“I would never want to tell a story that really should be told by somebody who’s lived that experience…Having said that, it’s a slippery slope conversation because that means I could never play another straight character if I’m going to hold everyone to the letter of this particular law.”
– Kristen Stewart on the ‘Only gay actors should play gay roles’ debate in an interview with Variety.
I’ve always had one question when confronted with this issue. If that’s true, then why do we allow male doctors to deliver babies???!!!!
y’all… People are questioning it cuz historically queer people have been shunned for on-screen roles. This debate is about rectifying that injustice by ensuring queer people have roles. Just like any other minority, if there is a suitable actor for the role from within that community, that actor should be hired. Of course, “suitable” is subjective and will include things like bankability. Luckily, with sexual orientation, there is more fluidity in who can be cast, unlike with race.
The entertainment industry is a business. A money-making business. They are going to hire the actors (and songwriters and screenwriters, etc) who are going to make the movie a hit …. bring in the best movie. That’s their goal …. and obligation to investors. The sexuality of those hired is irrelevant.
This why it’s called ACTING. I’m talking to you Simpson’s and Family Guy.
Hello-
as a gay man I have never understood the insistence by many in the gay
community that only gay actors should play gay characters. why???? that’s
like saying only Italian actors should play Italian characters. why should
Mark Ruffalo’s brillant heartfelt performance in the HBO film The Normal
Heart be negated simply because he’s straight?
This is BS! Not every gay actor is a good actor. And gay actors play straight characters all the damn time. So this BS about how only trans can play trans. A queer can only play a gay role is crap. If they are a good actor they will do their homework and represent the role as the story should be.