Guy Pearce in trans actor Twitter storm

Guy Pearce has come under fire for a series of now deleted tweets arguing that non-transgender actors should be free to play trans characters.

Terence Stamp, Guy Pearce and Hugo Weaving in The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of The Desert.

Australian movie star Guy Pearce says non-transgender actors should be able to play transgender characters onscreen.

Pearce, whose drag queen role in the 1994 film, The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert, was critically acclaimed, tweeted on Monday: “A question — if the only people allowed to play trans characters r trans folk, then r we also suggesting the only people trans folk can play r trans characters? Surely that will limit ur career as an actor? Isn’t the point of an actor to be able play anyone outside ur own world?”

The tweet, and discussion thread, were deleted over night.

Some commenters argued there were very few trans roles, and those parts should go to trans actors.

Pearce replied: “OK, so if this debate is actually about Trans actors not getting the opportunities to work like other actors do, then let’s be clear about that & state that precisely.

Guy Pearce played a drag queen in The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert, alongside Terence Stamp and Hugo Weaving.

That’s a very different point. Good to be exact, I say.”

He added: “Also, why should one’s personal position be relevant when it comes to casting? That’s private. It’s our own business. And as we know it doesn’t truly confirm our ability to be convincing.”

The LA Confidential and Memento star said acting ability should surpass identity.

“I have to say in all my years of work, most people I speak to don’t truly actually understand what acting entails. There r a lot of projections going on. There r also many people out there with incredible life experience who fall flat when camera is rolling. It’s an art form.”

I posted a tweet yesterday that I shouldn’t have, which to prevent upsetting anyone else I have now deleted. A fuller apology and explanation of the point I was raising is attached xx Guy pic.twitter.com/bu1vLQcPFm

— Guy Pearce (@TheGuyPearce) March 28, 2023

Pearce on Wednesday apologised for “starting a fire” with his comments.

“I see that raising the question of gender identity within the casting process on a platform like Twitter was not a good idea,” he wrote.

“For that, I apologise, enormously. I acknowledge it has only stirred up and inflamed attitudes and made us all dig our heels in. I take responsibility for that and again, apologise for starting a fire.

“This is a subject that needs to be discussed face-to-face, person-to-person and over a good amount of time where we are all heard and understood.”

Pearce said it was a “complex and sensitive” subject.

The Neighbours actor said he wanted to make the point that discrimination should not be tolerated after he was questioned for playing the role in Priscilla.

“I raised the question because for 30 years now I’ve had many people ask me since doing Priscilla “Don’t you think gay people should’ve played those roles?” and now many similar discussions are occurring about trans actors and trans roles.

“It has led me to reflect even more about acting as an art form and it’s place in the world. Our industry is already a cesspool of politics, bums on seats funding, nepotism, and favouritism.

Hugh Sheridan was ‘cancelled’ after trans activists protested against him having the lead role in Hedwig and the Angry Inch.

“It’s clear a great many minority communities are under-represented on screen and that so too are actors from those communities.

“But I don’t believe artists should have to announce their personal identity, sexual preference, political stance, disability, religious beliefs etc to attain work.”

He added: “The point I wanted to raise was one about defending the definition of acting and nothing more. Throwing the subject onto one minority group in particular was unnecessary, especially from a man like me, with a “Full House” of privilege. I’m in no position to complain about fairness, at least not on my own behalf.

“I believe that to suggest ‘acting’ can only come from our own lived experience annihilates our imagination. I wouldn’t want that restriction placed on a minority actor or any actor for that matter, myself included.

What I will say though, if I am going to play miles outside myself, it better be good. And on that metric I have always been willing to be judged, as I would hope the actor with lived experience is.”

In 2018, Scarlett Johansson quit plans to play a transgender man in the film, Rub & Tug, after online backlash.

British actor Eddie Redmayne has said he regrets playing a transgender woman in The Danish Girl.

Australian actor Hugh Sheridan was “cancelled” after trans activists protested his lead role casting in Hedwig and the Angry Inch in 2020. The show was subsequently scrapped.