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Does anyone feel that this is getting just a little bit unreasonable?

(121 Posts)
Rosina Mon 22-Nov-21 17:49:21

Eddie Redmayne has just announced that he would not now take the role of a trans person in 'The Danish Girl', made in 2015, as it 'should be a trans actor cast in the role', and his casting was a mistake.
Are we coming to a time when unless you are absolutely authentic - i.e you must be Irish to play and Irish person, you must be disabled etc. you cannot be cast in a role? It seems also that you are now frowned upon if you write the story of a person that is different to your own gender, race, colour or experience, as this is wrong, and must only be penned by a completely authentic writer telling of their own experience. Will this be the death of people who can actaully act? Will this be the death of imagination for writers of fiction?

Rosina Mon 22-Nov-21 17:50:40

Note to self - preview messages as spelling mistakes may occur - and have.

Anniebach Mon 22-Nov-21 17:54:51

Daniel Day Lewis should give his Oscar back, he won it for
My Left Foot ?

Dinahmo Mon 22-Nov-21 17:57:25

It's absolutely ridiculous. If this continue further we won't be able to have gay men playing straight men. He is excellent in An Ideal Husband and also in My Best Friend's Wedding (although he is gay in that). What's interesting is he has said that he wished he hadn't declared his sexuality since it harmed his career. It didn't matter to me and I daresay I'm not the only one.

Going back to the OP, Eddie Redmayne was very good in the Danish Girl. Such a sad story. I can't imagine that there are many trans actors out there.

Peasblossom Mon 22-Nov-21 17:59:02

I was thinking about this last night.

So does that mean that only heterosexuals can act in straight roles?

That would be the natural corollary.

Calistemon Mon 22-Nov-21 18:06:25

Just what part of acting does he not understand?

Doodledog Mon 22-Nov-21 18:07:22

It does away with the concept of 'acting', doesn't it?

The same arguments go around about writing. Should an author only write from experience, as anything else is 'appropriation'? So farewell science fiction, historical novels and vampires, then.

SueDonim Mon 22-Nov-21 18:18:21

I propose that hair dye should be banned, so no one can pretend to have blonde or red hair, and nail polish, in case we’re duped into believing someone really does have green nails. No high heels, because you’d be masquerading as a tall person.

LauraNorderr Mon 22-Nov-21 18:34:55

Every day we are getting closer to the day that lunatics are running the asylum.

GagaJo Mon 22-Nov-21 18:37:03

In theory, I agree that anyone can act anything. In reality, people from minority groups tend to be excluded. Ben Kinglsey in Ghandi for example (only one that comes to mind right now).

GillT57 Mon 22-Nov-21 18:47:56

On that basis, what does Eddie Redmayne think about acting as Stephen Hawking?

VioletSky Mon 22-Nov-21 18:50:20

Why overlook someone with life experience that will give something extra to a role?

Actors can and have lived as the person they are playing to feel authentic. It's probably hard as a man to live as a woman to engage with a role like a genuine trans person can.

We shouldn't overlook the wealth of diverse actors/actresses who can bring something beautiful and authentic to the role they play.

Ilovecheese Mon 22-Nov-21 18:51:41

Ghandi was made some time ago though, Gagajo I doubt the same thing would happen now.

Whitewavemark2 Mon 22-Nov-21 18:51:50

What happens if a person is bi- sexual?

Or a eunuch.

Or hermaphrodite

Bit difficult

GillT57 Mon 22-Nov-21 18:53:24

Should Julia Roberts worked the streets before playing the lead in Pretty Woman? Before anyone jumps in to tell me this is different; I don't think it is, acting as a profession is about being the character, helping the audience to suspend belief and see the character, not the actor.

Galaxy Mon 22-Nov-21 18:56:02

If she had worked the streets she would never have made that film.

MerylStreep Mon 22-Nov-21 18:57:26

Calistamon
Laurence Oliver said much the same thing to Dustin Hoffman when they were making Marathon Man.
Hoffman said that he had stayed awake for 3 days to get the look he wanted.
Laurence said: why don’t you just try acting ?

GagaJo Mon 22-Nov-21 19:02:35

It's about trying to stamp out discrimination. Just like #OscarsSoWhite.

There are lots of other categories.

Sex/gender
Sexuality
Nationality
Ableism
White washing

As much as we wish we did, we don't live in an equal world. BLM, trans issues. Both are very much part of the zeigeist now. I think it's great he's thought of it. Show's he is a sensitive man. He can look back at something he did, say 'I was wrong.' I think that shows strength of character.

Urmstongran Mon 22-Nov-21 19:03:00

Love that MS! ?

Wheniwasyourage Mon 22-Nov-21 19:03:41

Who will get to be a pantomime dame? Perhaps if men can't play the part they will have to recruit from Gransnetters. As for principal boys...

Doodledog Mon 22-Nov-21 19:04:28

Acting isn't about life experience. It is about thinking oneself into a role, which goes beyond just 'being' a member of a particular group - it needs empathy with the situation of the story.

Should the Queen be asked to play all Royal roles, as nobody else has experience of being the British monarch?

GagaJo Mon 22-Nov-21 19:05:15

Drag is always popular. Drag Queens. Drag Kings. As I said, zeitgeist. A friend of mine included drag in a lesson she was doing on feminine representation in the media recently. The students LOVED it. They were far more radical in their opinions than her.

lemongrove Mon 22-Nov-21 19:19:20

Gaga The thing is....Redmayne was notwrong when he played a trans person, it’s called acting.He’s being ‘right on’ by coming out with all this sort of claptrap, as luvvies often do.

Barmeyoldbat Mon 22-Nov-21 19:20:05

An absolute stupid idea, that’s what actors do, act the part. Duh…

GagaJo Mon 22-Nov-21 19:24:26

I get that most on this thread aren't interested in equality. Some are though. Including ER obviously.

Talk about a storm in a tea cup. Someone self reflects, realises they made a mistake, makes moves not to do again. And GN erupts with Political Correctness Gone Mad responses.