Tom Hanks reflects on his involvement in Philadelphia and how times have changed (Image: Rex / Tristar)
Tom Hanks reflected on his role as a gay man in Philadelphia in 1993 and said that he “rightly” could not, as a heterosexual man, play that role today.
In the legal drama, which marked the first of two consecutive Oscars for Best Actor, Forrest Gump star played gay lawyer Andrew Beckett.
Beckett initially hides his sexuality and HIV status from his peers before suing his employers to fire him.
The film, starring Denzel Washington, was one of the first Hollywood films to address HIV / AIDS and homophobia.
“Shall we say ‘could a straight man do what I did in Philadelphia now?’
“Philadelphia’s goal was not to be afraid. One of the reasons people weren’t afraid of that movie was that I was playing a gay man,” he continued.
The actor, who will be seen next on Elvis, said that his casting as a gay man in Philadelphia ensured that the audience of the time “was not afraid” (Photo: Christopher Khoury / Australian News Agency via ZUMA / Rex / Shutterstock) Philadelphia was one of them. of the first Hollywood films to address HIV / AIDS and homophobia (Image: Channel 4 / TriStar)
Speaking to The New York Times, Saving Private actor Ryan said the world was “beyond that now” and “would not accept the lack of authenticity of a straight man playing a gay guy.” .
He added: “It’s not a crime, it’s not boohoo, let someone say we will demand more of a film in the modern realm of authenticity.”
Other heterosexual actors have recently talked about taking on LGBT roles in their careers, including Eddie Redmayne, who called her Oscar-nominated role as transgender artist Lili Elbe in The Danish Girl “a mistake.”
Hanks starred in Denzel Washington, who played a fellow lawyer learning about HIV / AIDS for the first time (Image: TriStar / Getty) Despite the Oscar, Hanks would not play Andrew Beckett today (Image: Steve Starr / CORBIS / Corbis via Getty Images)
Elsewhere, the unlikely BBC Springwatch fan, Hanks, is set to change his “nice man” character with his role as Elvis Presley’s manager, Colonel Parker, in Baz Luhrman’s new music biopic about the legend.
Director Luhrmann said earlier this year that fans will see a very different face from the popular actor.
The Australian filmmaker labeled Hanks as “the Rolls Royce of actors” and explained that working with him “is a journey you want to be on”.
Eddie Redmayne regretted taking on the role of transgender artist in The Danish Girl (Image: Mike Marsland / WireImage)
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He added to CinemaBlend: “But to be around him and leave him, he will play a new string on his instrument. And I think it’s something exciting to see.”
However, for those who care, Hanks will rebalance the scales of his health as he takes on the role of Geppetto in the Disney live-action remake of 1940’s classic animation.
Elvis opens in theaters on June 24, while Pinocchio will air exclusively on Disney Plus starting September 8.
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