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Ellen Page to star in lesbian dramaOn screen, Ellen Page has played a pregnant teen, an X-Man and a dark metaphorical cousin to Chris Hansen. And now she will play one of us. The 21-year-old actress has been attached to the feature film adaptation of Freeheld, the true story of a terminally-ill lesbian's struggle to pass her pension benefits to her partner.
Laurel Hester (left) and partner Stacie Andree Laurel, a 25-year veteran of the police force, and Stacie were registered domestic partners. But because they were not and could not be legally married her county freeholders (like a county supervisor, but in Jersey) denied Laurel's request. So she fought them, while dying, for her rights. On Jan. 25, 2006, after extensive public outcry and Laurel's own hospital-bed appeals, the freeholders reversed their decision and granted Stacie full benefits. Laurel died 25 days later. The prospect of having ac actress as talented as Ellen star in a story as powerful as Laurel's is beyond exciting. In a country where three states just repudiated (and in one just flat-out reversed — dammit, California) our right to marry, a film like this could go a long way to opening people's hearts to gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender relationships.
Of course, before we start hailing the feature-version of Freeheld as the lesbian Philadelphia, the movie needs to get made. Wade has partnered with the producers of Erin Brockovich on the project. But she said it could take one to two years to get the script and — as we all know — a lot can happen in one to two years. Still, given that Ellen's lesbian teenage werewolf movie has fallen through, this could be our best hope to finally see Ellen hug a woman with her legs in friendship, and then some. So, what do you think? And, if we all put it on the top of our wish lists for Santa, do you think maybe they could write that script just a little bit faster? Submitted by on December 22, 2008 - 11:00am. |
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This EXCELLENT news! I
This EXCELLENT news! I haven't been able to watch the documentary (not a big chance of getting it in Chile, maybe I should order it online?) but the story sounds compelling and beautiful. I truly hope it gets made.
gee that sounds like a fun
gee that sounds like a fun movie.
-Nathiest
the devil is in the details
Awesome
It will be interesting to see how all of this plays out especially with Ellen attached. Fingers crossed.
To be honest, when I first saw her picture I hadn't scrolled down enough to see the title of the blog post and my first thought was "she came out!?"
Oh well, still good news.
Age?
I agree about the age thing
I don't know how old the two characters are/were in real life, but Ellen is too young to play the partner. That aside, she's a great actress, so I'll try to play along.
Makeup can do wonders.
She can pull it off
age is still a factor
I have seen hard candy, but that movie is definitely not a testament to her capability to appear older as that character definitely has a younger look...even if the sadistic character doesn't ACT younger. Although she is very mature, i just don't buy her as playing a person in her 30s/40s...even with older make-up and clothing.
As i said, i'm a huge fan of ellen's hotness acting abilities, but the age barrier is too prominent unless the filmmakers plan to drastically change the story for the film.
Age
great!
in real life! oopsAge
so excited! this sounds like
Age
I too have to admit I'm thinking Ellen is quite young to play this part. Of course, it may take a few years before it's actually released, but still. She does look young. On the other hand, that'd be a big challenge, and if she does it right that'd be an even bigger accomplishment on her behalf :)
You didn't even take your clothes of, yet you've never looked more naked.
seriously?
proud
Freeheld
Sigh.
I understand why someone would want to make a feature film out of a documentary; after all, not only can more money be made, but there can be a lot more exposure for and hence support of the relevant cause. However, what's wrong with just re-editing and re-releasing the old film on a bigger production budget, perhaps even with a celebrity narrator and with extra insight into the lack of benefits for domestic partners as well as the repurcussions of the 2008 election? I just started sobbing while watching that trailer, but I seriously doubt a faked film, even based on a true story, would cause me to have the same reaction.
Also, as adorable as Ellen Page is (and wicked talented with the right director and screenplay), I really don't think she's that good a choice.
And, finally, I will probably be flamed for this like whoa, but I thought the inclusion of the SNL clip and the "hugging her legs in friendship" quote were a bit disrespectful and incongruous with the subject matter.
"Out of the box is where I live." -Starbuck
Yeah Ellen Page!!!
Ellen's great but she's
Clearly you haven't seen 'Mouth to Mouth'...
...just sayin'. Watch it, and you'll see how fluid of an actress she is. It's redic.
Inkblots
SHE"s
She is...
Stacie
I have to say that this is a heartbreaking story and one that does deserve to be told. I love documentaries, but lots of people don't, so I think that a feature film will reach more people than a full length doc.
I do think that although Ellen does look a little young, she definately has the acting ability to pull it off. Also, Stacie looks a fair bit younger than Laurel.
hell
YAY!
Who is she playing - Laurel or her partner? I can't imagine her playing an older woman to be honest, but maybe there will be flashback elements or something... Nevertheless, I will see anything that has Ellen Page playing a lesbian! Biggest celebrity crush I've had in a good few years... :D
She'll be great
An American Crime
Yeah but...
I get what everyone else is saying and for me, they're kind of right. It has nothing to do with her ability...I think Ellen is awesome and to be honest I thought her acting in An American Crime wasn't actually her best (I preferred Juno, the Tracey Fragments and Hard Candy). In American Crime though (as in I think all of her movies), she was playing a young teenage girl and she totally pulled it off but it might not be so easy to believe if she is playing a character who is in a committed relationship with a 25-year veteran of the police force.
If anything something not working out with this [adult] part would not be due to her lack of ability or talent but due to the fact that she is just so darn young and adorable.
Ellen is
so pretty
that skit
Freeheld as a feature film
is the best news I have heard all year. Please, God, let this film come to pass!
Felicia Tang Lee
Come out already!!!
Ellen for the sake of all the lesbian, bisexual women come out of the closet already, oh and I think that's a great idea! On both subjects.
age...
i don't think this is stunt casting at all. i mean ellen page is 22 right now and it's said to have a couple of years before the making of it. so she's gonna be in her mid 20's if she's still connected by that time. and she would be great for this role, she a fantastic actress, versatile, she has the right physical look for the role, and she extremely mature for her younger age.
I'm having delusions of granduer.....
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