by Nathaniel R
Jamie Clayton of Sense8 fame photographed by Austin Hargrave
Since today is Trans Day of Visibility let's gaze at some trans actors. There's been an explosion of visibility for the community in the past ten years or so in showbusiness both in front of cameras and behind them. When we were growing up there were only a few out gay and lesbian celebrities but virtually no trans celebrities and now there are hundreds of queer actors working including trans actors. Even a couple of househould names. Let's be grateful for progress even in a world filled with many injustices and still rampant discrimination of the LGBTQ+ community.
After the jump a dozen semi-randomly selected trans actors (so don't say we missed someone. We're happy to report that there are many we missed but we're on a deadline)...
Daniela Vega A Fantastic Woman, Tales of the City. up next: A series regular role on Amazon Prime's supernatural teenage girls show The Power and an unknown role in the movie Futura from Italian director Lamberto Sanfelice which is in post production.
Candis Cayne photographed by Charles Baker StrahanCandis Cayne Wigstock, Dirty Sexy Money, The Magicians. Up next: ?
Alexandra Grey
Alexandra Grey Empire, The Alienist, Chicago Med. up next: The Mistress, a horror film with John Magaro
Elliot Page photographed for Time by Wynne Neilly
Oscar nominee Elliot Page Juno, Whip It, Flatliners. Up next: The movie Robodog and another season of Umbrella Academy
Indya Moore photographed by Adrienne RaquelIndya Moore Queen & Slim, Pose, Saturday Church. Up next: the horror sequel Escape Room 2 and the third season of Pose
Emmy winner Eddie Izzard Eddie Izzard: Dress to Kill, The Riches, Oceans Thirteen, Velvet Goldmine, Across the Universe, The High Note. Up next: appearances in two upcoming shows Langdon and and the crime drama Stay Close
photographed by Carter Smith for Watch magazine
Emmy nominee Laverne Cox Promising Young Woman, Grandma, Orange is the New Black, Bad Hair. Up next: She's completed filming on two new films, playing a detective alongside Stanley Tucci and Jai Courtney in the action film Jolt and she's part of the ensemble in the comedy Senior Entourage starring Ed Asner and Marion Ross
Angelica Ross photographed by Chris Barker for Self magazine
Angelica Ross Claws, Music, one season of American Horror Story, and two seasons of Pose. Up next: Another season of American Horror Story.
Elliot Fletcher photographed by Amos Mac for Candy magazine
Elliot Fletcher Shameless, The Fosters. Up next: He's in 8 episodes of the new Amazon Prime show Tell Me Your Secrets starring Lily Rabe
Carlie Guevara
Carlie Guevera The Garden Left Behind. Up next: Nothing we know of but maybe once people catch up with her charismatic leading work in The Garden Left Behind, still a mostly undiscovered gem, more roles will follow.
Trace Lysette
Trace Lysette Transparent, Blunt Talk, Hustlers. Up next: A supporting role in the romantic drama Venus as a Boy, which has already filmed. Then, hopefully something called Monica a drama about a trans woman caring for her dying mother. Anna Paquin, Patricia Clarkson, Adriana Barraza are supposedly in it too so let's hope it actually films.
Alex Blue Davis
Alex Blue Davis Three seasons of Grey's Anatomy. Up next: ???
MJ Rodriguez photographed by Sean Black
MJ Rodriguez Adam, Saturday Church, and two seasons of Pose. Up next: The third season of Pose hits this summer.
Hunter Schafer by Shiseido
Hunter Schafer She just broke out in Euphoria pre-pandemic. Up next: More Euphoria and then...?
So far most of the breakout work done by trans actors has been on television but we're hoping the movies will get more adventurous in this way since you know Hollywood likes movies about the trans experience. They just have only ever liked them with cisgendered actors in the roles (to date).