There may no longer be a "best actress" or a "best actor" category at the Oscars in the future. The Academy is currently debating representation and inclusion in the most important and recognized awards of the seventh art and these categories could be merged into a neutral one, entitled "best performer," that encompasses the two, according to the Washington Examiner.
The decision is motivated by a series of measures previously taken by other galas such as the Grammys, the Gotham Awards and the Independent Spirit Awards. They chose to eliminate the categories in which they differentiate by gender. And the Oscars are expected to be the next to take that step. A change desired, for example, by the actress who perceives herself as non-binary, Elliot Page. The performer spoke with EW and said that she wanted the Academy to introduce this change:
Yeah, it seems like a good idea. And, again, this sort of unusual aspect of that being the only category, right, where that sort of happens? So, hopefully, we start moving beyond that degree of binary thinking.
The Oscars are not the only ones that would be deciding to eliminate the category of "best actor" and "best actress." The Golden Globes, the Screen Actors Guild Awards or the Critics Choice Awards could also include the "best performer" category in substitution of the other two.
Something that Bella Ramsey also wants. The performer, who like Page, perceives herself as non-binary, spoke to Vanity Fair in May. During the interview, she said that gender differentiation prevented "celebrating" performers like her:
I don’t want the limitations in terms of the language in the categories to be a reason that nonbinary actors like me can’t be celebrated. And it can open up a conversation about how it feels – as long as I’m aware of the fact that it’s not ideal, but also that finding alternatives is really complex.
