The amazing true love story of what happens when one of the partners in a marriage decides to change genders is revealed in Director Tom Hooper’s new drama,The Danish Girl.
Based on the 2000 novel of the same name by David Ebershoff, Hooper’s film takes us into the lives of Lili Elbe and Gerda Wegener, two Danish artists in the 1920s who find their lives changed after Gerda depicted her husband — then known as Einar Wegener — as a woman in a series of paintings. After the series becomes popular, Einar changes his appearance, renames himself Lili and embarks on a groundbreaking journey as a transgender pioneer. The film also reunites Hooper with his Les Misérables star Eddie Redmayne who plays the title character.
Following the DGA membership screening in New York on November 8, Hooper spoke about the making of the film in a conversation moderated by DGA Past President Taylor Hackford (Dangerous Liaisons). Hooper also spoke about the film with DGA Secretary-Treasurer & Past President Michael Apted (Masters of Sex) following the DGA membership screening in Los Angeles on November 15.
In addition to The Danish Girl, Hooper’s filmography includes the feature films Red Dust and The Damned United; the movies for television and mini-series Daniel Deronda, Prime Suspect 6: The Last Witness, Elizabeth I, and Longford; and episodes of the television series Byker Grove, Cold Feet and EastEnders. Hooper was nominated for DGA Awards for his mini-series John Adams and his feature film Les Misérables. He took home both the DGA Award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Feature Film and the Academy Award for "Best Director" for his 2010 film The King's Speech.
Hooper has been a member of the DGA since 2006.