Emma Corrin, the former star of the Netflix series “The Crown,” is demanding that awards shows do away with gendered categories in favor of a gender-neutral alternative.
The 26-year-old has a personal interest in this topic after coming out as non-binary in July of 2021. Corrin said recently that awards shows should reflect the current times, which means changing the “best actor” and “best actress” categories into something different.
“I don’t think the categories are inclusive enough at the moment,” Corrin told BBC News. “It’s about everyone being able to feel acknowledged and represented.”
“The conversation needs to be about having more representation in the material itself, in the content that we are seeing for nonbinary people, for queer people, for trans people, because then I think that will change a lot,” Corrin said.
“When those parts come up, meaning more people and more actors are playing those roles, then I think there will be more of an urgency with which these questions will be addressed.”
Corrin went on to say that she has “hope for a future” when neutral awards categories are adopted across the board.
“It’s difficult for me at the moment trying to justify in my head being non-binary and being nominated in female categories,” Corrin continued. “When it comes to categories, do we need to make it specific as to whether you’re being nominated for a female role or a male role?”
The changes the “Crown” star requested are already happening in some places. A spokesperson for the BAFTA awards told BBC they were “engaged in proactive and thoughtful consultation on this subject.”
Rumor has it that the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, host of the Oscars, might also be changing to gender-neutral categories.
The Grammys changed to gender-neutral in 2012.
The Brit Awards also swapped out male and female solo categories into an artist of the year category in 2022. But when the singer Adele won, her acceptance speech made it clear she was critical of the change.
“I understand why the name of this award has changed, but I really love being a woman and being a female artist. I do. I’m really proud of us,” she said at the time.
The Oscars also changed the description of a trans-identifying star on its website. “Ellen Page” on Oscars.org is now listed as “Elliot Page” with a short explainer.
“NOTE: Nomination originally submitted under Elliot Page’s prior name. At the request of the nominee, following his December 1, 2020 announcement that he is transgender, his name has been changed accordingly with support of the Academy’s Awards and Events Committee,” it says.