Betsy
12-30-04, 01:34 AM
http://news.scotsman.com/movies.cfm?id=1474872004
The Scotsman
Thu 30 Dec 2004
Actress Rachel Weisz will play the Scottish doctor Picture: PA James Miranda Barry hid her real identity until her death
Hollywood to tell story of first female doctor
MICHAEL BLACKLEY
HOLLYWOOD actress Rachel Weisz is to star in a new film that tells the extraordinary story of a Scottish woman who disguised herself as a man to become the first female doctor in the western world.
The historical drama Barry follows the life of James Miranda Barry, who hid her true identity in order to enrol at Edinburgh University’s medical school. Barry served with distinction in the Colonial Service and retired as inspector general of hospitals, one of the most senior medical posts in the army.
It was only after her death at the age of 70 that it was discovered Barry was actually a woman, and had even given birth at some stage of her life.
The American-financed film, directed by Marleen Gorris and written by Malcolm Kohll, will begin shooting in 2005. Sean Bean, Sean Pertwee and Janet Suzman will co-star and it will be shot on location in Britain and South America.
Weisz, 33, has become Britain’s busiest female star in Hollywood, with four films due for release or in production next year. She has worked with many of the industry’s leading men, including Jude Law in Enemy at the Gates and Hugh Grant in About A Boy.
Born in 1795, Barry entered the medical school of Edinburgh University at the age of ten and graduated in 1812. While she was pushed towards the medical profession at a young age, it would have been impossible for her to succeed in the profession if the fact she was female was known.
A surgeon in the Colonial Service, Barry was stationed in countries including South Africa, Canada and Mauritius and also served in the Crimean War. It is believed that she gained a reputation for having a flirtatious manner, and became known for sexual peccadilloes involving fellow officer’s wives and the officers themselves. She is also said to have fought a duel over a woman in 1819.
It is all the more remarkable that Barry held the disguise of being a man for more than 50 years, as she would have maintained a smooth face when abroad while colleagues would have typically grown facial hair.
Barry was described as being 5ft tall, with a pale face, high cheekbones, sandy curls - dyed red in later life - a long nose and blue eyes. Her hands were small and delicate. Many of her acquaintances later reported that they had suspicions about her true sex, some believing her to be a hermaphrodite.
While in Trinidad, Barry contracted yellow fever and it is believed that her sex was discovered as a result. However, reports suggest that she managed to persuaded the doctor who made the discovery not to unveil her secret.
While it is now clear that Barry was the first woman doctor in the UK, the first recognised female doctor was Elizabeth Garrett, who began her employment in 1870.
This article:
http://news.scotsman.com/movies.cfm?id=1474872004
The Scotsman
Thu 30 Dec 2004
Actress Rachel Weisz will play the Scottish doctor Picture: PA James Miranda Barry hid her real identity until her death
Hollywood to tell story of first female doctor
MICHAEL BLACKLEY
HOLLYWOOD actress Rachel Weisz is to star in a new film that tells the extraordinary story of a Scottish woman who disguised herself as a man to become the first female doctor in the western world.
The historical drama Barry follows the life of James Miranda Barry, who hid her true identity in order to enrol at Edinburgh University’s medical school. Barry served with distinction in the Colonial Service and retired as inspector general of hospitals, one of the most senior medical posts in the army.
It was only after her death at the age of 70 that it was discovered Barry was actually a woman, and had even given birth at some stage of her life.
The American-financed film, directed by Marleen Gorris and written by Malcolm Kohll, will begin shooting in 2005. Sean Bean, Sean Pertwee and Janet Suzman will co-star and it will be shot on location in Britain and South America.
Weisz, 33, has become Britain’s busiest female star in Hollywood, with four films due for release or in production next year. She has worked with many of the industry’s leading men, including Jude Law in Enemy at the Gates and Hugh Grant in About A Boy.
Born in 1795, Barry entered the medical school of Edinburgh University at the age of ten and graduated in 1812. While she was pushed towards the medical profession at a young age, it would have been impossible for her to succeed in the profession if the fact she was female was known.
A surgeon in the Colonial Service, Barry was stationed in countries including South Africa, Canada and Mauritius and also served in the Crimean War. It is believed that she gained a reputation for having a flirtatious manner, and became known for sexual peccadilloes involving fellow officer’s wives and the officers themselves. She is also said to have fought a duel over a woman in 1819.
It is all the more remarkable that Barry held the disguise of being a man for more than 50 years, as she would have maintained a smooth face when abroad while colleagues would have typically grown facial hair.
Barry was described as being 5ft tall, with a pale face, high cheekbones, sandy curls - dyed red in later life - a long nose and blue eyes. Her hands were small and delicate. Many of her acquaintances later reported that they had suspicions about her true sex, some believing her to be a hermaphrodite.
While in Trinidad, Barry contracted yellow fever and it is believed that her sex was discovered as a result. However, reports suggest that she managed to persuaded the doctor who made the discovery not to unveil her secret.
While it is now clear that Barry was the first woman doctor in the UK, the first recognised female doctor was Elizabeth Garrett, who began her employment in 1870.
This article:
http://news.scotsman.com/movies.cfm?id=1474872004