Authentic Voices, Authentic Stories: The Rise of Trans Actors in Television
The artists and shows bringing nuanced representation to audiences worldwide
In recent pop culture, the trans experience is on display on the small screen more than ever before through TV shows that highlight trans actors, the trans experience, or both. Trans actors and characters help viewers challenge harmful stereotypes, broaden public understanding of trans lives, and offer those fans that also identify with the trans experience an opportunity to feel seen. We’ve put together a list of shows that highlight not only the trans experience, but feature trans actors in order to tell fuller, more authentic stories. We would love to hear your favorites, especially if not listed here, in the comments!
Euphoria (HBO)
In the groundbreaking show about the teenage experience, Euphoria, trans actress Hunter Schafer stars as Jules Vaughn, a trans teen girl. In this raw and stylized exploration of youth, addiction, and identity, Schafer brings authenticity to the character, combating any preconceived notions or stereotypes about the trans experience. Jules is an emotionally layered, average teen dealing with love and heartbreak, who struggles to find comfort and safety in all aspects of her life. Whether it’s being loved for who she is to maintaining her mental health, her experiences are relatable. Schafer co-wrote an episode exploring Jules’ inner world, bringing her own experience to the character, and her overall presence on screen is a powerful milestone for trans representation in teen drama.
Pose (FX)
Led by the electrifying MJ Rodriguez (Michaela Jaé Rodriguez) as Blanca Evangelista, Pose is a groundbreaking show that centers on NYC’s 1980s-90s drag ball culture. A work of stunning historical fiction, it features the largest trans cast in TV history and highlights the real drag queens and trans women of color that were trailblazers of that time. In addition to Rodriguez, Pose features nonbinary actor Indya Moore, trans actress Angelica Ross, and trans actress Hailie Sahar–giving these artists leading roles rarely seen on mainstream TV. These performances bring depth, strength, and vulnerability to stories about family, survival, and joy.
Loot (Apple +)
Michaela Jaé Rodriguez, best known for her role as Blanca in Pose, brings a fresh dimension (and range) to Apple TV+’s comedy Loot, starring Maya Rudolph. The show is about a scorned millionaire who divorces her cheating husband, obtaining half of his fortune in the process. Rodriguez plays Sofia Salinas, a powerful and no-nonsense executive director of a nonprofit–not a totally far cry from house mother! But unlike her character in Pose, Sofia’s trans identity isn’t central to the plot—and that’s intentional. Rodriguez worked with the creators to allow her character’s gender to simply exist in the background, an employee who is trying to do good and also achieve professional milestones. Her performance marks a pivotal shift in representation, showing that trans women can lead in roles defined by their strengths, leadership, and humanity—without being confined to storylines about their personal gender.
Transparent (Amazon Prime Video)
Transparent is a trailblazing series that helped bring trans stories into mainstream TV and to a general audience. The lead character Maura is played by a cis male actor, Jeffrey Tambor, (and not without controversy), but the show features several trans actors in meaningful roles. Alexandra Billings, Trace Lysette, and Ian Harvie bring a mix of authenticity and depth to the narrative. All of these actors allow viewers to identify with the experience of being trans. The characters are nuanced rather than one-dimensional, and their portrayals contribute to a broader cultural conversation about gender, identity, and inclusion in Hollywood.
The L Word: Generation Q (Showtime)
The L Word: Generation Q reboot of the groundbreaking show from the early 2000s about the lesbian experience, The L Word. This reincarnation of the show features several trans and nonbinary actors, including Leo Sheng (Micah), Jamie Clayton (Tess), and Sophie Giannamore (Jordi), expanding the scope of LGBTQ+ representation from the original series. Micah is a trans man navigating relationships and career challenges with depth and realism; Tess, a trans woman whose storylines explore love, sobriety, and resilience. By centering trans characters and casting trans actors to portray them, the series moves toward a more inclusive and authentic portrayal of queer communities today.
