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Hollywood’s ‘good guy’ Tom Hanks is one of the most prominent stars in the industry. The legendary actor is an irreplaceable part of international pop culture, by playing characters such as Woody in theToy Storyseries,Big,Cast Away, Green Mile,andForrest Gump.
The actor has been active since the 1980s and is still going strong as a leading man. His filmography includes diverse characters. However, the actor feels that one of his breakthrough performances would not connect to people today, a role that won him his first Oscar.
Also read:“I have so much dirt on Tom Hanks he had to hire me”: Tom Hanks Asked Bryan Cranston If He Has Gotten Fat Before Making Him a Life Changing Offer
How Did Tom Hanks Prepare ForPhiladelphia?
Written by Ron Nyswaner,PhiladelphiaseesTom Hanksplay Andrew Beckett, a lawyer who sues his employer for wrongful termination. He accuses them of firing him because he was a homosexual and had AIDS. Denzel Washington plays Joseph Miller, a lawyer who represents Beckett.
At the time, Hanks was known for his comedic roles in films such asBig, Splash,andSleepless In Seattle. He was looking to play something different from his usual roles and chose to play Beckett inPhiladelphia. The role went to Daniel Day-Lewis before Hanks was hired.
Also read:“Can I kinda horn in here?”: Tom Hanks Forced Himself in Steven Spielberg’s $352M Movie After Being Reluctant To Accept ‘Saving Private Ryan’ With Matt Damon
Talking about his choice to play Beckett in an interview with the Independent, Tom Hanks said,
“At one point in my mid-thirties when I was making an awful lot of movies about the goofy-headed guy who can’t get laid, I realized then that I had to start saying a very very difficult word to people, which was no.”
Tom Hanks lost a lot of weight for the role of Beckett, who slowly succumbs to AIDS throughout the film. The actor reportedly lost 35 pounds for the role and according to co-star Antonio Banderas, the actor was on a lettuce-only diet and did not eat for months.
Hanks also took inspiration from his own love life, taking the relationship with his wife as a jumping-off point for his love for Beckett’s partner Miguel Alvarez. He said,
“I view my wife as my lover, and we have a bond that goes beyond words like wife or girlfriend or mother. For example, I was able to construct a number of things in Philadelphia [1993] because of my relationship with Rita. The way my character felt about his lover is the way I feel about mine.”
This intense preparation paid off well for Tom Hanks as he won the Academy Award for Best Actor for his portrayal of Andrew Beckett. However, the actor believes that the role would not receive similar appreciation today if he were to play it.
Also read:Tom Hanks Was Convinced His Friendship With Steven Spielberg Would Be Destroyed if He Agreed for His $485M Movie
Why Does Tom Hanks BelievePhiladelphiaWould Not Work Today?
Philadelphiawas one of the first mainstream films in Hollywood to have depicted homosexuality in a positive light. The fact that Tom Hanks played the role of Beckett received much appreciation from critics and he received his first Oscar for it. However, the actor says that audiences today would not be able to connect with him if he were to play the role of a gay man.
The statement comes at a time when many in Hollywood believe that characters belonging to the LGBTQ community should be played by actors belonging to the community, in order to provide equal opportunity. Tom Hanks addressed this while referring to his character inPhiladelphia,
“…‘could a straight man do what I did in Philadelphia now?’ No, and rightly so,” he said. “The whole point of Philadelphia was don’t be afraid. One of the reasons people weren’t afraid of that movie is that I was playing a gay man. We’re beyond that now, and I don’t think people would accept the inauthenticity of a straight guy playing a gay guy.”
The actor also added that it was not a crime to demand more from a film in today’s realm of authenticity.
Source:Insider
Also read:“I don’t mean to anger my Apple overlords”: Tom Hanks Didn’t Hold Back in Blasting Apple TV After His Movie Failed Despite Massive Star Power
Nishanth A
Senior Writer
Articles Published :2419
Nishanth A is a Senior Entertainment Writer at FandomWire, majorly focusing on TV shows with over 2,000 articles published. He has been an entertainment journalist for the past two years and a scriptwriter at various corporations before that, working on educational content. With a Communications, English Literature, and Psychology triple major, Nishanth usually covers news and analyses on Star Trek, particularly Strange New Worlds and The Next Generation; Doctor Who, the DCU, and more.A Nolan fan, Nishanth spends his time exploring the filmographies of various directors with an auteurial style or can be found making short movies of his own. He has also contributed as a feature writer for Film Companion, focusing on the South division.
