Actress Gabrielle Union has opened up about playing a homophobic character in the upcoming drama film “The Inspection.”
The film’s portrayal of her character and Union’s personal experience of raising a transgender daughter are very different, which makes her think that she has nothing in common with her character. However, the actor was able to “find common ground” with his persona and give everything to the required role.
Union said that she had no intention of rejecting any of her children while expressing her distaste for homophobes. Through their foundation, the actress and her husband, Dwyane Wade, are passionate advocates for the LGBTQ+ community.
Read below for more details.
Article continues below advertisement
Gabrielle Union Finds ‘Common Space’ With Her Homophobic Character
Instagram/gabunion
In an interview with Many people that aired Friday, the award-winning Hollywood star recalled the details surrounding her decision to play Inez French in the upcoming film “The Inspection,” which she also stars as an executive producer.
Her character is a mother who fails to accept the reality that her son, Ellis French (Jeremy Pope), is gay, which is very different from Union’s reaction when her daughter Zaya Wade, 15, came out as transgender in February 2020.
Union said that at first he did not find any similarities between himself and Inez. Elegance Bratton, the film’s director, encouraged her to take on the role, helping her find the “common space” with the character and the “darkness” needed for the part.
Article continues below advertisement
He added about playing the role, “It’s not going to manifest itself in the same way, but when you centralize the oppressive idea of who you should be considered worthy of everything, everyone is on the chopping block.”
Article continues below advertisement
‘I’ve Always Viewed Homophobes As Trash’
MEGA
Although she portrays a character that some might label as LGBTQ+ intolerant at the start of the film, Union seems to share that that situation never happened to her and her daughter and also expressed her distaste for people who are prejudiced against LGBTQ+ people:
“I’ve always seen homophobes as trash. ‘Google is free and I’m not doing free work for you to figure out how to love your child,'” he said.
Ellis joined the marines after his mother, Inez, disowned him in the film. The actor expressed his opinion that while he could relate to Inez’s decision to break up with Ellis, such a story would never happen for him.
Article continues below advertisement
She added: “I would never reject my child. My child none of my children can use. But I get a deep desire to be seen as worthy, and anything that threatens that can go away, and for some people, that includes their children.”
Article continues below advertisement
Gabrielle Union Says Daughter Zaya’s Arrival Was A Learning Moment
MEGA
Union seems to have it all figured out when it comes to raising LGBTQ+ kids based on her openness. However, when Zaya came out as trans, first to her family and then to the public, the actress realized she needed help because she didn’t know what to do.
“I didn’t have a lot of resources, so I just reached out to everyone I knew from social media,” Union shared in an exclusive with Many people in April 2021. “Everyone responded with love, resources and information.”
The actress went on to say that she and Wade both learned from the experience, as they previously acknowledged the high chance of making mistakes when dealing with their daughter.
“We didn’t come into it like it had to be our way,” he said. “We will mess up. We will say the wrong thing. But we have to learn and be led.”
Article continues below advertisement
‘Our Homes Will Not Be Safe Spaces For Fearful People’
MEGA
Union and her husband Wade actively fight the stigma that members of the LGBTQ+ community may experience from cisgender people through their Wade Family Foundation. Naturally, her home has no ideals that would prevent her children, like Zaya, from “who they really are.”
“Our home will never be a safe space for fanatics,” the publication said. “I see problematic language as violence, and I will never expose anyone I love to violence, whether verbal, physical, emotional or spiritual. Screaming exists in every area of life. And we function from a place of truth in our household. But if you come to us, oh, get ready.”
Union and Wade exchanged vows in 2014, and the couple welcomed their only daughter Kaavia, who was born via surrogate in 2018. In addition, Wade’s three other children, including Zaya, have the actress as their stepmother.
Categories: Trending
Source: thtrangdai.edu.vn/en/
