Eddie Redmayne revealed that he thought playing trans characters in Danish Girl, for which he was nominated for an Academy Award, was a “mistake” after criticisms suggested the role should have gone to someone LGBT.
The British actor Lili Elbe (39) was the transgender actress. He is also thought to be among the first to have sex reassignment therapy.
His performance saw him nominated for Best Actor at the Oscars – just a year after taking home the award for his performance as Stephen Hawkins in The Theory of Everything.
Redmayne admitted that playing Elbe in Cabaret, the show where Emcee is gender fluid, was his mistake.
British actor Eddie Redmayne (39), played the role of Lili Elbe, transgender artist, and was reportedly one of the first to undergo sex reassignment. He also starred alongside Alicia Vikander, in 2015’s The Danish Girl. He now tells The Times that he believes the role was an error. (photo taken in September 2019
Critics at the time suggested that the trans-acting actress should play the role. Redmayne says that he would not accept the role now if the opportunity presented itself to him.
‘No, I wouldn’t take it on now. Although I had the best intentions when I created that movie, I regret it now, the Fantastic Beasts actor stated.
‘The bigger discussion about the frustrations around casting is because many people don’t have a chair at the table. Otherwise, these arguments will go on.
Redmayne was casting The Danish Girl for Redmayne at the time. This argument still holds today.
Redmayne, who played Elbe in the 2015 film, was nominated to an Academy Award.
Redmayne himself told IndieWire at the time: ‘I think it’s an incredibly important discussion. And I think it’s also representative of a lot of discrimination against trans people in the work place generally.
‘I think there has been years of cisgender success on the back of trans stories.’
Scarlett Johansson is one of the many actors who have been criticised for being cast in LGBT+ roles.
In 2018, Johansson had to back down from playing transgender man Dante Gill, a.k.a. Tex, who ran a string of massage parlors in the 1970s and ’80s that became fronts for prostitution dens in a movie poised to be titled ‘Rub & Tug.’
Fantastic Beast actor, he said that he would not accept the role even if offered now. Pictured here with Alicia Vikander, in The Danish Girl
Redmayne before Elbe’s transformation. Trans actors need to be included in discussions about representation, according to the actor.
‘While I would have loved the opportunity to bring Dante’s story and transition to life, I understand why many feel he should be portrayed by a transgender person, and I am thankful that this casting debate, albeit controversial, has sparked a larger conversation about diversity and representation in film,’ she said at the time.
Johansson cast Gill as Gill when it was first announced. Trace Lysette wrote on Twitter: ‘Not only do you play us and steal our narrative and our opportunity but you pat yourselves on the back with trophies and accolades for mimicking what we have lived.
After J.K Rowling’s tweet entitled “Creating a more egal post COVID-19 universe for menstruating women” (Tweeting Title: “Creating a more equitable post COVID-19 World for Menstruating Women”), the 2020 film The Fantastic Beast and Where To Find Them Star joined the chorus of criticisms directed at Rowling, 54.
Pictured: Redmayne and Hannah Bagshawe with their two children in July
People argued that Elbe should have been played by Redmayne at the time.
Rowling said: “People who have to menstruate.” I am sure that there was once a name for such people. Please help. Wumben? Wimpund? Woomud?’
Eddie said in a statement to Variety: “As someone who worked with J.K. Rowling as well as members of the transcommunity…
“I just wanted to be clear about where I stand. Jo’s comment is incorrect. Trans people are all women. Trans men are men.
Rowling’s comments about transphobia caused an uproar among the community, her peers and supporters.
Eddie and his wife in October at the e Alexander McQueen SS22 Womenswear Show at The Standard
Eddie, who starred as Newt in Fantastic Beasts’ series, has been working for Rowling since 2016.
The entire statement was written by him: “Respect for Transgender People remains a Cultural Imperative, and I have tried to continuously educate myself over the years…
“This is an ongoing work in progress. J.K. Rowling, as well as members of trans communities have been people I worked with. I felt it was important to clarify my position. Jo’s comment is incorrect.
“Trans men are trans women and men are trans women. Non-binary identities can be valid. While I don’t think I could speak for the community, my close transgender friends know how tired they are of constant questions about their identities that often lead to abuse and violence.
They simply desire to be happy in life, and now it’s their turn.