celeb news Hilary Swank suggests non trans actors should play some trans roles

[Tudors]

 

 

Hilary Swank says all actors are pretending ... so, she's for non-trans actors playing trans characters and vice versa -- at least, it seems that's what she's saying.

The two-time Oscar winner famously won her first back in 2000 after playing trans man Brandon Teena in the biopic "Boys Don't Cry" and reflected on the role in an interview with The Times of London.

 

While breaking down her part in the film, Swank acknowledges she wouldn't take the role today, saying her part in it was a sign of the times and adding a trans actor could really sink their teeth into the Brandon role today.

But, HS doesn't leave her thoughts on the part there ... and, her added statement makes it sound like she's totally fine with cisgender actors taking on transgender parts.

 

  Swank says, "I also feel like actors are actors. We are supposed to play different people and I would like to hope trans people are getting the opportunity to play non-trans people as well" ... so, it seems she's hoping for a two-way street sorta approach -- gender identity shouldn't keep an actor from getting a job.  Hilary's stance isn't common in Hollywood ... back in 2021, Eddie Redmayne -- who played a transwoman in "The Danish Girl" -- said he regretted starring in the film despite earning an Oscar nod for it.

 

 

And, Scarlett Johansson dropped out of "Rub & Tug" after receiving criticism for agreeing to take a transgender role.

But, Hilary's firm on this ... it's about the quality of the acting rather than the correct identity. Only one way to settle this -- vote below!

 

https://www.tmz.com/2024/04/20/hilary-swank-cisgender-actors-play-trans-roles-boys-dont-cry/?adid=social-fb

[RoseGold]

In a perfect world where everything is even and fair, sure.

[X~MoviePoP]

I mean, her role was amazing and brought light to a difficult subject back then.

 

I think if the actor is an ally and represents it well then yes. But i understand the discussion about trans actors wanting trans roles but sometimes its about whose the best actor for the role.

 

Too wong foo had straight actors playing cross dress/trans/drag roles and that movie is acclaimed. 

 

I think just like straight men should be able to play gay roles and vice versa, it should work the same for a trans character being able to play a cis role and vice-versa. 

 

Their called "Actors" for a reason right? To embody a character that isnt them.

Edited April 21 by X~MoviePoP

[Trent W]

Yeah as long as trans actors are able to play cis roles

 

That's the challenge in acting, playing someone not related to you.

[Pikachoo]

i think she will be crucified by sjws for saying this. which is sad because she is clearly sympathetic toward the trans community. she's not your enemy

[LittleStarmen]

Hmm the thing is that when cis actor play trans they are aclaimed and the trans actor play trans they are invisible.

 

So not the same game in this day and age

Edited April 21 by LittleStarmen

[family.guy123]

[MP3]

I honestly think that every actor, trans or not, should play the roles they are interested in

After all, it's not the purpose to be an actor, play someone you're not usually are?

[loveisdead9582]

Maybe in a decade or so, sure. Right now though, there aren't many trans actors/actresses out there who get big roles. Until the scales are balanced a little bit I feel like giving trans actors/actresses priority when playing trans characters is necessary. 

[Suilen]

Well, I'd like for more trans people to take those roles and get acknowledgement for them, but if cis people have to play them, then can we at least move on from the 'standard' of cis men playing trans women (even post-transition) and cis women playing trans men? I wouldn't mind a cis woman playing a trans woman like in Transamerica, for example.

[GhostBox]

She's correct 👏🏼

[Alyssa Edwards]

45 minutes ago, LittleStarmen said:

when cis actor play trans they are aclaimed and the trans actor play trans they are invisible.

[qurl]

i echo the sentiment that straight people being LAUDED for playing queer/trans roles feels …….. i don't like it. like i get acting is "pretending" but there are plenty of actors of that lived experience that could bring life to the role just the same if not better than the Jared Letos, Hilary Swanks of the world

[Polgg48]

interesting that it has to be miss two-time academy awards winner who currently is a fad and jobless. then she speaks out on a concern matter that is a possibility of new trend in hollywood and impact future of communities.

 

both jared and her likely did win both roles for different reasons/narrative than representing trans/lesbian figure but we are far and away from real trans actors on leads when openly  gays remain struggle on a role. one step at a time better than nothing if she means by that.   

 

 

[Onyxmage]

I mean it's a double edged sword. it's like saying gay people can't play straight roles.

[Sannie]

Eh, the vice-versa thing does not work in this context because trans actors are not being given opportunities to play non-trans characters. If and when that happens and there is equality, then we can revisit this concept.

[Princess Aurora]

It depends on the actor 

[Harrier]

nothing too wrong with what she said here, but i wouldn't mind seeing cis actors playing roles that match their gender identity (ie a cis woman playing a trans woman).

 

Sometimes i feel cis actors can lowkey reinforce the idea that trans women are 'men in dresses' or trans men are 'women with a short haircuts' bc they drop the role and then go back to being cis.

[Bey'Knight]

ScarJo right now:

[Bey'Knight]

Truth is chances are slim of hollywood approving a trans-centred story led by an unproven trans sctor, box office wise so we are gonna have to deal with more Dallas buyers club situations or look to indies with shoestring budgets. Personally, I'm fine with the latter. I don't think stories need to have a wide appeal to be worthy of telling. Now that I'm a bit older, my ratio of hollywood productions vs arthouse flick consumption is evening out. I don't need to see a man in  spandex tights save the world a dozen times a year. 

[Bey'Knight]

4 hours ago, MP3 said:

I honestly think that every actor, trans or not, should play the roles they are interested in

After all, it's not the purpose to be an actor, play someone you're not usually are?

In an ideal world, yes. But the world is not idyllic. Opportunities are not dished out evenly. Hollywood is business first and show second. There's too many variables swinging in the air to whittle down to a simplistic rationale. Facts are 2-d, truths are far more complex. 

[playboi]

But the proportion of trans people is so small and it becomes even smaller if you take in the context of casting aka making sure they're fit for the role beyond their trans-identity... obviously there's bound to be some limitations 

 

Also casting cis actors in movies that positively represent trans stories can be a necessary "harm" if it means it will be successful and reach more people

 

a successful movie that's good representation amongst the GP > a flop movie that only people that are already part of the community will watch 

[Bloody Willy]

is she hot?

[Draper.]

The problem is having LGBTQ+ stories seen as "juicy roles" for Oscar bait movies and for "challenging" acting and then not involve any LGBTQ+ person in the conception and representation of such characters. It would be okay to have a cis actor play a trans role if directed by a trans person for example. But that's just simply not happening.

Edited April 21 by Draper.

[Eat The Acid]

Everything she said is correct.