Emma Thompson and Rebecca Root are to star in Hear Me Roar, a new film depicting the true story of a legal battle fought by a trans woman and her husband to have their marriage recognised in law.
Hear Me Roar stars one of the UK’s most prolific transgender actresses Root (Heartstopper, Hogwarts Legacy) as Elizabeth Bellinger, a trans woman who married her husband Michael (played by Christopher Eccleston), in a secret ceremony in the 1980s.
Almost two decades later, the couple went public with their union and took the government to court to have it legally recognised, with barrister Ashley Bayston (played by Anna Friel) representing them in the case.
Thompson, who co-stars as the judge in the landmark case, said: “I’m weeping like a baby, it’s so moving and powerful and funny. It’s a great story and script with wonderful characters – I just loved it and it moved me deeply.
“I think it’s both fascinating and profoundly meaningful and essential.”
Director Amy Coop added: “It’s a privilege to be working with such a great team to tell this incredible story, an overlooked part of modern British history that represented a seismic shift for LGBTQ+ people.”
Root is among the UK’s most prolific transgender actresses, with past projects including Eddie Redmayne’s awards flick The Danish Girl, BBC Two sitcom Boy Meets Girl, Sky supernatural drama The Rising and Netflix hit The Queen’s Gambit.