Story at a glance
- Actress Halle Berry announced that she was considering playing a transgender man in an upcoming film.
- The news that a cisgender woman was playing a role that could be occupied by a transgender person was met with swift backlash.
- Berry has since apologized and said she would no longer be considering the role.
Actress Halle Berry, a cisgender woman, faced swift backlash on social media after revealing that she was considering a role as a transgender man. Now, she’s apologizing — and passing on the job.
— Halle Berry (@halleberry) July 7, 2020
The Oscar winning actress, who became the first Black woman to win Best Actress in 2001, brought up the role during an Instagram Live interview with hairstylist Christin Brown on Friday. But some viewers were less than pleased, criticizing her for taking a role that could have gone to a transgender actor with less opportunities.
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In the years since #OscarsSoWhite, Hollywood has become more aware of giving actors from underrepresented backgrounds more opportunities. But transgender actors still face barriers, even those who have become commercially successful.
After actress Trace Lysette appeared opposite Jennifer Lopez in “Hustlers,” her profile skyrocketed, but she still couldn’t afford health insurance.
“It’s kind of embarrassing, but it’s very telling of how hard it is to be a trans woman in this industry,” Lysette told IndieWire. “It’s an odd thing when you walk down the street and people come up to you with tears in their eyes regarding your work, and telling you how much your representation means to them. And then you look at your bank account and it’s like, ‘What the f— is happening?’ It’s not adding up, literally.”
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“Disclosure,” a new Netflix documentary on transgender representation in the media, also explores the consequences of cisgender actors playing transgender roles. On Twitter, the official account for the documentary weighed in.
Hi @halleberry, we heard you’re considering playing a trans man in your next project. We ask that you please watch @Disclosure_Doc on @netflix first to understand how cis actors like yourself acting in trans roles has major cultural consequences offscreen. #DisclosureNetflix
— Disclosure Documentary (@Disclosure_Doc) July 6, 2020
After Berry’s apology, others on social media applauded her decision to pass on the role.
We are pleased that @halleberry listened to the concerns of transgender people and learned from them. Other powerful people should do the same. A good place to start is by watching @Disclosure_Doc to learn about trans representation in media. https://t.co/SAxSvXxbk3
— GLAAD (@glaad) July 7, 2020
.@halleberry Thank you for hearing us and for taking the time to listen and understand our concerns. Furthermore, I appreciate your vow to take action and use your platform to promote better representation and opportunities for marginalized artists on both sides of the lens. ✊ https://t.co/gistCQV0xG
— Brian Michael Smith (@TheBrianMichael) July 7, 2020
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