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'The Danish Girl' director responds to casting criticism

The-Danish-Girl-1A new trailer has been released for Tom Hooper’s upcoming film ‘The Danish Girl’ starring Eddie Redmayne as one of the first known recipients of sexual reassignment surgery, Lili Elbe.

Hooper has received some criticism lately for his decision not to cast a transgender person in the starring role. Much like the recent outcry stemming from the lack of trans and non-white representation in ‘Stonewall’, many are concerned by the lack of LGBT presence in queer cinema.

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“There is a huge pool of talented trans actors and the access to parts is limited,” Hooper told Variety, “I would champion any shift where the industry could move forward and embrace trans actors in trans and cisgender roles and also celebrate and encourage trans filmmakers.”

“In terms of the casting of Eddie, I’m going to say something that would be easier to say if Eddie weren’t sitting next to me, but I think there is something in Eddie that’s drawn to the feminine.”

Redmayne says that he spent two years with members of the transgender community preparing for the role before he’d even got the part.

“It was an education,” Redmayne told Variety, “I didn’t understand that gender and sexuality were not related.”

“There are amazing tips on YouTube, in which you can take lessons in shifting your own voice, and then I was like ‘these are things that Lili wouldn’t have access to’.”

Watch the latest trailer for ‘The Danish Girl’ below.

OIP Staff

Read More

10-08-2015   Stonewall director responds to white-washing criticisms

04-08-2015   First Look: Eddie Redmayne as Lili Elbe

06-11-2014   Eddie Redmayne and Elle Fanning to play trans roles

 

 

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