Working Title Films is currently attempting to execute the story of Lili Elbe, The Danish Girl, one of the first transwomen recorded in history. It would usually be something to celebrate except that after their engagement of Tom Hooper as director, he in turn engaged a cis man, Eddie Redmayne, to play the historical trans woman, likely to play up the idea of a man becoming a woman.  If you search the film synopsis and the media references to the film, they prefer use Miss Elbe's male name and pronouns instead of referring to her as the woman she is and transitioned to.

It is disappointing that Mr Redmayne, part of many feminist campaigns, has agreed to this film and dealt a blow to the trans actresses and trans community by dismissing their rights as part of a feminist movement. It is even more troubling that the trans woman, initially an intersex individual, he is playing is a historical figure, a crucial part of trans history, not a fictional creation. It is akin to an actor blackfacing to play Martin Luther King Jr. It should not be done and should never have been contemplated. Working Title Films chose to accept Tom Hooper's casting decision of his long-time cis male friend and collaborator, Eddie Redmayne, and Mr. Redmayne chose to accept this role that belongs to the people who need it the most - the trans community.

The Danish Girl is in pre-production and Mr Redmayne is receiving active British PR for his current film, The Theory of Everything. We should not let the issue of cis people exploiting a trans figurehead for a historical movie lie, and should honor the memory of Lili Elbe who discovered herself and paved the way for many more.

We ask that Working Title Films, Eddie Redmayne and Tom Hooper agree to stop casting a  man in the role of the historical woman Lili Elbe and cast a suitable trans actress, especially with the increasing prominence of actresses like Laverne Cox. Surely the UK has its share of great trans actresses waiting to be discovered, and it would be a much more ground-breaking, revolutionary and truthful film if their casting choice were revised.