Emma Thompson, Anna Friel, Christopher Eccleston, Julian Ovenden and Rebecca Root have joined the cast for feature film, Hear Me Roar.
Hear Me Roar tells the story of a transgender woman who, in 2000, took on the British Government in a lengthy legal battle “which would change the lives of every LGBTQIA+ person in the United Kingdom.” The film is expected to go into production this spring.
The script is co-written by Lisa McMullin and Ashley Bayston, whose story it tells.
The feature will be directed by Amy Coop and produced by Darren Stuart and David Nichols.
Elizabeth (Liz) Bellinger had married her husband Michael at Southwark register office in South London in 1981, one of the few transgender people in Britain who had gone through a marriage ceremony.
For nearly 20 years only her husband knew her secret however in 1998 she launched a campaign to have her marriage legally recognised and in 2000 the case went to court.
The drama starts with Elizabeth’s meeting with barrister Ashley Bayston (who co-wrote the feature with lead writer Lisa McMullin) and the resulting complex legal obstacle course they undertook over the coming three years.
Ashley Bayston says: “I can’t believe this is finally happening and that the story of Liz and my battle is to be told by such an amazing team of actors. We used to joke about a film being made some day but couldn’t imagine such young and glamorous actors portraying us. This story has to be told and these are exactly the right people to tell it.”
The cast, announced today, includes two-time Academy Award Winner Emma Thompson (Sense and Sensibility, The Remains of the Day) and International Emmy Winner Anna Friel (Marcella, Pushing Daisies) who will play Ashley Bayston. Liz Bellinger will be played by Rebecca Root (The Queen’s Gambit, The Danish Girl). They will be joined by Christopher Eccleston (The Leftovers, True Detective: Night Country) and Julian Ovenden (Bridgerton, Downton Abbey).
Emma Thompson says: “I’m weeping like a baby, it’s so moving and powerful and funny. It’s a great story and script with wonderful characters – I just loved it and it moved me deeply. I think it’s both fascinating and profoundly meaningful and essential.”
BAFTA Nominated Amy Coop who directs adds: “It’s a privilege to be working with such a great team to tell this incredible story, an overlooked part of modern British History that represented a seismic shift for LGBTQ+ people.”
Producers are Darren Stuart whose credits include Capital Punishment and the documentary Stone By Stone and David Nichols (Everest, The Tourist, William Tell).
Jon Creamer
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