Archive · 10 Nov 2025
Justice Smith Passionate About Trans Actors in Trans Roles
Imagine a movie where a character's story is like a secret code.
Justice Smith, an actor, believes that people who are part of a group, like transgender people, should usually be the ones to play characters like them in movies.
This is because they can best share their own stories.
However, for a specific movie called 'I Saw the TV Glow,' the director had a special reason.
The director, who is also not cisgender, wanted Justice Smith, who is cisgender, to play a character for a specific reason within the story's magic.
It was like using him as a special tool to help tell the story's deeper meaning about the trans experience.
Even though he initially wondered about the casting, Justice Smith understood and respected the director's artistic choice for this particular movie, while still strongly believing in the importance of trans people playing trans roles in general.
Justice Smith expressed strong support for transgender actors playing transgender roles.
He discussed the casting of a cisgender actor (himself) in the film 'I Saw the TV Glow' with director Jane Schoenbrun.
Smith explained that his casting was a deliberate narrative and metaphorical device by the non-binary director.
He stated that a priority was for trans people to tell their stories in the way they wish.
Smith noted that many cast and crew members on 'I Saw the TV Glow' were trans, creating a 'queer haven.'
- Who
- Justice Smith, director Jane Schoenbrun
- What
- Justice Smith discussed his passion for casting transgender actors in transgender roles and explained the specific casting decision for the film 'I Saw the TV Glow.'
- When
- Recent comments on the Zach Sang Show podcast.
- Where
- Discussed in relation to the film 'I Saw the TV Glow' and its impact.
- Why
- Smith explained that while he is passionate about trans representation, the casting of a cis actor in his role was a deliberate metaphorical choice by the director.
Justice Smith's View
Potential Counter-Argument
Casting Trans Actors in Trans Roles
Justice Smith's View
Justice Smith is 'really passionate' about transgender people playing trans roles and telling their own stories, prioritizing this as a general principle.
Potential Counter-Argument
Smith acknowledges the importance of trans representation but explains the specific artistic and metaphorical reasons behind the casting choice in 'I Saw the TV Glow,' where a cis actor played a trans character due to narrative and symbolic requirements of the film.
Artistic Interpretation vs. Direct Representation
Justice Smith's View
Smith initially had reservations about a cis actor playing a trans role but came to understand the director's vision.
Potential Counter-Argument
The director, Jane Schoenbrun, intended for the cis actor to serve as a narrative device and metaphor within the film's structure, suggesting that direct representation wasn't the primary artistic goal for this specific character.
- Film
- I Saw the TV Glow
- Actor
- Justice Smith
- Director/Writer
- Jane Schoenbrun
- Smith's Character
- Owen
- Key Theme
- Trans representation and storytelling