Andy Serkis: ‘As an actor, you should have the ability to play anything’
The actor has said he disagrees with straight actors not being able to play LGBT roles
By Steve Brown
Words: Steve Brown
Andy Serkis “vehemently disagrees” with straight actors not being able to play LGBT roles.
Scarlett Johansson was cast as the lead role in the Rupert Sanders film, which tells the true story of Dante ‘Tex’ Gill, a trans man in 1970s Pittsburg who became one of the city’s most infamous crime bosses after running brothels disguised as massage parlours.
However, after LGBT activists called for the actress to be dropped from the film and replaced by a transgender actor, Johansson stepped away from the movie.
Following this, many actors have stood up in defence of casting straight, cisgender actors in LGBT roles and now Serkis – who is best known for his performance capture technology – has weighed in the discussion.
He told Variety: “I absolutely disagree. I really, vehemently disagree.
“Actors should be able to play anything and that’s why I love this [performance capture] technology.
“What should be the point is that whatever colour your skin is, whatever shape you are, whatever height you are, whatever your makeup is as an actor, you should have the ability to play anything.”