Monday, November 10, 2008

The Danish Girl


I was on the PC late last night sending out emails related to organizing the Pride March here on December 6 when I heard the late night news mention the words "transsexual" and "Nicole Kidman" in the same sentence. Of course I looked. It turns out that the Oscar-winning statuesque Australian beauty is set to play Lili Elbe, considered the world's first transsexual woman in The Danish Girl, the best-selling first novel of David Ebershoff.

The novel has been translated into several languages and the movie based on it boasts of a casting coup. Lili Elbe, formerly Einar Mogens Wegener, was married to another artist Gerda Gottlieb. After Lili had undergone several gender-affirming surgeries, the King of Denmark invalidated ther Wegeners' marriage. Gerda, in the movie, is going be portrayed by Charlize Theron.

I haven't read the novel but Lili and Gerda's story is a fascinating one. Google them to see. Myself, I can't wait to see the movie. Incidentally, Denmark where Lili was born is going to be the venue for the next World Outgames in the Summer of 2009. Perhaps the World Outgames in Copenhagen can celebrate this Hollywood victory!

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