To think actors should be able to act?

[DappledOliveGroves]

I'm so pissed off. Russell T. Davies has now said that gay characters should be played by gay actors. Article here: www.google.com/amp/s/news.sky.com/story/amp/russell-t-davies-straight-actors-should-not-play-gay-characters-12185652

I'm so, so sick of the identity politics playing out into every sphere. Where do we draw the line? Can a British actor play an American character or vice verse? If the character is a divorcee, must the actor also have gone through a divorce? Can a character who struggles with infertility only be played by an actress who's experienced the same?

I absolutely loved Queer as Folk when it came out in the late 90s. I have the box set and still watch it. It was brilliantly funny, wonderfully written and utterly provocative. Yet it wouldn't be made today, because the three main actors were in fact heterosexual.

Why are we becoming so segregated as a society? I had thought the idea was that people mixed together and strove for equality of opportunity. Instead we're simply pigeonholing people into smaller and smaller groups, based on identity politics.

Gay actors have played straight characters for centuries. Will they still be cast or can they only act if the character happens to be gay?

God, I hope so much in 50 years' time that we look back on this period with utter bewilderment at the insanity that's being perpetrated.

There are famous gay actors who have played heterosexual roles. Neil Patrick Harris. Ian McKellen. Are we saying that we have to typecast gay actors now, on the assumption that any gay actor is 'camp' or 'dramatic' in a way that would preclude them being able to act in a sombre role? Surely that's prejudiced as hell to assume that all gay actors must have a certain type of personality or demeanour?

A lot of people here agreeing with you would have made a fuss about Ariel being played by a black woman in their upcoming live adaption. 💅🏽

"I've read the article, thanks, and once you strip away the bits that don't make any sense ("It's about authenticity, the taste of 2020"??) that is actually exactly what he's saying."

The full, in context interview or just the media's little snippets of it?

I'm not necessarily defending him, but it's plainly obvious he is talking about how he casts his own work and not dictating rules to other creatives.

@Lavanderrose

A lot of people here agreeing with you would have made a fuss about Ariel being played by a black woman in their upcoming live adaption. 💅🏽

I thought that was awesome. Far more likely to be accurate if mermaids exist in tropical climates and makes no difference to the story anyway.

Didn't care that Hermione was black in Harry Potter and the Cursed Child either. I was just a bit confused at first because I hadn't known they were doing that (I avoided all coverage). Once I worked it out, no issue. Again, made no difference to the story.

Tbf as far as I remember the little mermaid was described as white and pale, unnaturally actually, in the book. I doubt translation changed that from the original so HCA made her super pale. But then Disney changed so many characters from folklore it's just meh now

@SchrodingersImmigrant To be honest I'm expecting it to happen too but I'm guessing that's more to suit Elliot than anything else which whatever but the double standards are annoying.

@JustCuriousToday absolutely get what you mean.

God help us if psychopathic serial killers have to be cast to type.

Much as I despise the hypocritical weasely Eddie Redmayne, I will defend his right to play a Transwoman and a disabled person, despite being neither.

I think the thing that pisses me off about it is the idea that who you are is so dependant on who you're attracted you. As though gay and straight people are so so different that one cant possibly imitate the other. I feel like we've taken a step backwards with this view. We have gay actors playing straight people, is that wrong too?

I feel for all the bisexuals and lesbians out there who will basically never work again if this comes to pass (or will get shit one-dimensional storylines hitting all the stereotypes). Or all the amazing straight characters who have been brought to life by gay actors.
I think it's abhorrent that anyone thinks you should have to declare your sexuality to get a job.

What is important is that disabled actors and other discriminated against groups get a fair crack at all parts, based on acting ability.

It must be especially galling for fantastic disabled actors (and there are loads, there was a short series of short plays recently that demonstrated it) to not only be overlooked for 'general' parts solely because of disability, to then see Eddie Redmayne, who is not short of jobs, in a wheelchair. (though I appreciate that for the first half of the film the character is able-bodied).

Fairness for all at the outset is the answer to this madness.

But then has discrimination against gay actors been rife in theatre?

One person had an opinion. Calm down with your cancel culture OP.

I doubt he has thought through the implications at all.
I bet he is just knee jerk virtue signalling, looking to establish his woke credentials. In these days of cancel culture, one has to be seen to toe the party line or risk never working again.

I opened this thread assuming it was going to be about how terrible the acting is on Coronation Street these days.

@ShowOfHands

How far do we take it? If you have to have life experience of every role you play, we will be getting into some really murky territory. Those actors who disingenuously put "can ride a horse" on their CV are going to have to start claiming all sorts of stuff.

Russell asserts that you wouldn't put an able bodied actor in a wheelchair. Er, yes you would.

I personally don’t think it is appropriate for an able bodied person to play a disabled character unless the able bodied character becomes disabled in the show/film.

An able bodied character playing Rosie Lyons would have been innapropriate in my view. It would be no different to an actor having makeup done to pretend they have down syndrome.

@PuppyMonkey

I opened this thread assuming it was going to be about how terrible the acting is on Coronation Street these days.

My son is a better actor than half of them when he is insisting he hasn’t done something I have just watched him do.

When I was at school I played the dormouse in Alice in Wonderland. Apparently no dormice were available so that was ok

@PuppyMonkey

I opened this thread assuming it was going to be about how terrible the acting is on Coronation Street these days.

😂😂 Watch some of the netflix o2n production lately. Though the below average acting is usually amazing compared to the abysmal dubbing skills there! INTONATION exists, nkt just monotone same note voices!!!

@user1471565182 dear God I wish it was just one person's opinion. Given that Halle Berry had to pull out of playing a trans character, and the outcry that seems to crop up more and more about who can perform what roles, I'd love it if it all went away. Doesn't look likely though....

Totally agree, OP. Well said.

Two of my favourite TV shows featured extremely attractive straight male characters and both were played by gay actors. The shows were Prison Break and White Collar.

Gay actors have been playing straight roles for a very long time, and vice-versa.

If it is down to sexual preference, then does that mean if the character is a paedophile then the actor would have to be a paedophile also?

@Lavanderrose

A lot of people here agreeing with you would have made a fuss about Ariel being played by a black woman in their upcoming live adaption. 💅🏽

But do you accept that there's a difference between creating a brand new movie with a Black/Asian/Indian actress playing a new mermaid character (which would be fab) and taking an existing 30-year-old cartoon character and casting someone who doesn't look anything like her?

I think the girl who's been cast to play Ariel is beautiful and ethereal and she'll be an amazing mermaid - but she's not Ariel because Ariel is white with red hair.

I'll still watch the new movie (it's already shaping up to be better than the abomination that was the live action Beauty and the Beast) but the reality is she doesn't look like the cartoon.

I also think it's significant that while a Black actor can play an established white character there would be a complete outcry if a white actress were ever to play say, Tiana or Pocahontas.

And re the OP, where does it leave bisexual actors? Or asexual actors? Even while I appreciate the argument for representation, coming from a minority myself, I do think it becomes untenable to screen actors like this.

Btw to the pp who sad gay actors aren't discriminated against, it's patently not true. Those who come out find it very hard to win hetero leading man roles. But i still don't think that means only gay actors should play gay roles.

Oh my hod I love that @SebastianTheCrab is talking about Ariel