Alexandra Billings responds to Hunter Schafer rejecting trans roles

Transgender actresses who made history Transparent Star Alexandra Billings responded to a question about whether transgender actors should turn down transgender roles. EuphoriaHunter Schafer started doing it.

Earlier this year, Schafer played a cisgender teenager in Tillman Singer’s psychological horror film. Cuckoosaid she turned down “a ton of trans roles” simply because “I didn’t want to do them.”

Despite gaining fame as transgender teen Jules Vaughn in the dark drama EuphoriaSchafer said it was “humiliating” to continually be labeled a “transgender actress.”

“Going further and achieving great things for the ‘movement’ will be much more useful than just talking about it all the time,” she said.

She has since gone further, saying she doesn’t want to be labelled a “trans activist”.

Billings starred in the 2005 TV movie Transgender, becoming one of television’s first openly transgender characters. Romy and Michelle: The Beginning She said she wholeheartedly supports Schafer.

When asked if transgender representation in television and film has progressed to a point where transgender actresses should turn down transgender roles, Billings responded: Should But if there’s something within you in your personal journey or your artistic journey that says, ‘I don’t think this is a great idea,’ then don’t do it.”

Billings’ most notable role is in Amazon’s cult LGBTQ+ series. TransparentShe plays Davina, the best friend of the main character, Maura Pfefferman.

At the time, the role of Maura was played by cisgender male star Jeffrey Tambor, who left the show in 2018 following sexual harassment allegations against him. Tambor denied the allegations but acknowledged he has an angry personality and apologized to anyone he “made feel vulnerable.”

Billings made history in 2020 when she became the first transgender actress to play the role of Madame Morrible. Wicked.

Recently, he starred in the coming-of-age comedy-drama film. TutankhamunIn the film, she plays Malibu, a drag bar owner who tries to protect a closeted gay Egyptian teenager and stop her bar from being demolished, for which she was nominated for a Canadian Screen Award.

When it comes to acting, Billings’ personal belief, and message to Schafer, is clear: Only do things that bring you tangible joy.

“It’s okay if you don’t pay rent. Now, write this down: Don’t spend a second doing anything that doesn’t bring you joy. Ever.”

“If that doesn’t fulfill you — whether it’s volunteering, helping someone you cross the street, anonymously treating a stranger to lunch, eating a McRib (the McRib is back in November), or whatever it is — let it fill your heart with joy.

“If that’s not going to happen, then don’t.”

Tutankhamun Now streaming Prime Video In the UK Apple TV In Canada.

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