Rebecca Root opens up about Eddie Redmayne trans drama The Danish Girl
Trans actress Rebecca Root has discussed her role in Eddie Redmayne film The Danish Girl.
The film stars Redmayne as early 1920s trans pioneer Lili Elbe – a Danish transgender woman who was one of the first identifiable recipients of sex reassignment surgery.
The film has come under some flack for the casting of an actor who is not transgender in the role, but director Tom Hooper has insisted the project would not have worked without Redmayne in the lead role.
Rebecca Root – the star of BBC transgender sitcom Boy Meets Girl – does appear in the film… but plays a character who is not transgender.
In the latest featurette from the film, which is set for a UK release next month, Ms Root explains her role.
She says: “I am playing the nurse that forms a special relationship with Lili in the hospital where she undergoes her surgery.
“I’m a trans person myself – most of my roles have been trans women, but this character is not trans.
“It’s important for me to be a part of this film as well, because I think it’s an opportunity for one of the pioneers of the trans community to have her story told, and for her experience to be more known.”
She added: “It’s really exciting to work with Eddie Redmayne, I absolutely adore him. He’s gorgeous as Eddie, he’s gorgeous as Lili, he’s gorgeous as [pre-transition] Einar.”
The film is up for three Golden Globes next year – with Eddie Redmayne up for Best Actor, Alicia Vikander for Best Actress, and the music for best score.
It has also been touted as potential Oscars material.
