the franchise that he could fully form an opinion, preferring the older Bond actors.

Read the full interview with Sam Smith in NME on sale on Friday

He said: 'I went back and watched them all, I realised that it’s Connery and Moore who I love the most. I love how classy and clean-cut they are. I think I’d like the next Bond to be more of a return to that.'

Sam recently confessed that he sent 'probably the cockiest email in the world' in the hopes of securing the James Bond theme song.

The musician, who just scored the first Bond No1 in history, admitted in the latest SPECTRE Vlog that he was invited to meet director Sam Mendes and producer Barbara Broccoli after putting in a request for the 007 opportunity with his US agent.

Not his fabourite: Sam has revealed that he actually prefers Roger Moore or Sean Connery to Daniel Craig as James Bond

And Barbara now admits that 'we couldn't have picked anybody better' as hitmaker Sam scored two new Guinness World Records for his song Writing's On The Wall and album In The Lonely Hour earlier this week.

Sam said in the latest video chapter of the series: 'I remember sending an email to my agents in America, probably the cockiest email in the world, and I just said "Is there any that I could do the Bond theme?"

'The next thing I know I was asked to go to Pinewood Studios and meet with Barbara and Sam.'

'All I kept thinking about for the whole process was what [Sam Mendes] said to me in our first meeting, which is, we just want to write the greatest love song.'

To read the full interview, pick up your free copy of NME magazine this Friday.