Broadway star Alexandra Billings blasts West End producer for comments about trans casting
Alexandra Billings slammed Cameron Mackintosh over comments the British theatre producer made opposing the casting of trans actors in certain roles. (Getty/Amanda Edwards/Mike Marsland/WireImage)
Trans actor and Broadway star Alexandra Billings has slammed a West End producer’s comments opposing the casting of trans performers in certain roles.
In an interview with The Telegraph published earlier this month, Cameron Mackintosh said he wouldnāt be in favour of casting a trans actor in the lead role of his Mary Poppins musical because the story is ānot about that, that was not the story of that familyā.
When asked about casting trans performers, Mackintosh claimed āyou canāt implant something that is not inherently there in the story or characterā. Otherwise, he claimed it just ābecomes gimmick castingā because itās ātrying to force something that isnāt naturalā.
Alexandra Billings ā who made history last year as the first openly trans actor to star as Madame Morrible in Wicked ā absolutely destroyed Mackintosh’s argument. In a post on Instagram addressed to āSir Cameronā, Billings gave Mackintosh a step-by-step masterclass in why his comments were absolutely incorrect.
āI am trans and began my transition in 1980, when it was illegal to do so,ā she wrote. āI am now a very small part of a very powerful moment, every time I set foot in the land of Oz.ā
She denounced the suggestion that trans actors only be cast in roles and productions explicitly written about trans issues, saying she is an actor first and foremost.
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āI am Mame and I am Madame Rose. I am Miss Hannigan and I am Annie Oakley and I am Fantine,ā she explained.
The Transparent star shared that she embodies these stories because āI am part of the human fabricā and that āno one has the right to take any [of] this away from meā ā including Mackintosh, who she said ālabels meā.
āI am an actor, Mr Mackintosh, not a gimmick,ā Alexandra Billings added. āAnd just so weāre clear; you donāt have to make room for me.ā
She continued: āI take up my own space and that was given to me by a power much greater and far more powerful than you.
āSuggesting there needs to be more roles and more plays for transgender artists, doesnāt make you a revolutionary. It makes you human. It is simple common sense.
āWe will create that space with or without your consent.ā
She also urged Mackintosh to remember that trans people have been in theatre for as long as the institution has existed. Billings said the only thing that has changed is ānow we are becoming visibleā.
āInstead of proclaiming all the things that cannot be done, how about filling the music of the universe with things that can be done,ā Alexandra Billings wrote.
āWhat is possible is always divinely blessed. See us. Honor us. And hopefully, you will discover your own story in a newness you never knew existed.ā
Social media erupted after Mackintoshās interview was published, decrying the notion that casting trans and gender non-confirming performers is a āgimmickā.
An important message for Cameron Mackintosh from @Isaac_Hesketh and the cast of #RENT at @hopemilltheatr1 #NotAGimmick pic.twitter.com/hXGvuNf8ot— Cathy Falconer (@cathrynf27) August 27, 2021
I was kid who did loads of his shows and then grew up to proudly and openly non-binary. It truly hurts and leaves me feeling displaced. #NotAGimmick then and #NotAGimmick now. pic.twitter.com/Iyk1o7qv1y— Rob Madge (@Rob_Madge_02) August 28, 2021
My Drag daughter @TheSeriahSis is an icon āļø Casting trans and non-binary actors in traditionally cis roles is #NotAGimmick Take note @CamMackLtd https://t.co/BYWHrTyUNX— Tia Kofi (@TiaKofi) August 28, 2021
I think part of the issue is that producers think by casting a trans person in a "classic role" somehow the story suddenly becomes about being trans. It doesn't. The story remains the same. You've just given someone new a chance at telling it.
— Carrie Hope Fletcher (@CarrieHFletcher) August 27, 2021
In the wake of such backlash, Mackintosh posted a statement on Twitter, clarifying that his response to the question about āmaking the character of Mary Poppins (not the actor playing the roleā and transgender womanā.
āUnfortunately, my answer has been misinterpreted to suggest that I am opposed to casting a transgender performer to play the role,ā he said in the statement.
He continued: āThis is absolutely not true. I meant only that I would not as a producer disregard the author P.L. Traversā original intention for the character.ā
Mackintosh then said he was āsorry for any distress caused by my remarks being misrepresentedā and shared that trans actors are welcome to audition his productions.
