Guy Pearce posts extraordinary letter apologising for trans tweet

Australian actor Guy Pearce has issued a lengthy apology after sparking a social media firestorm with a now-deleted tweet about transgender acting roles.

The 55-year-old, who famously played a drag queen in 1994’s The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert, came under fire for questioning whether or not only transgender actors should be allowed to take on trans roles.

‘Surely that will limit your career as an actor? Isn’t the point of an actor to be able play anyone outside your own world?’

He then engaged in a back and forth with several Twitter users with some agreeing with his view, while others said that because roles for trans people are so limited in mainstream film and television, they should be prioritised for trans actors.

Australian actor Guy Pearce has issued a lengthy apology after sparking a social media firestorm with a now-deleted tweet about transgender acting roles

In the grovelling apology, the Memento actor said he was ‘in no position to complain about fairness’ because he’s a man with a ‘full house of privilege’

‘Okay, so if this debate is actually about trans actors not getting the opportunities to work like other actors do, then let’s be clear about that and state that precisely,’ Pearce replied to one critic.

‘Also, why should one’s personal position be relevant when it comes to casting? That’s private. It’s our own business. And as we know it doesn’t truly confirm our ability to be convincing,’ he added.

‘I have to say, in all my years of work, most people I speak to don’t truly actually understand what acting entails. There are a lot of projections going on. There are also many people out there with incredible life experience who fall flat when camera is rolling. It’s an art form.’

After deleting his original tweet, Pearce posted a lengthy letter on Twitter the next day apologising for the incident and clarifying his position on the matter in detail.

‘I apologise enormously,’ he wrote. ‘I take responsibility for that and again, apologise for starting a fire.’

The Emmy-winning actor tweeted on Monday night: ‘A question – if the only people allowed to play trans characters are trans folk, then are we also suggesting the only people trans folk can play are trans characters? Surely that will limit your career as an actor? Isn’t the point of an actor to be able play anyone outside your own world?’

Pearce famously played a gay man and drag queen in 1994’s The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert

The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert is one of Australia’s most-acclaimed films

The Memento actor said he was ‘in no position to complain about fairness’ because he’s a man with a ‘full house of privilege’.

While the letter was well-received on Twitter, some fans of the former Neighbours star said he had nothing to apologise for.

‘Don’t apologise to the mob, Guy. The cancel culture don’t seek to forgive people. Love your movies and can’t wait to see more,’ one supporter tweeted.

‘Every time someone well known apologises to this dangerous ideology, a little bit more reality is lost. Stop it,’ wrote comedian Abi Roberts.

‘Nice one, Guy. That seems [very] fair to me,’ added transgender media personality India Willoughby.

‘You have absolutely nothing to apologise for. You asked a valid question and were correct in your assumptions. In a free society, everyone should be allowed to ask questions and form their own opinions,’ said another.

Referring to Pearce’s role as Anthony ‘Tick’ Belrose in Priscilla, one fan wrote: ‘Gay man here, and happy to have been portrayed by such a talented (straight) actor. Hope you’re well.’

Priscilla starred Pearce, Hugo Weaving, and Terence Stamp as two drag queens and a transgender woman who venture across Australia in a tour bus, with all three of the protagonists being played by straight actors.

Speaking to Stellar magazine in 2021, Weaving weighed in on the debate as to whether or not his role should have been played by a gay actor, saying ‘no gay actor wanted to be seen playing those roles’ at the time.

‘In fact, [writer and director] Stephan [Elliott] approached a number of gay actors – not that you have to be gay to play a drag queen – but they didn’t want to be playing those roles,’ he said.

Priscilla star Hugo Weaving (pictured) said in 2021 that any actor should be allowed to play any role. ‘Actors perform a role, which is to illuminate the other – not to illuminate themselves,’ he said

‘The logical extension of the argument is that if you have to be gay to play a gay person, then do you have to be a murderer to play a murderer?’ said Weaving (pictured in Priscilla with Pearce and co-star Terence Stamp)

Weaving added the three actors were ‘lauded’ for playing the roles because of how ‘heterosexual’ they were, something he described as ‘nonsense’.

‘The nonsense surrounding it was extraordinary,’ he said.

‘Also, the logical extension of the argument is that if you have to be gay to play a gay person, then do you have to be a murderer to play a murderer?’

Weaving went on to say he was glad to see the world change to become more diverse and respectful towards marginalised people.

But when it comes to casting, he believes any person should be able to play any role.

‘There’s an insanity about the casting – the whole idea of acting is to understand the “other”. Actors perform a role, which is to illuminate the other – not to illuminate themselves,’ he said.

Guy Pearce’s apology in full

Hello everyone,

I see that raising the question of gender identity within the casting process on a platform like Twitter was not a good idea. For that, I apologise, enormously. I acknowledge it has only stirred up and inflamed attitudes and made us all dig our heels in. I take responsibility for that and again, apologise for starting a fire.

This is a subject that needs to be discussed face to face, person to person and over a good amount of time where we are all heard and understood.

It is also a subject that I understand is complex and sensitive.

I want to take this opportunity to say it is very clear to me that in many areas of life discrimination, which should have no place in a modern society unfortunately still thrives. Indeed members of my own family have been subjected to different but every bit as pernicious prejudice.

I understand how my question – asking ‘If trans actors are the only ones allowed to play trans roles then are we also suggesting trans actors are therefore only allowed to play trans characters?” is insensitive.

The point I wanted to raise was one about defending the definition of acting and nothing more. Throwing the subject onto one minority group in particular was unnecessary, especially from a man like me, with a “Full House” of privilege. I’m in no position to complain about fairness, at least not on my own behalf.

I raised the question because for 30 years now I’ve had many people ask me since doing Priscilla “Don’t you think gay people should’ve played those roles?” and now many similar discussions are occurring about trans actors and trans roles. It has led me to reflect even more about acting as an artform and it’s place in the world.

Our industry is already a cesspool of politics, bums on seats funding, nepotism, and favouritism.

It’s clear a great many minority communities are underrepresented on screen and that so too are actors from those communities.

But I don’t believe artists should have to announce their personal identity, sexual preference, political stance, disability, religious beliefs etc to attain work.

I believe that to suggest ‘acting’ can only come from our own lived experience annihilates our imagination. I wouldn’t want that restriction placed on a minority actor or any actor for that matter, myself included.

What I will say though, if I am going to play miles outside myself, it better be good. And on that metric I have always been willing to be judged, as I would hope the actor with lived experience is.

None of this is straightforward. But I do believe the artistic community must discuss and develop this within itself, yes, even if that involves a little shouting. God forbid politicians or the press barons tell us what is acceptable.

Thank you for reading. And again, sincere apologies for crassly focusing on just one already harassed minority in my original tweet.

Guy Pearce

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