Sev Angai
- Actor
Breaking into acting as a transgender male has given me a newfound purpose within the industry. Before beginning my transition, it was all about my passion for the craft: going to as many auditions as I could, honing my skills at home via books and online courses and trying and failing to understand why I couldn't dig deeper and reconcile my learned skills with my vigorous love for acting. It wasn't until a casting agent informed me of my inauthenticity - that there was something 'lacking' despite my obvious enthusiasm - that I realized I had to come out.
As soon as I accepted my identity as a trans man, my confidence and acting ability went up by leagues. Not because I was suddenly 'better'. Not because I'd learned anything new. But because I was allowing myself to be authentic in my body, my voice and my identity. Understanding complex characters is a thrill now, instead of a daunting task, and I feel that when I step into the audition room I'm not holding back. I'm not hiding anything.
The opportunities for people like me are lacking, though. My activity in the acting industry is now about so much more than just myself, but representing the transgender community and proving that we can play any role. We are not limited to figure-heading the LGBT+ community in the same roles over and over again. We do not have to settle for just playing trans or queer roles because we are queer actors. We have so much more to give as people and as actors. Of course, I want there to be more trans roles for trans actors. But I also want it to be known that we can play cis roles too.
As soon as I accepted my identity as a trans man, my confidence and acting ability went up by leagues. Not because I was suddenly 'better'. Not because I'd learned anything new. But because I was allowing myself to be authentic in my body, my voice and my identity. Understanding complex characters is a thrill now, instead of a daunting task, and I feel that when I step into the audition room I'm not holding back. I'm not hiding anything.
The opportunities for people like me are lacking, though. My activity in the acting industry is now about so much more than just myself, but representing the transgender community and proving that we can play any role. We are not limited to figure-heading the LGBT+ community in the same roles over and over again. We do not have to settle for just playing trans or queer roles because we are queer actors. We have so much more to give as people and as actors. Of course, I want there to be more trans roles for trans actors. But I also want it to be known that we can play cis roles too.