If A Transwoman Can Play A Transwoman In Indian Movies, How About In Hollywood?

[Shana A]

Thursday, March 05, 2009
If A Transwoman Can Play A Transwoman In Indian Movies, How About In Hollywood?
Posted by Monica Roberts at 1:11 AM

http://transgriot.blogspot.com/2009/03/if-transwoman-can-play-transwoman-in.html

I found it interesting last year that a young Indian transwoman has gone somewhere that transpeople in the States haven't. But what else is new for us here?

Last year Karpaga made history in India as she became the first transwoman to be cast in a lead role in a commercial film. She was cast as the lead in a Tamil language film called Paal, which means gender in the Tamil language.

While Indian transpeople are justifiably proud of this cultural step up since they have been dissed for far too long in movies like their American cousins, at least they actually have transwomen playing transwomen in their films.

[Dennis]

I'd like to see transwomen play bio women and bio women play transwomen. At least when it comes to the guy parts, I am pleased to see a bio guy playing a transguy, because it says we're just guys after all. I don't see we should be stuck with playing our own parts only. I don't see it as a step ahead to see a transwoman or transman play trans. I see it as a step ahead when transactors get to play parts.

Dennis

[imaz]

I'd like to see transwomen play bio women and bio women play transwomen. At least when it comes to the guy parts, I am pleased to see a bio guy playing a transguy, because it says we're just guys after all. I don't see we should be stuck with playing our own parts only. I don't see it as a step ahead to see a transwoman or transman play trans. I see it as a step ahead when transactors get to play parts.

Dennis

It's happened in France.

"Wild Side" by Sebastien Lishwitz has a pre-op transwoman playing the lead role. It's an excellent film and available on Amazon.  http://tinyurl.com/aryw75

Here it is at IMDB (International Movie Database). http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0364120/

Another excellent film is the Italian "Mery per Sempre" and it's sequel "Ragazzi Fuori" which have a transitioning actor playing a major role, Alessandro Di Sanzo, now Alessandra Di Sanzo.  http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0097870/

To be honest I loathed Transamerica due to the dishonesty in the casting of the lead role.

[Genevieve Swann]

There's Caroline Coosey, the Bond lady. I think the movie is For your eyes only. Also in The Crying Game a TG plays a major role. Those movies were probably made in the UK. I'm not sure. Oh, the fact that Caroline Coosey is TS was considered one of Hollywoods best kept secrets for many years.

[tekla]

That's why its called 'acting' after all, you can be something you are not.  And then you couldn't have straight guys in Brokeback or a gay guy in the James Dean movies playing straight, or have a Hillary Swank play in Boys Don't Cry, and really, is there a transman actor who could out do Hillary Swank?  I doubt it, if only because she is in a small group of people who are totally farking awesome at screen acting.

Casting has nothing to do with who the people really are.

[imaz]

Non professional actors can be truly excellent as well. Stéphanie Michelini and the the other non professional playing the Russian guy were actually better than the professional actors in "Wild Side".

[tekla]

Well like any other talent or skill, lots of people who are not pros are better then some who are, still, the ones that are great, really great, are few and most people can agree on who they are, though they might not all like them.