Laverne Cox: We needed to change the narrative about trans people
The 53-year-old actress rose to prominence as Sophia Burset on Orange Is the New Black, becoming the first transgender person to be nominated for a Primetime Emmy Award in an acting category, and Laverne feels very proud of the hit Netflix show.
She told Extra: "When Orange happened, I was in such bliss because I just loved telling the story. I had never seen anything on TV like that before.
"I also knew that if I was going to have the mainstream career no other trans person has had … We needed to change the narrative with and about trans people."
Asked what has impressed her the most about her own life journey, Laverne replied: "That I'm still here … For me, it's about the lessons that I've learned."
Laverne previously argued that being a black transgender woman has limited her opportunities as an actress.
The Orange Is The New Black star believes she's been overlooked for certain roles because of her profile - but Laverne thinks the landscape is improving and she still considers herself to be "blessed".
She said: "Two years ago ... I was in the waiting room with actresses who were like, 'Oh my God, this is my fourth audition today.'
"And I was like, 'Oh, I've never auditioned that much.' There have never been that many parts as a black, openly transgender woman.
"Because I am who I am, there probably have been fewer opportunities for me to work. I feel like we've made the very most of what we have been given ... I feel very blessed now."
However, Laverne is now determined to make the most of her platform by campaigning for certain demographics to be better represented in Hollywood.
She explained: "Certainly there are fewer opportunities for someone like me being black and being trans and being a woman. In the face of that, it's not bad.
"The truth is I'm one of the lucky ones. The question for me becomes ... as I produce, how to bring other people along for the ride."
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Perth Now
an hour ago
- Perth Now
Pete Davidson is 'finally in a place' to become a dad
Pete Davidson is "finally in a place" to be "ready" to be a dad. The 31-year-old comedian and his 29-year-old model girlfriend Elsie Hewitt are expecting their first child together later in 2025, and the ex-Saturday Night Live cast member thinks now is the right time in his life to raise a child. Pete told the US TV show Extra: "I mean, it's the most exciting thing ever. I don't even really have words. "I'm just so excited about it, and I can't I just can't wait for it. And I just… I feel like I'm finally in a place where I'm ready for it." Asked if he is ready to become a dad, the comedian added: "I don't know. "I'm not a parent yet, but I feel like I'm the best I could be now, you know? I'm glad it's happening now, for sure.' Pete realised he can juggle both acting work and parenthood after seeing his The Pickup co-star Keke Palmer, 31, look after her two-year-old son Leo - who she has with her ex-partner Darius Jackson - on the set of the comedy-heist movie. He recalled: "What was cool is when we were doing The Pickup, Keke's baby was just born and she had him on set the whole time, and she would go into a take and then run over, you know, play with the baby, and it made me realise it's possible to co-exist in both worlds. You know? "I was really impressed with her… the way she was parenting on set." Pete thought it was "cool" to get parenting advice from his idol, acting legend Eddie Murphy, 64 - who has 10 children. He said: "He actually, his advice was the best. "He goes, 'I have no advice.' He goes, 'Because you can't really tell anybody how to raise their own kid. But it's going to change your life and you're going to love it, and I'll know you'll be good at it.' "So, I mean, that's a cool thing to get from your idol, you know?' And Pete said Elsie is doing well. He said: "She's good. She's a trouper. She's a strong woman… you know, she has endo[metriosis], so she's, you know, no stranger to pain. But she's smilin' all the time, keeping me smilin'. So, we're good.'
7NEWS
3 hours ago
- 7NEWS
Outback Wrangler Matt Wright pleads not guilty over fatal NT chopper crash
Outback Wrangler's Matt Wright has pleaded not guilty to attempting to pervert the course of justice more than three years after a fatal helicopter crash. The reality TV star was charged following the crash that killed co-star Chris 'Willow' Wilson in February 2022. Wearing a light blue shirt and blue jeans, Wright appeared calm when he fronted the Supreme Court in Darwin on Monday. He entered not guilty pleas for three counts of attempting to pervert the course of justice when he was arraigned, kissing his wife during an adjournment. The 2022 crash in remote West Arnhem Land killed Wilson, with pilot Sebastian Robinson also seriously injured. The trial is scheduled to begin on Wednesday and is expected to take four weeks. The trial will hear from about 25 witnesses. Wright rose to fame starring in National Geographic's Outback Wrangler and Netflix series Wild Croc Territory.
Perth Now
5 hours ago
- Perth Now
‘Not guilty': Update on Netflix croc wrangler
Celebrity crocodile wrangler Matt Wright has pleaded not guilty to the attempting to pervert the course of justice, three years after the death of co-star Chris Wilson. The Netflix formally entered pleas of not guilty at the Northern Territory Supreme Court in Darwin on Monday, with a trial set to get underway on Wednesday July 30. The charges relate to the fatal helicopter crash in remote western Arnhem Land in February 2022 which killed Mr Wilson, a close friend of Mr Wright. Celebrity crocodile wrangler Matt Wright has pleaded not guilty to the attempting to pervert the course of justice. NCA NewsWire/ Pema Tamang Pakhrin Credit: News Corp Australia Mr Wilson is alleged to have been suspended underneath the Robinson R44 helicopter on an 100-foot sling on a crocodile egg collecting mission at the time of the crash. The pilot, 28-year-old Sebastian Robinson, suffered permanent injuries as a result of the crash. The charges relate to the fatal helicopter crash in remote western Arnhem Land in February 2022 which killed co-star Chris Wilson. Credit: News Corp Australia Mr Wright has strenuously denied the allegations and will return to court on Wednesday. He was supported at court on Monday by his wife, Kaia Wright. Mr Wright is most well known for his role hosting National Geographic's Outback Wrangler, as well as the Netflix series Wild Croc Territory in 2022. More to come
