Here's a press release about a new series with a (fairly) sympathetic transgender character on Welsh language TV.
Matthew Gravelle waxes lyrical about his new role playing a woman
Walking in high heels, wearing make-up and waxing his legs – Matthew Gravelle's latest role in S4C's new drama series was quite an eye opener for him.
In the mystery drama series 35 Diwrnod (35 Days), on Sunday nights on S4C (English subtitles), Matthew plays the role of a transgender woman called Patricia, who lives as a woman as she awaits surgery to change her body from male to female.
"The worst thing was getting my eyebrows plucked," says Matthew Gravelle, who took his preparations very seriously. "I had my legs and chest waxed too, but the eyebrows were much more painful!"
Along with the beauty regime, Matthew had to get used to women's clothing and high heeled shoes.
"I don't know why women wear them! They're awful!" says Matthew, who was brought up in Porthcawl. "I took a pair home with me, and I'd practise walking in them while Mali and the kids were out. It's not easy. There's a knack to it!"
The transformation from Matthew to Pat was a lengthy process. Careful consideration was given to the hair, make up and costume as the production team tried to establish how she would look.
"It was important to me that we didn't make fun of the character. We had to be careful not to play a pantomime dame or drag act, because that's not what she is. She's a woman, but was born to the wrong body," says Matthew about the challenge of playing a transgender character.
"I contacted The Beaumont Society, one of many organisations which offer support to transgender people and their families. There is a lot of information on their website and I met a few people who, like Pat, were waiting for surgery."
Matthew became familiar to millions of viewers across the UK as the murderer in the popular ITV series Broadchurch. In this new series, 35 Diwrnod he'll come under suspicion once again.
35 Diwrnod is a mystery drama, set on a suburban housing estate and filmed in Maesycwmmer in Gwent. The series begins with the body of an attractive young woman, Jan Richards, alone in her home. We're then immediately thrown back 35 days to the day Jan moves to the estate.
As the days pass by, we get to know the neighbours and gradually the cracks begin to appear in their lives. On the 35th day, Jan will be dead, and someone in the neighbourhood will be responsible. But who, and why?
Behind closed doors, everyone on Crud yr Awel has their secrets. Pat isn't the only one with something to hide.
35 Diwrnod
Every Sunday night 9.00pm, S4C
English subtitles
Also, every Tuesday 10.00 with on-screen English subtitles
Website: s4c.co.uk
On demand: s4c.co.uk/clic
A Teledu Apollo production, part of Boom Pictures Cymru, for S4C
Here's a link to the online version:- http://beta.s4c.co.uk/clic/e_level2.shtml?programme_id=51905...
Comments
At least the part
isn't being played by a cisgendered female a la Coronation St, They could have used a TS actor,
I hope they don't use the 'freak' in the community as the killer as they have in so many other films eg Dressed to Kill, Silence of Lambs.
Angharad
The part
Totally agree Angharad.
At least the character seems one of the least dysfunctional in the programme after the first episode, so live in hope about them not introducing the cliched TS killer.
Cofleidiau
Alys
Reading your post
I was suddenly reminded of the comedy series, Little Britain. How they kept using crossdressing actors to make me laugh, not necessarily at transexuals, although there were some, but to the women's everyday life in Britain. In many scenes, the actors acted roles as legitimate females, wives, sisters, friends (IIRC), though they never actually hid the fact that they were males playing a role. I wonder why it suddenly popped up in my head.
Is welsh different from english? I've never known anyone who speak welsh, so please forgive me for my ignorance.
Welsh
Welsh is indeed very different from English. I occasionally refer to it in my Wales based stories.
The wikipedia article is pretty informative although, sadly the numbers, apart from the 2011 census, are over estimates.
Dymuniadau gorau/Best wishes
Alys
Different?
Oh indeed! Mae'n rhaid i ti'n dysgu'r hen iaith. Fe fyddat ti'n deall.
Or read some of the stories here (including my own) where it features.
The most amazing thing...
The Welsch have television. Wow, who would have guessed.
I'm sorry.
I hope they play her straight, and as a positive character and role model.
Bonus points for Welsch TV for having a male play the role instead of a female.
Welsh TV
Yep we have our own TV station, Sianel Pedwar Cymru.
It was eventually conceded to us by Thatcher in the 80's after much struggle and now under great threat from the latest generation of right-wing zealots running the UK.
The signs look hopeful after the first episode about the direction of the TS character in this programme, but it is a murder mystery so who knows how they will develop it.
Dymuniadau gorau/Best wishes
Alys
English subtitled version
The link does not appear to work here in the Colonies, but I did find one that works on Youtube.
:)
Gwendolyn
That's strange, it worked fine for me!
Wonder what the difference is?
Melanie E.
So, Gwen
Please tell us! Give us a link.
Thanks you!
Hugs and Bright Blessings,
Renee
He looks pretty good
Saw a clip on youtube with him in a scene and though the voice is low but it is pretty well modulated. He looks pretty good if a bit muscled for a T-Girl who has been on hormones for a while. You can tell also from the certain muscularity of the legs. His shoulders still bob up and down a bit much while walking and the gait still needs work.
All in all considering he is only a part-timer, not too bad.
One of the best crossdressing acted characters is Brini Maxwell and the actor plays her extremely well. Brini's character is a clinic in feminine presentation imho.