Act your age!

Amidst the news today about the dropping of Kate Redford from playing Bethany Platt after the age scandal, there has been an online argument - was it the right decision or is it just a hoo-ha over nothing?

I agree with the ones that feel it is the right thing to drop the actress. Not that there's anything morally wrong with someone acting a younger or older character than themselves, but I feel that it would insult the audience if you have someone who isn't close to the age of the character they're playing. Some sources say her agency was at fault so who knows.

I think it's more important when it comes to actors portraying children. While children mature earlier now that they once did in their attitude and understanding of life, the physical side of their development is still the same. And I think Corrie and other soaps should reflect that. Children on the Street were few and far between in the early years and didn't play a big role in storylines. Then suddenly you had the Platt and Webster children popping up and you had the same actors playing them from their birth until they were around 9 or 10 years old. When they werere-cast, some of the actors were older than the character but not much. The biggest issue was the fact that Tina O'Brien was 17 when she was cast as 13 year old Sarah Lou. 

Now a four year difference wouldn't matter if the character was in their 20s or older, but the teenage years are the ones where the human body goes through its biggest changes and there is no doubt that a 17 year old girl looks different to when she was 13. But Corrie back then got away with it. 

This kind of thing can cause the actor/actress problems. If they're over 18 and acting a child in a well-known show, then if they're seen out clubbing and drinking, they are scrutinised by the public and on social media. It happened too poor old Jennifer Moss as far back as the 1960s. When she was cast as 11 year old Lucille Hewitt back in 1960, Moss was approaching her 16th birthday. When seen out partying with the rest of the cast, Moss was judged for under-age drinking, despite her being old enough. Fame and fortune ruined her life and led her to alcoholism and drug abuse which in time led to her dismissal in 1974. Yes, it was a different age and probably today she would've had support and help.

On the other hand, Helen Worth was 23 when she was cast as 16 year old Gail Potter in 1974. But the difference was I think that Gail had reached that mature age and the difference between a 16 year old and a 23 year old isn't that much in maturity. Well, I don't think so anyway and so maybe the casting directors were overlooked with the little difference between a 19 year old and 25 year old. But alas, would it be right to cast a 19 year old to play a girl who's just entering her teen years? Would if be fair on her?

I think it was the right decision to drop Kate Redford and let's hope they have a back-up actress to turn to, and someone who is closer to Bethany's age. 

We'll see!

Do you agree or disagree with me?

by Llifon

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