Madam, - Philip Hensher makes a good point about the absurd basis for many an Oscar (The Irish Times, December 1st). However, his central point - that actors should have the characteristics of the parts they play - is itself questionable.
Under this kind of logic, gays would be played by gay actors, plumbers could only be played by people who could actually do some plumbing, and Hamlet would have to be played by an actual Danish prince. It ignores the central fact of what actors do: they pretend to be other people.
While Hensher laments the invisibility of gay actors in Hollywood he forgets the great performances given by actors who, it is now accepted, were homosexual.
Here I offer a toast to Rock Hudson, who for 30 years managed to convince the public that he was madly in love with women. Now that's what I call great acting. - Yours, etc,
PAUL BUTLER, Neagh Road, Terenure, Dublin 6w.