ABOVE: Halle Berry, photo via Berry’s Facebook page.
Academy Award-winning actress Halle Berry has made the decision to forgo playing a transgender man in an upcoming film, according to a post Berry made on Twitter.
According to the online magazine Consequence of Sound, the actress discussed the role in a recent Instagram Live video. Berry expressed the desire to better understand the trans experience.
“I want to experience that world, understand that world … Who this woman was is so interesting to me, and that will probably be my next project, and that will require me cutting all of my hair off,” Berry said in the video.
Although Berry’s intention was to familiarize herself with the various facets of trans life, she misgendered the character she talks about wanting to portray.
“It’s really important to me to tell stories, and that’s a woman, that’s a female story — it changes to a man, but I want to understand the why and how of that,” Berry said. “I want to get into it.”
On July 6, Berry put out a statement through Twitter in which she announced that she was no longer considering this film role. The star shared that she now recognizes the importance of inclusive media representation for marginalized communities.
— Halle Berry (@halleberry) July 7, 2020
“As a cisgender woman, I now understand that I should not have considered this role, and that the transgender community should undeniably have the opportunity to tell their own stories,” Berry said in the post.
She added that she will use the experience as a foundation to further educate herself and expand her allyship to the trans community as part of her future work in the entertainment industry.
“I am grateful for the guidance and critical conversation over the past few days and will continue to listen, educate and learn from this mistake,” she said. “I vow to be an ally in using my voice to promote better representation on-screen, both in front of and behind the camera.”
People online seemed to agree with Berry’s decision to step down from the role.
Twitter user Leftistboots emphasized that a transgender man would be a more suitable choice for the role, while Laura Kate Dale praised Berry’s judgement.
That role could’ve been filled by a trans man who could better relate to the character. Her blatant misunderstanding of trans issues is a clear sign she wasn’t fit for the role.
— I committed voter fraud last February (@Leftistboots) July 7, 2020
I am glad, as a trans person, to see you so quickly respond and refuse this role. Well done for not doubling down.
However, a big part of what bothered us was you repeatedly calling the trans man character “she/her”, and calling the story “a woman’s story.
— Laura Kate Dale (@LaurakBuzz) July 7, 2020
Additionally, LGBTQ+ media organization GLAAD views Berry’s decision in handling the matter as a precedent that should be followed by other public figures.
We are pleased that @halleberry listened to the concerns of transgender people and learned from them. Other powerful people should do the same. A good place to start is by watching @Disclosure_Doc to learn about trans representation in media. https://t.co/SAxSvXxbk3
— GLAAD (@glaad) July 7, 2020
“Bruised,” Berry’s latest film, is slated to premiere at the 2020 Toronto International Film Festival in September. In addition to starring in the film, it also marks her directorial debut.
