Laverne Cox
Actress/Advocate
Biography
Emmy-nominated actress and LGBTQ+ advocate best known for playing Sophia Burset in 'Orange Is the New Black'. First openly transgender person nominated for a Primetime Emmy in an acting category.
Follow-up Statement
"Cox expressed deep concern as a trans public figure: 'I don't want to be in too much fear, but I'm scared... I feel like I could be targeted.' She is particularly worried about trans youth and compared the current climate to 'Weimar Germany.' No confirmed move yet, but actively researching options."
Departure Details
After Trump's 2024 victory, Cox said she cried and is considering leaving the US. On the 'Just for Variety' podcast, she revealed: 'We're doing research on different cities in Europe and in the Caribbean' with trans friends who are also worried.
Quick Facts
Career Highlights
- First transgender person nominated for a Primetime Emmy Award in an acting category (2014)
- Won Daytime Emmy as Executive Producer for 'Laverne Cox Presents: The T Word' (2015)
- First transgender person on the cover of Time magazine (2014)
- First transgender person to have a wax figure at Madame Tussauds (2015)
- First transgender person to play a transgender series regular on broadcast TV (Doubt, CBS, 2017)
- Won two SAG Awards with Orange Is the New Black cast
- Received Honorary Doctorate from The New School for gender equality advocacy (2016)
Did You Know?
Her identical twin brother M Lamar played her character before transition in flashback scenes on Orange Is the New Black.
She was bullied as a child for not acting masculine enough and attended Alabama School of Fine Arts in Birmingham.
She started her performing career with a dance scholarship at Indiana University Bloomington before transferring to Marymount Manhattan College.
In 2014, she topped The Guardian's World Pride Power List as the world's most influential LGBTQ person.
Departure Threats Timeline
On Variety's 'Just for Variety' podcast, Cox said she cried when Trump won and is considering leaving: 'We're doing research on different cities in Europe and in the Caribbean.' She explained: 'I don't want to be in too much fear, but I'm scared. As a public figure, with all my privilege, I'm scared, and I'm particularly scared because I'm a public figure. I feel like I could be targeted.' She also revealed plans to 'hoard a bunch of estrogen' in case hormone treatments become inaccessible.