Although I’m actually a white, able-bodied, Christian male, I self identify as a black, disabled, Muslim female. I should be allowed to play any role according to how I feel about myself when I get out of bed each day.
The modern rule seems to be that any “person of color” can play any role. White people should stick to the white roles they are allowed. Evidence? Hamilton.
I want to re-make ‘12 Years a Slave’ and switch the race of all the players. Black masters lording over white slaves. That would be freak show.
Casting matters.
Imagine the Rock cast as Mary Poppins.
but some actors would do a better job and be more believable in a particular role than others.
Sure. Tom Cruise can play any role as long as it is based upon all his previous roles.
Yes, actors can play any role.
However, the real question is “Will anyone want to see them portray that role?”
Sure. I could play Bo Derek running down the beach but the movie wouldn’t make it out of the editing room.
Scarlett Johansen is mostly right. There are a few characters, however, who are defined in such a way that not jut anybody can play them. Porgy and Bess, for example, or, say, Eliza Doolittle.
Imagine the outrage among the black and snowflake communities if someone were to make a biopic of Shaka, king of the Zulus, with Jack Nicholson — who without question is one of the greatest screen actors of all time — in the starring role.
I tried to watch the 2018 film, Mary Queen of Scots, which begins with Mary living in London and under house arrest by her cousin, Queen Elizabeth of England. The opening scene is Elizabeth at court, where the audience learns that one of her ladies in waiting is Asian and the chief of her privy council is black.
At which point it flunked my test for historical authenticity so I switched it off.
Robert Duvall.
Can? Yes. Should? No.
All sorts of actors can play all sorts of roles badly.
Shakespeare had men playing women.