It's a conundrum whether to cast male or female actors unfortunately. Sadly, male are more realistic at the start, but without the actual effects of hormones and transitioning, during the course of any storyline it will become unrealistic. Female are less realistic at the start but then become more realistic as it goes. Voice is also a bigger issue for the female actors I think.
Quote from: Julia1996 on November 14, 2017, 08:45:36 AM
2. Soldiers girl. Calpernia isn't especially pretty in my opinion but she's attractive and passable. In this movie she was portrayed by a cis male. That was a disservice to her. The actor who played her wasn't passable as a woman. He looked like a guy with make-up and female clothes.
I may be wrong, but in this case I think at the time the story took place Calpernia wasn't on hormones, just doing drag? (Meaning the male actor maybe actually was accurate, but I'm not really positive this is true, just something I remember reading years ago.) I know she was involved in the movie, at least. I don't think Lee Pace (who all else aside, amazing actor, Pushing Daisies is the best) really had the same look as her at all, though he was a way, way better choice than many actors overall.
(Edit: Okay, on Calpernia's site I found a reference to that she was "early in transition", and apparently early enough that she still didn't know how to do makeup subtly(without going full stage makeup). In that case, a male actor is understandable.)
And not directly related, but... You know what the biggest stroke of luck in the world was? Laverne Cox having a twin for pre-transition scenes in OITNB.
