There is Still Prejudice Against LGBTQ Community: Eddie Redmayne

Oscar-winning actor Eddie Redmayne, whose forthcoming film “Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald” courted controversy for allegedly “airbrushing” a key character’s sexuality, feels the world is changing for better for the LGBTQ community, but there are some prejudices that still prevail universally.

“Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald” stirred up a row when director David Yates mentioned that Hogwarts school headmaster Albus Dumbledore’s sexuality would “not explicitly” be addressed in the film. It received backlash from the “Harry Potter” fans, saying the makers are trying to “airbrush” his sexuality. Redmayne has now addressed the whole issue, saying the film is not trying to hide anything.

“The progress within the LGBTQ community internationally has been at different stages in different countries in different parts of the world,” Redmayne said here while addressing the controversy around it.

“And there is still quite a lot of prejudice against many people within that community all over the world, in this country and in my country (UK). But that is certainly not for J.K. Rowling,” added the actor during a roundtable discussion here while promoting the Warner Bros Pictures project, which will open in India on November 16.

Along with exploring a complex storyline and setting the pace for the future, Redmayne’s film “Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald” will also go back in the past to tease Dumbledore’s sexuality.

The actor, who will be back as magizoologist Newt Scamander in the second part of the franchise, says the film will highlight “extraordinary intimacy” between Dumbledore, essayed by Jude Law, and Gellert Grindelwald.

“Rowling has said that Dumbledore is gay and that was controversy because David said that it will not be explicitly shown. You don’t see them kiss in the film. But it is very clear that they have... You see extraordinary intimacy and love in a brief moment.” “We will see more of their relationship (in the future),” he added.

Eddie Redmayne, who was applauded from all quarters for telling the story of a Danish painter finding his sexual identity despite the strong social stigma in “The Danish Girl”, considers movies to be more than a medium to tell stories. “Film is a way in which stories and people’s lives are communicated. I think it is important in that sense because in that people connect with the stories that they wouldn’t necessarily connect otherwise.” (IANS)

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