Nicole Kidman’s Sex-Change Drama

As someone who is going a similar transition and as much as Nicole's ability to carry off a 6 foot frame, I think she is entirely too feminine for the part. A MTF going through transition later in life has to pay for the "mistakes" of attempting to masculinize to fit in. I, for instance, am stuck having to starve myself on a low calorie diet with 5-day a week cardio just to reduce the 15-inch muscle tissue I foolishly worked so hard to put in place 15 years ago, to fit in. Sometimes I pass. Sometimes I don't. I still have a small bald spot on my crown, and my hair is thin like many older women. I deeply admire Nicole for taking on this project and what it means to people like me who have lived with self-denial and doubt for 30 years or more; but I don't believe she will pass as a woman who has lived as a man for decades, suffering the body's changes that a man goes through. If she can't find anyone willing to take the part, she can call me. I'd be willing to give it a try.

I am kind of sick of the media , esp from the advocate, saying things like having a surgery to *become* a woman. One does not need to have a surgery to *become* a woman. I know its almost impossible to get a trans person to play in a major film, so there is no point even going into it. It's not time yet.

Oh come on. How many transgender actors are there? Candis Cayne and... If this film wasn't headlined by a major actor, there'd no chance in hell of getting the financing and distribution. I think Nicole will be great in this movie. Even though some of her film choices are questionable, she rarely turns in a bad performance. I think it's great that she's getting this interesting story on film. It certainly beats Bewitched 2.

I think I agree that a trans woman should play a trans woman, but to play the devil's advocate: for many trans people, the point of transitioning is to become the gender/sex they've always known themselves to be. So to have a woman playing a trans woman is kind of like having a woman play a woman. Sort of. Right? I know a lot of trans people who don't want to be known as trans, just as man or woman (the gender with which they identify). Maybe it depends on personal gender identity, in this case Wegener's, but I think that it's not wholly inappropriate. Also, let's be real. Nicole Kidman is hot and famous, and these days that can't be a bad thing when we're struggling to get an important movie on the market. One step at a time.

I completely agree! I watched Transamerica this weekend, and you can't tell me they could have a better, trans, actor than Huffman. They had to ugly her up so she would look like a real trans person. If they had a real trans person play ing the part, they could have prettied her up and make the movie feel more real. Is this another form of discrimitation against transsexuals? Don't get me wrong, I am glad they are bringing our issues to the front, but still, there is something not right about a non trans person playing the role of a trans person!

I completely agree! I watched Transamerica this weekend, and you can't tell me they could have a better, trans, actor than Huffman. They had to ugly her up so she would look like a real trans person. If they had a real trans person play ing the part, they could have prettied her up and make the movie feel more real. Is this another form of discrimitation against transsexuals? Don't get me wrong, I am glad they are bringing our issues to the front, but still, there is something not right about a non trans person playing the role of a trans person!

I had no interest in seeing Transamerica since it didn't star a transgender person (it starred Felicity Huffman). Why would I want to see another movie about a transgender person starring a run-of-the-mill Hollywood actress? At the very least, use John Cameron Mitchell (of Hedwig and the Angry Inch).

I am of the same opinion as many, have a TG person play the part, at the very least it would lend the film some extra credibility!

I had no interest in seeing Transamerica since it didn't star a transgender person (it starred Felicity Huffman). Why would I want to see another movie about a transgender person starring a run-of-the-mill Hollywood actress? At the very least, use John Cameron Mitchell (of Hedwig and the Angry Inch).

A helmer is basically a director, or someone in charge...as in at the helm....