Scores of actresses turn down roles in play critical of JK Rowling’s gender views.

😖

If they wanted to ‘reclaim’ Harry Potter, I think R White would be a BRILLIANT Dolores Umbridge.

😂😂😂😂😂😂😂

Maybe a letter to him needs to be written.

As pp said it would add to the comedy of the whole thing.

Yes, but anyone who goes to see that play is likely to think they’re much better women.

Oh they’d notice a man playing at being a woman.

All the female characters could be played by transwomen. I'm sure no one would notice.

To exclude people with disabilities?

I wonder why the actor has to be 'a skilled physical performer'?

Maybe it's relative? If they're considering "members of the trans community", they're stressing that you will have to physically get up on the stage and move around, and not just do it over Zoom with a support dog?

Using the medium of interpretative dance to express their tantrums at JKR being an actual real woman who outwits and outsmarts them at every turn?

I wonder why the actor has to be 'a skilled physical performer'? Is there simulated broomstick riding? A sword fight? Emotional mime? A dance routine?

How did you both manage to reach a certain age (ie older than 10ys) and not understand that double tapping a penis ALWAYS makes it bigger 😯

Well the ad is at best misleading if not deliberately tricking those who haven't read all the pre-publicity, into thinking they might be interested.

If they are prepared to identify JKR as having "controversial opinions around trans identify" and are booked to do a play about her, why are they now so unprepared to say someone required to act (caricature?) a well known much loved author, by misogynistic sexist school boys.

Makes them even more contemptable than they already are.

'We will exercise non-traditional casting for this project' 😂😂. I found that funnier than I should've.

Those who've suggested a trans cast in a hilariously shit play about trans issues have been beaten to it by Get Off My Turf, starring Owl and Fox, which you can laugh at on YouTube for 10 mins.

I'd forgotten that thank you for reminding me!

Maybe, at a push, 53.

If it's "playing age 35" I guess that rules Eddie Izzard out.

Surely he could just identify as 35?

is this more evidence that the tide is turning? Any established actress is not going to need a gig paying 500 quid a week. Up and coming aspirants might think being linked to a mean spirited hit job might not do their CV any favours?

I note that they are specifically looking for a transwoman to fill the part of JKR.

"Female identifying
Playing age 35
Skilled physical performer. No specific playing ranges. We’re keen for this role to be filled by a member of the trans community."

If they're struggling, you have to wonder why all those brave and stunning transwomen aren't applying. If it's "playing age 35" I guess that rules Eddie Izzard out.

I wonder if the bus stop, ribbon-phobic Scottish actor is one of the male-identifying cast?

I can see why they're having difficulty recruiting. Who in their right mind would want to get involved in that drama? IW fits the bill but the only spanner being the age range might be pushing it. Suppose IW could just identify as a 35 year old, job done. How about dear Dylan M for Emmsy?

https://talentbooster.co.uk/content/united-kingdom-%C2%A3504-seeking-female-actress-needed-terf-play-edinburgh-fringe-2024

Agree. I think you're on a sticky wicket making drama based on real people unless you're showing them in a broadly positive light. I'd say it's particularly foolish to make a drama about one of the richest people in the country, who has successfully used her lawyers to elicit apologies from people who have defamed her. (I think JKR is generally gracious enough not to ask for damages, though I personally wouldn't want to take the risk.)

It's possible actresses are turning the parts down because the script is rubbish, or because they don't want to sabotage their chances of a role in the new Harry Potter (though as a PP said, I doubt that a short-run play on the Edinburgh fringe is fishing in the same casting pool as Warner Bros). But it might also be because they have enough sense of decency and integrity to recognise a hit job when they see one, and to want no part of it.

Ooh that's interesting re The Lost King - in the light of Baby Reindeer.

I think the growth of fictionalised biopics and the exploitation of real life material for fiction films is going to challenge the libel and defamation courts for many years to come. I'm astonished at the naivety of Pathe who have done many biopics and true stories (Iron Lady, Philomena, Pride) - I would have thought their lawyers would be all over it.