In The Weinstein Company's latest film, 3 Generations, Elle Fanning takes on the role of transgender teen Ray, who is transitioning from female to male.
Fanning's casting in the film was met with controversy as trans activists spoke out about yet another cisgender actor playing the part of a transgender person. Similar backlash occurred with the casting of Jared Leto in Dallas Buyers Club, Eddie Redmayne in The Danish Girl and most recently, Matt Bomer in Anything.
"The decision to put yet another man in a dress to portray a transgender woman touches a nerve for transgender people, and rightfully so." Nick Adams wrote in an op-ed for The Hollywood Reporter in response to Bomer's casting in Anything. He is the director of GLAAD's Transgender Media Program. "It's yet another painful reminder that, in the eyes of so many people, transgender women are really just men. That message is toxic and dangerous."
These cisgender actors often win or are nominated for prestigious awards for their performances, performances that trans activists say would be better represented by transgender people themselves. This is only added to by the fact that transgender actors are underrepresented in Hollywood, aside from a few exceptions like Laverne Cox in Orange is the New Black.
Here's a look at other cis actors who have played trans roles.