The new film “The Danish Girl,” based on the award-winning novel by David Ebershoff, chronicles the life of transgender pioneer Lili Elbe (Eddie Redmayne). Born Einer Wegener, he became Lili Elbe when his wife, Gerda (Alicia Vikander) in the film (Greta in the book), asked him to model women’s clothes for a painting she was making. The experience reignited Einer/Lili’s innate desire to live as a woman and become one of the first people to have a sex-change operation.
The openly gay author spoke with PGN about his book, Lili Elbe’s story and making “The Danish Girl.”
PGN: It must be every novelist’s dream to have his book made into a film. What can you say about your experience?
DE: I can say I am fortunate. Fifteen years ago, when the book came out, Gail Mutrux optioned it. And from the first time I talked to her, she understood who Lili was, what she did with her life, what her legacy was and that the love story [between Lili and Greta] was an important part of the story, as was the art. The movie is telling a lot of people around the world who Lili is and was and [what] her place in LGBT history is. It’s important for her and for me. When the book came out 15 years ago, not a lot of people know who Lili was except for academics and activists. The book came out and some people read it, but now the film is there and more people will learn her story.
PGN: This has been an extraordinary year for trans visibility with Caitlin Jenner, “Tangerine” and now “The Danish Girl.” What do you think is the appeal of all these trans stories?
DE: I think in terms of the subject, every time we hear a story of a transgender person we get a deeper understanding of what it means to be transgender. No experience is like another, and with each story, the world expands. We have a hunger for these stories. “The Danish Girl” fits into that. Before Caitlin Jenner and Laverne Cox and Renée Richards and Christine Jorgensen, there was Lili Elba. She was one of the first to have gender-reassignment — or confirmation — surgery. She had no role models, no representations in the media. There was very little medical expertise. She was alone, except for her wife. The two of them learned what it meant to be transgender before that word existed.
PGN: What do you admire about Lili Elbe?
DE: I admire the courage of her becoming who she was, and her story fits into this long string of trans stories. We can now place Lili in this continuum. This is why her story resonated with me, the people who wanted to make this movie and viewers of the movie. Her story is remarkable, and it fits into a bigger picture. Lili’s journey and transition would not have been the same without this marriage to a woman who accepted her and welcomed her. That she had that kind of relationship is also remarkable. We dream and hope that we will be with someone who truly accepts us for who we are. Lili is an example of what can happen if we step forward and say, “This is me.”
PGN: Can you talk about the psychology of the Greta/Gerda and Einer/Lili characters?
DE: Greta/Gerda is the character that audience relates to. But Lili’s story, which many people can relate to, is about becoming yourself. I believe everybody has to grow up and come to terms with who they are, and who they are meant to be. For some it’s not a large struggle, but for many it is. Gender identity is a significant struggle, and most people can relate to that idea. Who am I? What’s my place in the world? How do I want to be perceived? I went through that as a gay man; I was writing that story.
PGN: What can you say about the controversy of Eddie Redmayne, a non-trans actor, in the title role?
DE: I understand the voices that want to see more opportunities for transgender actors [and] actresses. The more roles there are, the more stories are told. And I see why this is an important role for transgender actors. For a long time, the media had not told transgender stories in fair and honest ways, so I understand these questions that were raised when Eddie was taking the role. When I heard Eddie was going to do the role, it made me think back to Sean Penn as Harvey Milk. I know there were gay actors who wanted to play that role. And some wanted an out gay actor to play Milk. And yet, Sean’s performance is, from my point of view, magnificent. Actors play people they aren’t. I think Eddie’s performance is extraordinary, and Alicia’s is too. There is something special between the two of them. I hope people see “The Danish Girl” and make their own opinion.