10/01/2025 - The feature, which revolves around a British trans marriage case, stars Emma Thompson, Anna Friel, Christopher Eccleston, Julian Ovenden and Rebecca Root

l-r: Actors Anna Friel, Emma Thompson and Christopher Eccleston (courtesy of Darren Stuart)

Emma Thompson, Anna Friel, Christopher Eccleston, Julian Ovenden and Rebecca Root have joined the cast of a new LGBTQ+ drama titled Hear Me Roar, helmed by Amy Coop.

Before embarking on the making of this project, Coop worked extensively as a director, producer, writer and assistant director. Her credits include ten episodes of BBC1’s Doctors and the BAFTA-nominated teen sci-fi drama Silverpoint, for which she helmed the final episodes of season 1 and returned as lead director for season 2.

The brand-new feature, penned by Lisa McMullin together with Ashley Bayston, tells the story of a trans woman who, in 2000, took on the British government in a lengthy legal battle which would change the lives of the LGBTQ+ community in the UK. In detail, the plot zooms in on Elizabeth “Liz” Bellinger, who married her husband Michael at Southwark register office in South London in 1981. She was one of the few trans people in Britain to have gone through a marriage ceremony. For nearly 20 years, only her husband knew her secret; however, in 1998, she launched a campaign to have her marriage legally recognised, and in 2000, the case went to court.

The pic begins with Elizabeth’s meeting with lawyer Bayston, and it then follows the resulting complex legal obstacle course they undertook over the following three years. Bellinger will be played by Root (The Queen’s Gambit, The Danish Girl [+see also:
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trailer
film profile], the series Pushing Daisies) will portray Bayston.

Bayston shared her excitement, saying she couldn’t believe their story was finally being told by such a talented cast. “We used to joke about a film being made someday, but couldn’t imagine such young and glamorous actors portraying us,” she commented, adding that the story was important and that the team was the perfect one to bring it to life.

Thompson called the project “moving and powerful”, remarking that the script was both fascinating and deeply meaningful. “It’s a great story with wonderful characters – I just loved it,” she said. Coop described the film as a privilege to work on, noting that it highlights “an incredible story and an overlooked part of modern British history that represented a seismic shift for LGBTQ+ people”.

Hear Me Roar is being staged by British producers Darren Stuart (Capital Punishment, Stone by Stone) and David Nichols (Everest [+see also:
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making of
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making of
film profile], William Tell). The release date is yet to be confirmed.