Hear Me Roar will portray the Bellinger vs. Bellinger High Court case
BY ELLA GAUCI, IMAGE BY NETFLIX
A new film starring the likes of Rebecca Root and Emma Thompson is set to portray a pivotal court case that changed the course of trans rights in the UK. Entitled Hear Me Roar, Amy Coop’s latest project is based on the Bellinger vs. Bellinger High Court case.
The real-life case happened in 2000 when a trans woman, Elizabeth Bellinger, took on the government in a battle to have her marriage legally recognised. The case would later go on to prompt the government to redraft the Gender Recognition Bill in July 2003, allowing trans people to legally change their gender and have it recognised in marriage.
Rebecca Root, who came to fame starring in the groundbreaking show Boy Meets Girl, will be playing Elizabeth Bellinger. Alongside Rebecca will be stars like Emma Thompson, playing judge Elizabeth Butler-Sloss, and Christopher Eccleston.
Speaking about the film, Emma Thompson 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.”
The film was co-written by Ashley Bayston, Elizabeth’s real-life lawyer who worked on the case. She said: “I can’t believe this is finally happening and that the story of Liz and my battle is to be told by such an amazing team of actors. We used to joke about a film being made some day but couldn’t imagine such young and glamorous actors portraying us. This story has to be told and these are exactly the right people to tell it.”
There is currently no confirmed release date for Hear Me Roar.
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