Zoe Terakes Is First Non Binary Actor In Consideration For Best Lead Actor AACTA Award
Image: Zoe Terakes
Australian screen actor Zoe Terakes has made history, becoming the first non-binary actor tin consideration for an AACTA award in the category of Lead Actor in a Feature Film.
Terakes is being considered for their role in Ellie And Abbie (& Abbie鈥檚 Dead Aunt) as the opening night film at last year鈥檚 Mardi Gras Queer Screen Film Festival.
Directed and written by Monica Zanetti, Terakes plays the role of Abbie, the love interest of Year 12 student and school captain Ellie (Sophie Hawkshaw). As the first Australian feature film to open the festival in 27 years, it went on to a nationwide release in November last year.
After coming out as non-binary at the age 19, Terakes’ screen credits include the recently released Nicole Kidman led eight-part series Nine Perfect Strangers 补苍诲听Wentworth, in which they played trans character Rebecca ‘Reb’ Keane.
‘I鈥檓 an actor, not an actress’
鈥淚鈥檓 not a woman, but I also don鈥檛 feel entirely like a man,鈥� Terakes told If.
, Terakes 聽said, 鈥淚鈥檓 a boy human. A human boy. And so, until there is an awards system that accommodates for genderqueer/trans folks, we鈥檙e gonna have to make the system work for us.鈥�
While there had been other non-binary entrants and nominees in the past, AACTA said via a statement that Terakes has become the first non-binary actor to have engaged them in conversation and 鈥渆xercised their right to choose which award suited them鈥�.
鈥淚鈥檓 an actor, not an actress. I definitely feel more aligned with 鈥渕ale鈥� identifiers. And I don鈥檛 want to be nominated for the gender of the character I鈥檓 playing,鈥� Terakes explained.
Push For More Inclusive Awards
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鈥淪o, listen It鈥檚 all a bit confusing and feels a bit, to quote Missy Higgins, 鈥榯riangle trying to squeeze through a circle鈥� but until we de-gender awards ceremonies altogether, I鈥檒l be up for nomination in the category that most aligns with my gender; best male actor.鈥�
Elsewhere in the world, a push for more inclusive award ceremonies is fast gaining traction. In June this year, The聽Television Academy鈥檚 Board of Governors confirmed they had approved a pair of rule changes for the聽Emmy Awards.
These changes allowed anyone nominated in an actor or actress category the option to 鈥渞equest that their nomination certificate and Emmy statuette carry the term 鈥楶erformer鈥� in place of Actor or Actress.鈥�
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