Emma Corrin has explained why they adopted gender neutral pronouns, revealing that being referred to as 'she' by strangers on a film set felt 'so weird and uncomfortable'. The 26-year-old actor, known for playing Princess Diana in The Crown, changed their pronouns to 'she/them' on Instagram last year before switching to 'they/them'.
In an interview with the Guardian, Corrin said they were working on a film in the US away from people who know them when they realised the discomfort. They also reflected on coming to terms with their gender identity and how society made them feel. Corrin dropped out of Bristol University due to struggles with their identity before making a fresh start at Cambridge.
Corrin praised their younger brother, who is bisexual, for creating a 'safe space' with his friends. When Corrin started dating a woman for the first time, their brother messaged them on Instagram saying, 'Hey, welcome. I've been out for years.' Corrin described their brother as 'everything all at once'—wearing make-up and heels and being open about his sexuality.
Speaking to the Sunday Times, Corrin said they feel 'more comfortable' than they have in a long time after identifying as non-binary. They also noted that their parents have been very supportive. Corrin added that they don't feel gender is 'fixed' and may always experience some fluidity.
Corrin is currently starring on stage as Orlando in the adaptation of Virginia Woolf's book at the Garrick Theatre. They admitted there are voices in their head warning about the hypothetical consequences of being open about their identity, but concluded they would 'much rather be boldly myself and comfortable than not'.
