Tales Of The City star breaks down how Netflixs limited series is flying the flag for LGBT community
Tales Of The City has finally dropped on Netflix giving us the queer content we so desperately need...
Tales Of The City has finally dropped on Netflix giving us the queer content we so desperately need.
Based on Armistead Mauplins book of the same name and with Laura Linney reclaiming her position at the helm, the limited series is centered around a group of LGBT+ friends and lovers and live at Mrs Madrigals (played by Olympia Dukakis) magical Barbary Lane.
Metro.co.uk caught up with Garcia, who plays young trans man Jake Rodriguez, in the series to talk about just how Tales Of The City pushes the boundaries were used to when it comes to the queer community being represented on television, the LGBT people playing LGBT roles debate and their hopes that the show will open up important conversations.
Talking about how Tales Of The City is breaking the mould and not adhering to cliches and stereotypes that are common tropes, they explained: You have a character like Shawna, played by Ellen Page, and in the series theres no word that she identifies.
Shes having fun, shes having a good time. She isnt forced to identify and there arent any labels.
Advertisement
Advertisement
Were taking it as truth and theres no glamorization of that, theres no weird fetishisation. Its just taken as truth. I think its so well done with every character in the series.
Although Tales opted to recast cisgender female actress Olympia as trans woman Anna Madrigal to honour the late series, Tales Of The City is almost unique in that the majority of the LGBT characters are themselves members of the community.
Theres been lots of discussion about whether heterosexual actors should play LGBT roles, with Gentleman Jacks Suranne Jones saying straight actors are unfairly scorned when they sign themselves up.
Last year, Cate Blanchett also defended straight actors playing gay roles on both the big and small screen, saying she will fight to the death for the right to suspend disbelief and play roles beyond my experience.
Weighing in on the debate, Garcia said: This is something my acting teacher questions us about and its not just gender and sexual identity, but all around. What does it mean for an able bodied person to play a person in a wheelchair?
Reflecting on one particular instance, they recalled: My school decided to not put the play on because they couldnt find an actor in a wheelchair. Some people agreed but I personally did not.
Advertisement
Advertisement
I thought that the circumstances are different. We only had so many kids in our very small studio. Of course, if you dont have someone whos disabled and you want to put the play on – we were not casting in-authentically.
If it was an on Broadway play and the main character is in a wheelchair then of course, then I think the work should be done and you need to then find that actor.
I say that not because able bodied people cant identify but its the fact that those jobs arent high numbers.
They continued: When you transfer that over to trans people being portrayed on-screen and whether or not straight people can play trans characters, yeah they very much can.
I will not say that they cannot because they are very much capable of that, but trans people are marginalised people, especially trans women of colour. Were just getting our foot in the door.
I think that until we are well established and we are not struggling and we dont have one Tales of the City but like 20 Tales Of The Cities and until trans becomes a normal thing to see on screen, I think that everyone should be cast authentically, within reason.
Obviously there are exceptions to the rule.
From the AIDs crisis to questioning sexuality, Tales Of The City brings a number of LGBT issues to the forefront and Garcia is hopeful that this will encourage audience s to be curious and ask questions.
Advertisement
I hope that Tales Of The City helps people have those conversations that theyre scared or uncomfortable to have, Garcia said.Read More – Source