Transgender actress Laverne Cox in Orange Is The New Black, Jeffery Tambor in Transparent, and Eddie Redmayne in the upcoming THE DANISH GIRL prove that transgender roles and how actors approach these have been the hot topic for a solid twenty years. The physical changes get audiences talking, with weight gain or loss and spending months dressed as the other gender becoming iconic to each trans role. Others choose a mental state of mind to embody the other sex. To celebrate the release of THE NEW GIRLFRIEND, in UK cinemas from 22nd May, we look at how career-defining transgender roles have been approached and become iconic.
PRISCILLA QUEEN OF THE DESERT (1994) – Terence Stamp
Terence Stamp was initially reluctant to star in this role as transgender Bernadette. Ironic, considering that this film is the go-to for changing opinions of the LGBT community and transgender roles on the silver screen. He did not undergo any physical changes nor did he do extensive research, yet he steals the show from two over-the-top drag queens in the Australian Outback as a subtle, transgender woman, proving why this role is so great. While the film is centred on the road trip of these drag queens – expertly acted by Hugo Weaving and Guy Pearce – the subtle love story of Bernadette provides the audience with laughs but also an understanding of the prejudice faced. For an actor who did not change anything about his appearance and mannerisms prior to filming this is one to watch for a lesson in how to act the modern day trans role!
BOYS DON’T CRY (1999) – Hilary Swank
One for transformative roles, Swank’s performance as Brandon Teena won her an Oscar for Best Actress. No surprise really – she played the part to perfection, capturing the mannerisms of a 21 year-old guy originally born a girl. Based on a true story it follows Brandon as he moves to a new town attempting to be free and live as a man. For Swank’s approach to this role she cut her hair, bandaged her breasts and dressed as a man with a sock down her trousers. This transformation was so successful that she fooled her friends and family! One of the ages, BOYS DON’T CRY and Swank’s performance became a game changer for transgender roles and she proved that in order to act successfully you sometimes really do need to become the character.
TRANSAMERICA (2005) – Felicity Huffman
Felicity Huffman’s approach to this transgender role also left her with an Oscar nomination. She’s a woman, acting as a man who wants to be a woman. Sounds confusing but Huffman portrays Bree with such ease and a natural flair that you would be mistaken for actually thinking she was a transwoman. She wore prosthetics in order to ‘man up’ for her role and read ‘everything she could find’ in order to get into the mental mind set. What makes Huffman’s role so iconic in the history of transgender roles is that the film focuses on two journeys – that of Bree and her quest for an operation, and the other surrounding her dysfunctional family, as she finds out that she fathered a son. The film drew in wide audiences and critics hailed Huffman’s performance as covering the ‘trans themes with humanity and humour, rather than pity and ridicule’. With her small mannerisms and ease with which she plays Bree, this transgender role is one that stands out from the crowd.
DALLAS BUYERS CLUB (2013) – Jared Leto
Leto’s portrayal of transwoman Rayon was remarkable. He lost 30 pounds (almost three stone) and shaved his eyebrows and never once broke character. He stated that in order to successfully tap into a character suffering from AIDS the physical transformation was needed to create the mental shift, meaning he changed the way he did everything, from sitting to talking…and even breathing! Much like other films that feature transgender characters, DALLAS BUYERS CLUB focuses on a ‘journey’. In this case, Ron Woodroof works against the health system to get AIDS medicine to those who have the disease as he himself has been diagnosed, with Rayon joining him to create an interesting relationship dynamic. This film is one to watch to witness transformative transgender roles. All of this work paid off and he swept the awards circuit – winning an Oscar in the process.
THE NEW GIRLFRIEND (2015) – Romain Duris
Romain Duris stated that he has always wanted to play a woman. Well, he hit the jackpot with his latest role. What’s interesting about the way Duris approached the role of Virginia is that he did not want to meet transgender people, instead deciding to make the role his own and apply his own take of what it means to be transgender. However, he did approach the role fairly traditionally. Duris used a voice coach and choreographer to determine his walk and lost weight to make his features more feminine. He argues that his role in the film was liberating and aimed to speak to as many people as possible – to raise questions about gender identity in general. Interesting then, that this film is the only one of late to address these questions head on, with these questions and a love story being the focus of the film. It is a testament to Duris’ acting ability that he is able to create such a believable and honest character in THE NEW GIRLFRIEND.
THE NEW GIRLFRIEND hits UK cinemas from 22nd May.
