Eddie Redmayne Says It Was A ‘Mistake’ To Play A Trans Character In ‘The Danish Girl’

Eddie Redmayne has reportedly said it was a ‘mistake’ to play a trans character in The Danish Girl. 

In an interview with The Sunday Times, the actor claimed that he agreed with those criticising his role in the film.

The 39-year-old said: “No, I wouldn’t take it on now. I made that film with the best intentions, but I think it was a mistake.”

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He added: “The bigger discussion about the frustrations around casting is because many people don’t have a chair at the table. There must be a levelling, otherwise, we are going to carry on having these debates.”

In The Danish Girl, which was released in 2015, Redmayne played painter Lili Ilse Elvenes (aka Lili Elbe), who is one of the first known recipients of sex reassignment surgery in 1930.

Tragically, Elbe passed away the following year, after having her fourth operation.

When the film was released, it faced a lot of backlash due to Redmayne’s portrayal of the character. Many people argued that a transgender person should have played the role.

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At the time of its US release, the actor reportedly defended his casting and argued that he played it with a ‘sense of integrity and responsibility’.

Tom Hooper, the movie’s director, also defended the casting at the Venice film festival in 2015.

He claimed that at the time of making the film, he reached out to the trans acting community, adding: “I’m pleased we achieved what we did, but I’m sure there’s more to do.”

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