TRACE LYSETTE

My body has carried me a long way and has had many evolutions. I honor it, flaws and all.

How will I become Meryl Streep if I can't even get in the door with Jennifer Lawrence for the same role? I think that it starts with casting directors and executives and studio heads opening up their minds, and really putting an effort into being trans inclusive in their projects, whether they're trans-specific or not.

I think I had something to prove to myself, that I could book a cis role and then if I did come out one day and start auditioning for trans roles, I could say, 'Look, I've already worked in a cis role.'

I always found when I was most focused, that's when I did the best financially.

Trans women are women, we're just a different type of women.

I got to choreograph a halftime dance with the cheerleading squad, which was all-female, at my high school. And I was the only boy, at the time. We did this whole routine to 'Maria Maria' by Santana, and 'Thong Song' by Sisqo - it was a mix.

Growing up, I never saw images of trans people succeeding.

You wish that everyone knew what cisgender meant. Everyone has access to Google. You can find out what's appropriate to ask a trans person.

My own experience of dating cis-hetero men has really been a challenge, because of the stigma they have to endure for attempting to love us.

How often do we get to see trans people interacting with each other onscreen? We have friends. Hello? We're people. We're not just this isolated unit all the time. I would like to see us carry a project.

I think that a lot of times people don't understand the bravery that's involved with the Me Too movement.

Oftentimes, I feel like, because of my cisnormative look or my aesthetics, that sometimes my talent might get overlooked.

Now that I'm out there and it's known that I'm trans, I think that sometimes might hinder my opportunity in snagging a big cis role.

It's not fun for an actor to be pigeonholed in any way.

Trans talent is not even making it into the audition room, and we're not even being afforded the opportunity to tell our own stories. I feel that is problematic.

I'm loving the fact that Hollywood is telling trans stories.

It's tough advocating for trans visibility and not being pigeonholed as just a trans actress.

Transparent' does a good job of pushing the envelope in a real way, not in a sensational or salacious way.

Trans women should be accepted and celebrated, whether they look a little bit more on the masculine side of the spectrum or they're the femme of all fems.

There are only so many 'series regular' trans roles on TV.

Trans women, and women in general, have so many constraints placed on our bodies. As women, we are told not to show our bodies, and as trans people, we've been told not to exist.

I lived what we call 'stealth' for a number of years. Even when I started acting in the industry, I didn't disclose. I didn't come out. My first job on 'Law & Order' was not a trans role.

As much of a privilege as it is to pass, it's painful. You have to compartmentalize your life. That's awkward. Dating can be horrible.

I'm not going to compromise and settle for what I feel is less than I deserve or less than anyone deserves.

I'm not getting into rooms for cis roles. I started my career auditioning for those roles, and then I went to play trans roles. And now, I feel boxed in.