Emma Corrin Calls For Gender-Neutral Awards: "I Don't Think the Categories Are Inclusive Enough"

Emma Corrin has spoken out about their hope for all awards shows to become gender neutral, by replacing the male and female specific categories with more inclusive grouping. "The Crown" actor, who identifies as nonbinary and uses they/them pronouns, spoke to BBC's Today Programme about the ongoing debate.

"I hope for a future in which that happens," they said of the gender-free categories on 25 Nov. "It's about everyone being able to feel acknowledged and represented and I don't think the categories are inclusive enough at the moment."

Corrin won a number of awards for her portrayal of Princess Diana in series 4 of "The Crown", including the best actress award at the 2021 Golden Globes. While they accepted she/her pronouns at the time, they now believe that events such as the Oscars and BAFTAs should stop dividing nominees by gender and encompass everyone into more fluid categories.

"It's difficult for me at the moment trying to justify in my head being nonbinary and being nominated in female categories," they said. "But really the conversation needs to be about having more representation in the material itself, in the content that we're seeing for nonbinary people, for queer people, for trans people. When more actors are playing those roles then I think there will be more of an urgency with which these questions would be addressed."

The Grammys went gender neutral in 2012, merging the male and female categories so that awards were given via music genre rather than gender, while the Brits scrapped gendered awards in 2022 in order to be more "inclusive and relevant". In a small yet noteworthy move for the LGBTQ+ community, the Emmys announced in 2021 that any nominee could request to be recognised with the gender-neutral title "performer".

The BBC reported that the Oscars are conducting research on a gender-neutral approach, while a BAFTA spokesperson said it was "engaged in proactive and thoughtful consultation on this subject."

Corrin, who most recently starred in "My Policeman"and "Lady Chatterley's Lover", went on to thank others who have been open with them about their gender journey, which in turn helped them feel both comforted and acknowledged. "I think that visibility and representation is really key," they stated. And that counts for film, tv, social media, and awards shows.