17 Trans Actors Who Got Cast In Major Roles Before Ever Coming Out Publicly

As a film critic, I’ve always been fascinated by the hidden lives of stars. It’s remarkable how many actors built incredibly successful careers – landing roles in huge TV shows and movies – while keeping a significant part of themselves private. These performers weren’t just playing characters on screen; they were navigating the complexities of their own identities behind the scenes. Their eventual decisions to share their true selves have been incredibly powerful, not only for their own lives, but also for increasing visibility and representation for transgender and non-binary people. What I’ve put together here is a look at some of those actors who truly shone professionally before the world knew their full story.

Elliot Page

Elliot Page first gained widespread recognition for his role in the film ‘Juno,’ where he played a teenage girl dealing with a pregnancy. He went on to appear in popular movies like ‘Inception’ and several ‘X-Men’ films. He began working on ‘The Umbrella Academy’ before publicly coming out as transgender in late 2020. Since then, Elliot has become a prominent voice for the transgender community in Hollywood and a strong advocate for LGBTQ+ rights.

Tommy Dorfman

Tommy Dorfman became well-known for playing Ryan Shaver in the popular Netflix show ’13 Reasons Why’. She had been working as an actor for several years when, in 2021, she came out as a transgender woman. Dorfman shared that she had been undergoing medical transition privately for a year beforehand. She continues to thrive in her career, taking on directing and acting roles that celebrate who she is.

Emma Corrin

Emma Corrin won praise and a Golden Globe for their performance as Princess Diana in season four of ‘The Crown’. Since becoming a well-known actor, they’ve shared their personal journey with gender identity and updated their pronouns. Corrin has openly discussed their experience with gender fluidity and navigating this process publicly. They consistently choose roles in film and theater that break away from typical casting expectations.

Bella Ramsey

Bella Ramsey first gained recognition for their strong performance as Lyanna Mormont in ‘Game of Thrones’ when they were very young. More recently, they starred in the adaptation of ‘The Last of Us’ while also openly sharing their journey with gender identity. Ramsey identifies as non-binary and has said they are comfortable with any pronouns. They see their gender identity as just one aspect of their work as an actor.

Janelle Monáe

Janelle Monáe has become a well-known figure in both music and film, with memorable performances in movies like ‘Moonlight’ and ‘Hidden Figures’. After achieving success in the entertainment world, Monáe publicly shared that they identify as non-binary, explaining they feel connected to both masculine and feminine energies and exist outside traditional gender categories. This personal revelation further enriched their already unique and forward-thinking artistic image, which often blurs gender lines.

Sara Ramirez

Sara Ramirez is well-known for playing Dr. Callie Torres on ‘Grey’s Anatomy’ for more than ten years. After leaving the show, they publicly came out as non-binary in 2020. Now, Ramirez plays Che Diaz in ‘And Just Like That,’ a role that reflects their own identity, and is increasing visibility for non-binary people on television.

Ezra Miller

Ezra Miller gained recognition for powerful acting in films like ‘We Need to Talk About Kevin’ and ‘The Perks of Being a Wallflower’. After being cast as The Flash, they publicly came out as queer and later identified as non-binary, using they/them pronouns. They’ve become known for rejecting traditional gender expectations and have taken on significant roles in popular franchises like the DC Universe and the ‘Fantastic Beasts’ series.

Amandla Stenberg

Amandla Stenberg became well-known for their role as Rue in ‘The Hunger Games’. Since then, they’ve publicly identified as non-binary, using both she/her and they/them pronouns, and continued to star in prominent films. Stenberg frequently selects projects that showcase a variety of perspectives and address important social issues. They also use their public voice to talk about gender identity and why it’s crucial to see genuine representation in media.

Bex Taylor-Klaus

Bex Taylor-Klaus first became well-known for their work on the TV shows ‘The Killing’ and ‘Arrow’. In 2018, after building a successful career in acting, they publicly shared that they are non-binary. Taylor-Klaus explained that this allowed them to feel more genuine and comfortable in all aspects of their life, including their work. Since then, they’ve also voiced characters on ‘Voltron: Legendary Defender’ that reflect who they are.

Liv Hewson

Liv Hewson is known for their roles in popular series like the horror-comedy ‘Santa Clarita Diet’ and the survival drama ‘Yellowjackets’. Hewson, who identifies as non-binary, has openly advocated for more inclusive practices in the entertainment industry, particularly the creation of gender-neutral award categories, and consistently works to improve representation for non-binary performers.

Michael D. Cohen

Michael D. Cohen, known for his role as Schwoz Schwartz on the Nickelodeon show ‘Henry Danger’, publicly shared in 2019 that he had transitioned from female to male two decades earlier. He explained his decision to come out was to support the transgender community and demonstrate that transgender individuals can thrive in their careers and lives. Cohen continues to work in children’s television and is a strong advocate for greater transgender representation in media.

Brian Michael Smith

I’ve been following Brian Michael Smith’s career for a while now, and it’s really inspiring. He was quietly building a solid resume with appearances on shows like ‘Gossip Girl’ and ‘Blue Bloods,’ but it wasn’t until he landed a role as a cisgender cop on ‘Queen Sugar’ that he felt comfortable publicly sharing he’s a trans man. That took courage! It opened doors for him, and now he’s landing truly groundbreaking roles as a trans masculine character, like we see in ‘9-1-1: Lone Star.’ He’s not just an actor, though; he’s become a really important voice pushing for better trans representation in Hollywood, and it’s fantastic to see.

Quintessa Swindell

Quintessa Swindell first gained attention with a leading role in the Netflix series ‘Trinkets’. As a non-binary actor, they’ve spoken about the difficulties of finding their place in Hollywood while expressing their gender identity. Swindell’s career continued to rise with a role as Cyclone in the DC film ‘Black Adam’, showcasing the growing number of opportunities for non-binary actors in big action movies.

Demi Lovato

Demi Lovato started their career as a young performer on the children’s show ‘Barney & Friends’ and gained international fame with ‘Camp Rock’. In 2021, after a period of personal growth, the singer and actor publicly shared that they are non-binary, using she/they pronouns. Lovato expresses these experiences through their music and documentaries, and their openness has led to important discussions about gender identity and fluidity.

Jake Zyrus

Jake Zyrus first became famous worldwide as Charice Pempengco, performing on shows like ‘Glee’ and ‘The Oprah Winfrey Show’. After years of feeling uncomfortable with how others saw him, he publicly came out as a transgender man in 2017. He then changed his name and started a fresh, new phase in both his career and personal life. His journey was an important step forward for LGBTQ+ representation, not only in the Philippines but around the world.

Cara Delevingne

Cara Delevingne successfully moved from being a model to an actress, appearing in films like ‘Paper Towns’ and ‘Suicide Squad’. She’s openly discussed her gender identity, identifying as genderqueer or pansexual, and explains that her sense of gender isn’t fixed and changes day to day. She doesn’t like being labeled. Delevingne continues to star in prominent projects and is a vocal advocate within both the fashion and film worlds.

Mae Martin

Mae Martin is the creator and star of the series ‘Feel Good,’ a show inspired by their own life that explores themes of relationships and addiction. After the first season, Martin publicly shared that they are non-binary and use they/them pronouns. They often talk about their experiences with gender identity in their stand-up and writing, offering a thoughtful perspective on both gender and modern love.

2025-12-08 01:46