There’s been a lot of talk in recent years about the problems with casting cis actors in trans roles in films. Director Wash Westmoreland, unfortunately, continues this trend in Colette, casting cis actress Denise Gough (top) in the major role of trans man Missy de Morny. Conversely, he cast two trans actors - Jake Graf and Rebecca Root (bottom, centre and right) - in minor cis roles.
Here’s a few articles of the perspectives of those who worked on the film if you want to read a bit more background:
Wash Westmoreland:
I talked to a lot of trans actors and all they wanted was for cisgender roles to be available to them. And this light went off in my head. I met some actors I really wanted to work with, and I just said, ‘Let’s do it. Let’s throw out the rulebook.’
Jake Graf:
What we really need to do is get to the point where trans actors .. are in positions where they are the obvious choices for these [trans] roles and it’s no question that those actors will get them. In the meantime, maybe it’s a question of giving trans actors the supporting roles that I and Rebecca Root .. were given in Colette until we become the obvious, irrefutable choices for those parts.
Denise Gough:
...it’s been an education for me, and I don’t want to, in any way, take away from people who feel that if my being cast in this role is going to further a conversation about the casting of trans actors in roles. I’m happy to be part of that conversation, even if that means that I’m destroyed.
You can also check out our podcast for the (less than impressed) Queer as Fact take on the issue
