Tom Hanks Says He Wouldn’t Play Gay Role In Philadelphia Today
He was perfect in the role, and I can’t think of anyone else playing it today. There was nothing “inauthentic” about his work, although he makes a fair point about the need for more diverse casting today. Still, there’s no need to diminish something wonderful that he did 30 years ago (not that I think he’s really doing that in this interview, but some might see it that way). Via Variety:
Hanks says he or any fellow straight actor would no longer be able to play the openly gay character at the heart of “Philadelphia.” Not that Hanks sees a problem with that change in mentality in Hollywood.
“Let’s address ‘could a straight man do what I did in “Philadelphia” now?’ No, and rightly so,” Hanks recently told The New York Times Magazine. “The whole point of ‘Philadelphia’ was don’t be afraid. One of the reasons people weren’t afraid of that movie is that I was playing a gay man. We’re beyond that now, and I don’t think people would accept the inauthenticity of a straight guy playing a gay guy.”
“It’s not a crime, it’s not boohoo, that someone would say we are going to demand more of a movie in the modern realm of authenticity,” Hanks added. “Do I sound like I’m preaching? I don’t mean to.”
In addition to the great performance, he also gave one of the best Oscar acceptance speeches of all time:
