IN CONVERSATION WITH LAVERNE COX
interview by JANA LETONJA
Four-time Emmy-nominated actress, Emmy winning producer and a prominent equal rights advocate and public speaker Laverne Cox continues to expand her presence on both the big and small screens with diverse and groundbreaking roles. Next up, Laverne will star in the Amazon Prime Video comedy ‘Clean Slate’, premiering on 7th February.
Laverne, you’re about to star in the Amazon Prime series ‘Clean Slate’. Can you share more about your role as Desiree and how this character differs from others you’ve played?
I love this project, it has been 7 years in the making. I co-created this show with the writer Dan Ewen and it's the first scripted show I've had a hand in developing. Desiree is a woman who returns to her hometown after 23 years. She left at 17 because it wasn't safe for her to fully be herself. She's living this life in New York, and in therapy she realizes she's been in relationships with all of these unavailable men, but the first unavailable man in her life was her dad. So she has to go back to fix that. Plus she's broke.
This story is about a fathers’ unconditional love for his daughter, the families you're born into and the ones you choose. And it's hilarious. Playing a character like Desiree is different because she's the closest to me. She was inspired by many elements of me and the storylines are pulled often from my own life, some of which was actually triggering, but in spite of that really leaning into the comedy aspect, working opposite George Wallace, being a lead in a comedy, being grounded in the truth, and finding comedy in that authenticity.
shawl ANNAKIKI
dress KRISTINA KHARLASHKINA
What drew you to the role of Desiree in ‘Clean Slate’, and how does it feel to portray a character that has such a profound impact on family dynamics and identity?
When we were constructing what this show would be and who Desiree is, a lot is about the way she's lived in Alabama and then in New York. She's very into her therapy work, breathing techniques, etc., and it's very different from the way she was raised. Exploring the intergenerational differences, finding a way for these two very different people to live together as a father/daughter odd couple. And seeing the ways they end up doing the healing work together and make it comedy.
top KWK BY KAY KWOK
skirt DAVID KOMA
bracelets LAUREL DEWITT
ear cuff COOLSITAS
The show touches on themes of self-discovery and family. How do you think ‘Clean Slate’ will resonate with audiences, especially those who may identify with Desiree’s journey?
Family has a profound effect on us, whether we feel connected to them or not. Many times in marginalized communities, we have a chosen family when the families we were born into dont quite fit. In ‘Clean Slate’, Desiree has the family that she was born into with Harry, but Lewis is her chosen family. Harry has made his chosen family with Mac and Opal. There are so many ways to do family and community even when there's differing backgrounds. We can always find ways to connect and be there for each other. It's not always asked for, it's not always right, but it's out of love.
In addition to starring on the series, you’re also an executive producer on it. What has the experience been like behind the scenes in a role as a producer?
It was a lot of work having a vision, but having to negotiate on things. It was a constant negotiation with all kinds of things. We got a lot of what we wanted, but we had to be flexible figuring out how to make it work in budget, keep the studio and network happy, and foster a positive working experience for everyone involved. I’m so pleased, happy and proud that people we worked with felt they could be their full self when they came to work on this show. They didn’t have to compartmentalize, they felt supported. It was wonderful to create a supportive, be your best self environment, so people could be as creative as possible.
collar and cape GELAREH DESIGNS
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How does working on a project like ‘Clean Slate’, which features such a diverse perspective, contribute to your ongoing mission of advocating for the rights of transgender individuals?
I just rewatched back to back, and I’m aware Desiree is trans, but there’s so much going on that you forget she’s trans. There’s so many other interesting things, her humanity, her flaws. So much is a universal human experience. As a viewer, you can connect with her struggles and circumstances. I think it makes it possible for people who might have never knowingly met a trans person in their life to see other trans person on screen, have that human connection to Desiree’s story, and that further humanizes trans people for them, to find ways to connect even when you have different life experiences, finding things in common, finding humanity in Desiree and being inspired to find humanity in other trans people.
Your role in ‘Orange Is the New Black’ was a breakthrough moment in television, not only for your career but for representation of transgender characters. How did that experience shape your approach to future roles?
I don’t want to keep playing Sophia over and over again. As an actor for hire, I had no hand in storylines on ‘Orange Is The New Black’. On ‘Clean Slate’, I got to have more influence on what the story may or may not be, taking the experience of professionalism I learned working on ‘Orange Is The New Black’ and what I did with that and finding other aspects of my personality and experience. This approach is different, the material is different, but all this love that still exists for OITNB years after it’s first season is amazing. What a success. I couldn’t fully appreciate it in the moment, but it was a huge show that so many watched and are still watching. It was a huge blessing that I’m forever grateful for.
dress ANNAKIKI
corset AMPLITUDA DESIGN
ear cuff worn as a ring ANCIENT FUTURE
hat GRAHAM CRUZ
dress ASHER LEVINE
earrings ALEXIS BITTAR and ANCIENT FUTURE
bracelets and rings LAUREL DEWITT
Looking back on your time playing Sophia Burset, what do you think the impact of that character has been in terms of visibility for transgender people in mainstream media?
For a few years there, was a lot more trans people on TV, social media, etc. But for the past 4 years, there’s been a backlash in visibility. We are in the midst of a bad backlash, probably the worst I’ve seen in my life. A regressive backlash is happening and it’s troubling, scary, and in moments like this, we have to remember we’re only 4 % of the population so allies and accomplices have to stand up with us. The people with power and access need to help us allow having more trans people at the center, telling these stories. We need them to be here for us and be about it. Storytelling needs this authenticity to combat this backlash against trans rights and our right to existing in public.
Being the first openly transgender actress to be nominated for a Primetime Emmy was a monumental moment in television history. How did you navigate the pressures and responsibilities that came with such a groundbreaking achievement?
What’s funny for me at this time, I've had 4 nominations and lost 4. And I was disappointed, but relieved, because OMG if I win, I’ll be the first and I was so overwhelmed. I couldn't imagine giving an eloquent historical speech. The pressure of making a good speech. I’m most proud of not being the last trans person nominated. Since 2014, there've been other trans people nominated. Not enough, but you cant’ be nominated for something that doesn’t exist.
I’m focusing on self-care, navigating finding ways to recover so that my cup is full. You cannot pour from an empty cup, so I have to fill up my cup and the overflow is for others. Finding downtime and recovery time, taking moments to rest, therapy, finding things that rebuild resilience in my nervous system, saying no, blocking out noise, evolving, being of service, healthy boundaries. It’s never about me, it’s bigger than me.
dress LIBRA BY EMILIA SIANO
cap AMBORY
ring CRISTINA SABATINI
handbag ASHER LEVINE
With your platform, you’ve been able to shine a light on important issues facing the transgender community, particularly in film and television. What projects or initiatives are you most excited about moving forward?
I’m excited about being an artist, telling stories that foster empathy. There is currently an organized, coordinated, well funded campaign to dehumanize trans folks in the political sphere and in society. Telling stories that humanize is the best privilege. There’s organizations like the Campaign for Southern Equality helping trans people travel for gender affirming care or relocate if they need to because trans identity is criminalized in so many ways in so many states. There’s quite a few initiatives to help trans people to survive. The Trans Law Center is doing some good work as well.
You’ve been open about mental health and its importance. How do you take care of your own well-being amidst the pressures of such a high-profile career?
I’m very committed to therapy every week, sometimes more if i need. It’s always a priority. I have to be healed. What is beautiful is when I can grow and evolve, and doing that, I can share how I recover from trauma and build trauma and shame resilience. I work every day throughout the day on slowing down to breathe and meditate. There are so many different approaches to mental health care, learning about things like attachment style, childhood and family dynamics, how that effect is, looking at things through a shame lens, trauma lens, the body, nervous system connection, awareness of the body and brain. Learning the vocabulary of different approaches is so important. Leaning in to consciousness, always in a gentle practice with that awareness knowing I can self regulate. I am in control. When I don’t have control on what's going on, knowing that if I’m triggered, the trauma from the past feels like it’s happening right now. If I'm spinning out, reminding myself that using the tools I practice daily will help. I finally this week started doing something my therapist recommended, writing down my values. Who I am, how I want to proceed living those values, how I want to be with the world and myself being clear, so I can practice, live and reflect those values.
dress ALON LIVNE
ear cuff HOUSE OF MALAKI
earrings JULIEN RIAD SAHYOUN
ring STATE PROPERTY
What can you share with us about your other upcoming projects?
I’m so excited for the new documentary by Sam Feder, ‘Heightened Scrutiny’. The film will be premiering at Sundance. It follows Chase Strangio, the first openly trans person, arguing at the Supreme Court. He is fighting for a case surrounding gender affirming care that is crucial for young folks. The decision is coming in June. It shows Chase preparing to go before the court, what his life is like, and overall the media environment that fostered this moment we are in. There’s a lot of info on how we got here. It formally invites me as a viewer to think how we frame our heroes, how we really know someone. Chase is complicated, he has boundaries, and having them respected is crucial. I’ve learned so much more watching, and I've been friends with Chase for a while. It was interesting though analyzing how we overshare and exploit. ‘Heightened Scrutiny’ resists that, through Chase exploring boundaries, privacy, what we share, how we share. Everyone needs to see it. It’s exciting, a new understanding of how we got to this moment. The film premieres on 27th January streams on the Sundance website for 5 days after.
TEAM CREDITS:
talent LAVERNE COX
photography and creative direction SEQUOIA EMMANUELLE
styling LISA SMITH CRAIG at We Merge Network
hair KIYAH WRIGHT
makeup TAY RIVERA
dit MARIANGELA QUIROGA-CANTILLO
production design ALICIA ANGELES
hair assistant JOSE CORTEZ
styling assistants ESSENCE CARSON and NIQUITA TAMAR
production design assistants HANNA NORDEEN and SASHA HARALAMBOUS
studio F16 DREAM STUDIOS
editor TIMOTEJ LETONJA
editorial direction and interview JANA LETONJA
cover design ARTHUR ROELOFFZEN