In praise of … Rebecca Root

http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2015/feb/06/rebecca-root-trans-tv-sitcom

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Pioneers come from all directions. Some effect social change through political campaigns, marches and the mobilisation of social media. Others, by putting themselves forward, turn conventional thinking on its head and promote progressive advance by example. One such is the actor and comedian Rebecca Root. The performer, who had gender transition surgery in 2005, will star in Boy Meets Girl, the first British sitcom in which the main focus is a transgender actor. The plot concerns a 26-year-old man in a relationship with Judy, a 40-year-old transgender woman played by Root.

Television comedy is a perilous enterprise. Many shows fail, and only a small percentage catch the public imagination. But when that does occur, the genre can make us laugh while increasing understanding and challenging myths. This is the hope of the performer and those who are developing the sitcom for the BBC. “In 20 years’ time – hopefully less, if I have anything to do with it – the audience won’t so much as bat an eyelid at a trans person on their television. So our future as trans actors is promising,” says Root of the task ahead. A laudable objective. More power to her.