Laverne Cox Hails Orange Is The New Black For Changing Trans Narratives: 'Never Seen Anything…'
Laverne Cox thinks Orange Is the New Black has helped to change the 'narrative with and 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."
First Published:
July 27, 2025, 17:22 IST
Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Mint
28 minutes ago
- Mint
Aamir Khan's team breaks silence after 25 IPS officers visit actor's home
Bollywood actor Aamir Khan hit headlines when a bus filled with IPS officers reached his house in Mumbai. Visuals from outside his house surfaced online, leaving netizens wondering all sorts of things. While rumours suggested the visit was related to a top-secret film project, others guessed it had something to do with his luxury cars. Reacting to all speculations for once and all, Aamir's team revealed the real reason behind the visit. A spokesperson from Aamir Khan's team was quoted by News18, 'The IPS trainees of the current batch had requested a meeting with him, and Aamir Khan hosted them at his residence." This isn't the first time Aamir Khan has met with civil service aspirants. After his 1999 hit film Sarfarosh, which he played an ideal and honest IPS officer, it is said that he became a role model for many police trainees. Over the years, he's continued to meet officers from different batches, sharing stories from his film career and having meaningful conversations about patriotism, public service, and building a better nation. Meanwhile, Aamir Khan is flying high in the success of his latest release, Sitaare Zameen Par. Directed by RS Prasanna, it also stars Genelia D'Souza. The film earned ₹ 165 crore nett at the box office in India in its first month since release. Aamir will soon be leaving for Australia, where he will be attending the 2025 Indian Film Festival of Melbourne (IFFM) as the Chief Guest. The event will be held from August 14 to 24. The festival will feature a retrospective celebrating Aamir Khan's remarkable journey in Indian cinema, with a special focus on his upcoming film Sitaare Zameen Par. 'I'm humbled and excited to be a part of the Melbourne Indian Film Festival. It's a festival that truly honours the spirit of Indian cinema in all of its diversity and riches. With Sitaare Zameen Par, we attempted to tell a story that embraces inclusivity and neurodivergence with sensitivity and heart, and I'm grateful that the film has touched so many people. I am eager to share my journey with Melbourne and shed light on the stories that matter," Aamir said in a statement. On the film front, Aamir will be next seen in Rajinikanth's upcoming Coolie. The film is directed by Lokesh Kanagaraj. He will be seen in Rajkumar Hirani's next on Dadasaheb Phalke, the father of Indian cinema.
Hindustan Times
34 minutes ago
- Hindustan Times
Thammudu OTT release: When and where to watch Nithiin, Laya's family drama
Thammudu OTT release: Venu Sriram's family drama Thammudu, starring Nithiin and Laya in lead roles, was released in theatres on 4 July. The family drama, which explores the bond between siblings, received lukewarm reviews and subpar box office numbers upon release. The film will now hit OTT after 28 days of release in theatres. Know when and where to watch. Thammudu OTT release: Nithiin's latest film will be released on Netflix soon. Thammudu OTT release in August Netflix South India's official X (formerly Twitter) handle announced that Thammudu will be released on the OTT platform on 1 August. It will be available in the original Telugu language, along with Tamil, Malayalam, and Kannada. Making the announcement, Netflix wrote, 'Thana lakshyanni, akkani thirigi thevadaniki ee thammudu is on a mission! (This brother is on a mission to reach his goal and bring back his sister) Watch Thammudu on Netflix, out 1 August in Telugu, Tamil, Malayalam and Kannada. #ThammuduOnNetflix.' People who watched Thammudu in theatres cracked jokes about how it needn't be watched on OTT, while few others seemed excited about the release. One X user wrote, 'If you missed it in Theatre. Please miss it on Netflix too.' Another commented, 'August 1st – cancel your plans. Mee thammudu vachestunnadu! (Your brother is coming)' Many commented under the post wondering why the film wasn't being released in Hindi, writing, 'Hindi release?' One joked, 'If it's not released in Hindi some fans do dub in Hindi.' About Thammudu Thammudu stars Nithiin as Jai and Laya as his sister Kiranmayi. Sapthami Gowda and Varsha Bollamma also play lead roles in the film. Thammudu tells the story of a brother who goes to extreme lengths to safeguard his sister from harm. A deadly factory blast in Vizag claims several lives, and the owner, played by Saurabh Sachdeva, tries to pressure officials to ensure he isn't blamed for it. When Kiranmayi, an honest officer, finds herself being hunted, Jai steps in to save the day. According to Sacnilk, Thammudu collected ₹5.25 crore in India and ₹7.3 crore worldwide.
News18
35 minutes ago
- News18
Tabu To Play A Powerful Antagonist In Puri Jagannadh's Next
The project went on floor some days back and as per reports, a portion of the shooting would take place in Chennai. Tabu is set to appear alongside Vijay Sethupathi in Puri Jagannadh's forthcoming film. The movie is also being produced by the filmmaker under his banner Puri Connects. The project went on floor some days back and as per reports, a portion of the shooting would take place in Chennai, with the remainder being filmed on a specially constructed set in Hyderabad. Now, the latest report mentioned that Tabu would play a strong antagonist in the film. According to a report by Hindustan Times, Tabu plays a key role in the film and serves as the main antagonist. Puri Jagannadh is known for giving strong female roles in his films, and he does it again with Tabu in this untitled project. According to reports, the actress will take on a new look for this movie as well. This is not the first time Tabu will play a negative role in her career. She has previously played grey characters in films such as Maqbool and Andhadhun. Samyuktha Menon also plays the female lead in the untitled film. Some well-known Telugu actors will play significant roles in this film, which will be released across India. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Puri Connects (@puriconnects) Earlier, announcing that Tabu has been cast in the film, the production house shared a picture featuring the actress alongside Jagannadh and Charmme Kaur. The post read, 'She's electric. She's explosive . She's THE TABU. Team #PuriSethupathi Proudly Welcomes THE GEM OF INDIAN CINEMA, Actress @tabutiful on-board for a ROLE as DYNAMIC as her presence." Tabu, who most recently starred in Dune: Prophecy, will next appear in Priyadarshan's horror-comedy Bhooth Bangla. It also stars Akshay Kumar, Jisshu Sengupta and Wamiqa Gabbi, with music by Pritam. The film is likely to be released next year. On the other hand, her co-star Vijay appeared in three films last year. He was seen in Sriram Raghavan's Merry Christmas, which was also shot in Hindi and starred Katrina Kaif. He then appeared in Maharaja, directed by Nithilan Saminathan. Lastly, Viajay was seen in Vetrimaaran's Viduthalai Part 2, in which he starred alongside Manju Warrier. First Published: July 11, 2025, 18:24 IST Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
