Is it permissible for a cinema or theater actor to pretend to be other people in their speech or actions? Is the same ruling applied to those who speak in cartoons in the name of toys or animals?

Answer:

In regards to cinema and theater actors, they pretend to be other people and speak the speech of the other people that they are representing, so the speech of the other person passes the lips of the actor and this leads to lying. Even if it was required for him to swear in the name of the other person he would, and on top of that a proclamation of divorce passes his lips if the other person was divorcing… and all this is haram because lying is haram, and a person is held to account on his oaths and proclamations of divorce and all his speech, and it is not said that he was acting like someone else, instead he will be held accountable for what he proclaims by free will…

مَا يَلْفِظُ مِنْ قَوْلٍ إِلَّا لَدَيْهِ رَقِيبٌ عَتِيدٌ

“Man does not utter any word except that with him is an observer prepared [to record].”

As for in cartoons for children, the actor is speaking in the name of toys or animals or such things for children, and I see that there is nothing in this and it is mubah, because the actor is not speaking the speech of who he is representing, instead he is speaking in the name of toys and animals for children. It is clear that toys and animals do not speak, so lying cannot be applied here, instead it is a pastime for children like the pastime of playing.

18 Ramadan 1434 AH

27/07/2013 CE