Aaron Sorkin Says Casting Only Gay Actors In Gay Roles Is “Empty Gesture”
He’s absolutely right about it being an empty gesture, although he’s wrong about not being able to “act” gay or straight (Robin Williams in The Birdcage is the first example that comes to mind).
Metro via Sunday Times:
Sorkin has received criticism for his new movie Being The Ricardos, in which Spanish actor Bardem plays Cuban actor Desi Arnaz. Arnaz was born in Cuba while Bardem is from Gran Canaria in Spain.
After previously defending the controversial casting, Sorkin has now told the Sunday Times Culture magazine: “It’s heartbreaking, and a little chilling to see members of the artistic community resegregating ourselves. This should be the last place there are walls. Spanish and Cuban are not actable. If I was directing you in a scene and said: “It’s cold, you can’t feel your face”. That’s actable. But if I said: “Be Cuban”. That is not actable.”
He continued: “Nouns aren’t actable. Gay and straight aren’t actable. You can act being attracted to someone, but can’t act gay or straight. So this notion that only gay actors should play gay characters? That only a Cuban actor should play Desi? Honestly, I think it’s the mother of all empty gestures and a bad idea.”
