Does anyone feel that this is getting just a little bit unreasonable?

Acting isn't about life experience. It is about thinking oneself into a role, which goes beyond just 'being' a member of a particular group - it needs empathy with the situation of the story.

Should the Queen be asked to play all Royal roles, as nobody else has experience of being the British monarch?

Who will get to be a pantomime dame? Perhaps if men can't play the part they will have to recruit from Gransnetters. As for principal boys...

Love that MS! ?

It's about trying to stamp out discrimination. Just like #OscarsSoWhite.

There are lots of other categories.

Sex/gender
Sexuality
Nationality
Ableism
White washing

As much as we wish we did, we don't live in an equal world. BLM, trans issues. Both are very much part of the zeigeist now. I think it's great he's thought of it. Show's he is a sensitive man. He can look back at something he did, say 'I was wrong.' I think that shows strength of character.

Calistamon
Laurence Oliver said much the same thing to Dustin Hoffman when they were making Marathon Man.
Hoffman said that he had stayed awake for 3 days to get the look he wanted.
Laurence said: why don’t you just try acting ?

If she had worked the streets she would never have made that film.

Should Julia Roberts worked the streets before playing the lead in Pretty Woman? Before anyone jumps in to tell me this is different; I don't think it is, acting as a profession is about being the character, helping the audience to suspend belief and see the character, not the actor.

What happens if a person is bi- sexual?

Or a eunuch.

Or hermaphrodite

Bit difficult

Ghandi was made some time ago though, Gagajo I doubt the same thing would happen now.

Why overlook someone with life experience that will give something extra to a role?

Actors can and have lived as the person they are playing to feel authentic. It's probably hard as a man to live as a woman to engage with a role like a genuine trans person can.

We shouldn't overlook the wealth of diverse actors/actresses who can bring something beautiful and authentic to the role they play.

On that basis, what does Eddie Redmayne think about acting as Stephen Hawking?

In theory, I agree that anyone can act anything. In reality, people from minority groups tend to be excluded. Ben Kinglsey in Ghandi for example (only one that comes to mind right now).

Every day we are getting closer to the day that lunatics are running the asylum.

I propose that hair dye should be banned, so no one can pretend to have blonde or red hair, and nail polish, in case we’re duped into believing someone really does have green nails. No high heels, because you’d be masquerading as a tall person.

It does away with the concept of 'acting', doesn't it?

The same arguments go around about writing. Should an author only write from experience, as anything else is 'appropriation'? So farewell science fiction, historical novels and vampires, then.

Just what part of acting does he not understand?

I was thinking about this last night.

So does that mean that only heterosexuals can act in straight roles?

That would be the natural corollary.

It's absolutely ridiculous. If this continue further we won't be able to have gay men playing straight men. He is excellent in An Ideal Husband and also in My Best Friend's Wedding (although he is gay in that). What's interesting is he has said that he wished he hadn't declared his sexuality since it harmed his career. It didn't matter to me and I daresay I'm not the only one.

Going back to the OP, Eddie Redmayne was very good in the Danish Girl. Such a sad story. I can't imagine that there are many trans actors out there.

Daniel Day Lewis should give his Oscar back, he won it for
My Left Foot ?

Note to self - preview messages as spelling mistakes may occur - and have.