Eddie Redmayne has acknowledged that it was a "mistake" for him to play a trans character in The Danish Girl, during an exclusive new interview withThe Sunday Times.
The British actor earned an Oscar nomination for his performance in the 2015 biopic as Lili Elbe, a Danish trans woman who in 1930 became one of the first people to undergo gender-affirming surgery. 
Since the movie co-starring Alicia Vikander and Ben Whishaw was released, the film and TV industry has had more in-depth conversations about whether a cisgender actor like Redmayne should ever be cast in a transgender role.
Asked if he would still portray Elbe if the role were offered to him today, Redmayne told The Sunday Times: "No, I wouldn’t take it on now. I made that film with the best intentions, but I think it was a mistake."
When the interviewer replied that the film might not have been given the green light without Redmayne on board, the actor continued: "The bigger discussion about the frustrations around casting is because many people don’t have a chair at the table. There must be a leveling, otherwise we are going to carry on having these debates."
Redmayne previously spoke out in support of trans rights last year when J.K. Rowling, the creator of the Fantastic Beasts movie series, which he stars in, was criticized for posting anti-trans tweets. 
“Respect for transgender people remains a cultural imperative, and over the years I have been trying to constantly educate myself,” Redmayne told Variety.  "This is an ongoing process. As someone who has worked with both J.K. Rowling and members of the trans community, I wanted to make it absolutely clear where I stand. I disagree with Jo’s comments. Trans women are women, trans men are men and non-binary identities are valid."
Are you pleased Eddie Redmayne has conceded that his trans role was a mistake?