Sean Penn and Tom Hanks have a few things in common. Both of them are American actors, have starred in countless breathtaking films, and both of them, being straight, have played a gay character in their respective careers which got them an Oscar each. For Sean Penn it was the 2008 biographical drama, Milk, and for Tom Hanks it was 1993’s legal drama film, Philadelphia.
While they both have similar experiences of playing a gay role, both actors came out with a different outlook on the whole thing. While Tom Hanks believes gay characters should be played by gay actors, Sean Penn indirectly counters his point of view calling it a tremendous overreach.
Tom Hanks on Philadelphia and Why It Can’t Happen Again
Despite winning his first Oscar for Philadelphia, it looks like Tom Hanks wouldn’t play the role if it was offered to him today. He played the role of attorney Andrew Beckett who was fired by a client when he found out that he was gay and had AIDS.
The film was released back in 1993, clearly, a much different time than today. Thus, Hanks believes that it wouldn’t be right for him to take the role of Andrew in today’s time.
He told The New York Times that he played the gay attorney during a time when it was acceptable for a straight actor to play a gay role. Back then, according to Hanks, people needed to not be “afraid” of the story which was made possible by the actor playing the lead role.
Today, though, Hanks rightly believes that times have changed. People are no longer afraid and would not accept the “inauthenticity” that comes with straight actors playing gay roles.
When the interviewer stated, “There’s no way a straight actor would be cast in Philadelphia today,” Hanks replied,
Let’s address ‘could a straight man do what I did in ‘Philadelphia’ now?’ No, and rightly so. The whole point of ‘Philadelphia’ was don’t be afraid. One of the reasons people weren’t afraid of that movie is that I was playing a gay man. We’re beyond that now, and I don’t think people would accept the inauthenticity of a straight guy playing a gay guy.
Hanks believes it is not a crime for people to demand movies that are more adjusted according to the “modern realm of authenticity.” While people may agree with Hanks’ POV, Sean Penn is not one of them.
Sean Penn Has a Different Opinion on it All
Penn playing a gay character was more recent. He starred as the gay rights activist and politician Harvey Milk in the 2008 biographical film, Milk. Unlike Hanks, this role brought Penn his second Oscar for Best Actor.
Penn and Hanks have contradictory views when it comes to playing gay roles while being straight in their real lives. Speaking to The New York Times a couple of months back, Penn recalled that Milk was the last time he had any kind of fun making a movie.
During the interview, it was rightly noted that the actor was praised heavily for his role as Harvey but things would have been quite different today. When asked if he could even play the character in the modern times, Penn simply replied, “No.”
Calling it a time of tremendous overreach, the I Am Sam actor pointed out how human imagination is being limited by a “timid and artless policy.”
No. It could not happen in a time like this. It’s a time of tremendous overreach. It’s a timid and artless policy toward the human imagination.
Well, there you have it. Two views on one topic that are poles apart from each other. Whose side are you on?
Philadelphia and Milk are available to rent/buy on Prime Video.
