Drama
United States of America
The movie "J.T. LeRoy" is based on the true story of Savannah Knoop, who poses as the literary sensation JT Leroy. Leroy is actually not a person, but a fictional persona created by Knoop's sister-in-law, Laura Albert, who is also a writer. In the late 1990s and early 2000s, Leroy gained fame and critical acclaim for his semi-autobiographical works about a young boy from the South who was forced to work as a prostitute.
Despite Leroy's cult-like following and numerous public appearances, no one had ever seen or met him in person. This prompted suspicion and accusations of fraud, which ultimately led Knoop to become the public face of Leroy. Knoop dressed as Leroy, spoke in his voice, and even wore a prosthetic penis to maintain the illusion of a transgender writer.
Throughout the six-year ruse, Knoop struggled with her identity and the pressure of maintaining the deception. The film explores the complicated relationships between Knoop, Albert, and the literary world, as well as the conception and consequences of a literary hoax. "J.T. LeRoy" stars Kristen Stewart as Knoop and Laura Dern as Albert.