The Umbrella Academy (Netflix)
The Umbrella Academy is a superhero dramedy based on a comic book series of the same name. Trans actor Elliot Page originally played Vanya Hargreeves, a quiet, emotionally complex violinist with dangerous, repressed powers. In Seasons 1 and 2, Vanya’s journey revolved around self-discovery, trauma, and control, culminating in pivotal moments that reshaped the fate of the world. After Elliot Page came out as transgender in 2020, the show’s creators worked with him to respectfully align his character with his identity. In Season 3, Vanya transitions to Viktor Hargreeves, the character sharing his truth with his siblings, who respond with love and acceptance. This care and dedication to handling the character’s transition as respectfully as the actor’s is as empathetic as it is authentic. This on-screen evolution allowed Page to continue the role authentically while modeling healthy trans representation. It also marked one of the first times a major superhero or sci-fi series integrated a real-life gender transition into its narrative without sensationalizing it.
Chucky (SYFY/USA Network)
The Chucky TV series brings meaningful trans representation to the horror genre through the character of Glen/Glenda, portrayed by nonbinary actor Lachlan Watson. The character is originally introduced in the 2004 film Seed of Chucky, and Glen/Glenda’s return in the series reimagines the character with greater depth and authenticity. Watson plays both Glen and Glenda—twins with distinct personalities—offering a nuanced portrayal of gender identity within a campy, chaotic horror setting. The show embraces queerness and trans identity without ridicule, continuing the franchise’s legacy of LGBTQ+ inclusion while updating it for a new generation.
Work in Progress (Showtime)
Work in Progress features thoughtful and affirming trans representation through the character of Chris, played by nonbinary actor Theo Germaine. Theo is the romantic interest of Abby, a queer woman struggling with depression. Rather than focusing solely on Chris’s gender identity, the show weaves it naturally into broader themes of love, vulnerability, and self-acceptance. The character offers thoughtful and humorous depictions of trans life, and by casting a trans actor in a trans role and giving them emotional depth and humor, Work in Progress offers a refreshing, human portrayal that avoids stereotypes and centers queer joy.
The Bold and the Beautiful (CBS)
The long running soap opera The Bold and the Beautiful made daytime TV history in 2015 by introducing Scott Turner Schofield, the first openly trans man to appear in a recurring role on a soap. Schofeld plays Nick—a supportive friend and mentor to Maya Avant (played by cis actress Karla Mosley), who is one of the first trans characters on the show. Schofield’s presence on-screen brings authenticity and compassion to Maya’s coming-out storyline, including officiating her wedding and providing frank conversations about trans identity. During filming, Schofield also served behind the scenes as a consultant, helping guide scripts and ensure respectful representation. (He also consulted on Euphoria.) To portray these stories and have this representation on a daytime soap opera helped shift public perceptions, and demonstrated the soap genre’s power to reach broad, often conservative audiences with meaningful LGBTQ+ stories.
Sense8 (Netflix)
In Sense8 actress Jamie Clayton offers groundbreaking trans representation through her portrayal of Nomi Marks, a trans woman identified as a hacker and activist–not defined by transition. The show doesn’t shy away from showing her past struggles, including family rejection and forced “conversion” treatment, rooted in creator Lana Wachowski’s own experiences . Sense8 marked a milestone in trans visibility on screen: a lead trans character in a sci‑fi ensemble, portrayed with authenticity, depth, and emotional power.
Survival of the Thickest (Netflix)
In Survival of the Thickest, a heartfelt and empowering trans representation comes through the character of Peppermint, who plays a fictionalized version of herself. Peppermint is an actress and drag queen from the New York City ball scene, but made a national name for herself on RuPaul’s Drag Race. In Season 2 of Survival of the Thickest, the show highlights a beautiful, public wedding for a Black trans woman—a first for a Netflix comedy. Peppermint’s storyline, which comedian, co-creator, and lead actress Michelle Buteau intentionally developed for the show, affirms that trans people deserve love and traditional expressions of it through typical, ceremonious celebrations. By highlighting this trans love story onscreen—with vows, performances, and community—the series challenges exclusionary traditions and sends a powerful message of dignity, joy, and visibility at a time when trans identities are under siege.
Want more? Our Discord is where you’ll find everything you need to know about our fandom-forward ecosystem at Remarkist! Don’t forget to follow us on Instagram, tumblr, and Spotify for more storyworld content—and hit that subscribe button so you never miss a thing at rmrk*st Mag!
