Professional FtM Actors?

[GentlemanRDP]

So, waaay back in middle school and high school, I was a rampant drama nerd. Mind you, I wasn't very good, but I loved being on stage, even though it scared the bejesus out of me. I've now come to the realization that I want to try my hand at acting again, I'm considering taking a beginning theater class, and have even been looking at my local community theater for open auditions. But, of course...I'm a little worried about doing this, namely because I'm not sure how transgender actors are viewed in the theater. Mind you, I know that back in Shakespearian times, women weren't allowed on stage, and men played all women roles. I just don't know if it would be 'allowed' for me to audition as a male, or if they would require me to audition for only female roles. I'm hoping to pass better in the near future, now that I'm back on T.

My question here is...do any of you know anything about any FtM actors out there? Stage, screen, voice, or otherwise?

...But, please leave out the pornographic actors...it seems like those are the only kind of transsexual actors that I can find.


LET ME PLEASE MAKE THIS CLEAR THAT THIS THREAD WAS NEVER INTENDED TO BE A WAY TO ACCUSE FAMOUS INDIVIDUALS OF BEING TRANS!
...Seriously guys, really? Please don't do this. That's rather immature, isn't it? So please don't...

[dalebert]

I can't help but wonder if there are some well-known ones who are stealth. I kinda hate that word, though.

[GentlemanRDP]

The thought has crossed my mind and well, and I definitely know how you feel about that word.

I do think it's interesting though, that there have been controversies about cis-people being cast in trans parts,
With that, you think trans actors would be a little more straight forward...strange.

[anibioman]

if you pass i dont see why they wouldnt let you have a male role if you were good. a trans guy at my high school played a girl in an all female show called top girls. in my opinion it was a poor choice as he was constantly complaining that pople dont respect his transition then he goes and plays a girl.

[~RoadToTrista~]

I can't help but wonder if there are some well-known ones who are stealth. I kinda hate that word, though.

I bet Obama is one, let's demand his birth certificate. Or even better, let's demand documentation that proves that Michelle is the one who gave birth.

[wheat thins are delicious]

I bet Obama is one, let's demand his birth certificate. Or even better, let's demand documentation that proves that Michelle is the one who gave birth.

[GentlemanRDP]

I bet Obama is one, let's demand his birth certificate. Or even better, let's demand documentation that proves that Michelle is the one who gave birth.

Can we not use the trans community as an insult, especially since you're a part of it too?
(Besides, birth certificates don't mean a thing as far as sex goes, you should know that)

[GentlemanRDP]

if you pass i dont see why they wouldnt let you have a male role if you were good. a trans guy at my high school played a girl in an all female show called top girls. in my opinion it was a poor choice as he was constantly complaining that pople dont respect his transition then he goes and plays a girl.

Ah, well, that's exactly the problem, I don't pass all the time - it's very hit and miss with me, I seem to pass about 75% of the time, and the other 25%...not so much, especially when people can see the way I move. I still walk like a total girl...stupid wide hips.

Huh, that is strange. I guess if he was comfortable playing a girl onstage, that's all that matters, right?

[~RoadToTrista~]

Can we not use the trans community as an insult, especially since you're a part of it too?
(Besides, birth certificates don't mean a thing as far as sex goes, you should know that)

I wasn't? I was just making a lame joke about how people keep wanting to see Obama's birth certificate....

[wheat thins are delicious]

Can we not use the trans community as an insult, especially since you're a part of it too?
(Besides, birth certificates don't mean a thing as far as sex goes, you should know that)

Agreed.

[xoxo.mylo]

Hey there!
I went by this topic yesterday since I was a pretty curious lad about the whole thing myself as well, so I figure I can give you some helpful advice.
I'm currently trying to get into a school for acting up in NY, and I was extremely worried about this sort've thing too. I look like Justin Bieber, and I sound nothing like a boy so I was worried about whether or not I'd be judged. I come from a small town, so alot of the people in my area don't even know what a transsexual is... So I was afraid of having to explain this to the teacher I was auditioning at the school for. My aunt and my mother both advised me not to talk about it, and kept instilling the fear of 'they might not accept you in their school if they find out you're strange', but tah-dah~... I ended up explaining to him about my situation, and he wasn't phased... Not one bit.
Turns out they had some transsexual students before, and it was fine.
I think if you sound like a boy and look remotely like one, it should be fine. If you walk like a girl for the role, they'll probably help you with being able to walk like a guy, and if their prop-clothing doesn't fit you right, then maybe find an alternative that's like it but also helps you look more masculine?

Also, I am legit starting to wonder if JB is a transsexual... He's not an actor, but I figured I'd toss it in the air.

[wheat thins are delicious]

Also, I am legit starting to wonder if JB is a transsexual... He's not an actor, but I figured I'd toss it in the air.

Let's not.  I mean why does it even matter?

[GentlemanRDP]

Hey there!
I went by this topic yesterday since I was a pretty curious lad about the whole thing myself as well, so I figure I can give you some helpful advice.
I'm currently trying to get into a school for acting up in NY, and I was extremely worried about this sort've thing too. I look like Justin Bieber, and I sound nothing like a boy so I was worried about whether or not I'd be judged. I come from a small town, so alot of the people in my area don't even know what a transsexual is... So I was afraid of having to explain this to the teacher I was auditioning at the school for. My aunt and my mother both advised me not to talk about it, and kept instilling the fear of 'they might not accept you in their school if they find out you're strange', but tah-dah~... I ended up explaining to him about my situation, and he wasn't phased... Not one bit.
Turns out they had some transsexual students before, and it was fine.
I think if you sound like a boy and look remotely like one, it should be fine. If you walk like a girl for the role, they'll probably help you with being able to walk like a guy, and if their prop-clothing doesn't fit you right, then maybe find an alternative that's like it but also helps you look more masculine?

Also, I am legit starting to wonder if JB is a transsexual... He's not an actor, but I figured I'd toss it in the air.

Thanks for sharing your experience...

Though, the last bit wasn't really necessary.
Besides, with how famous he is, a doctor would have leaked this by now anyway even if it was true.
But no more about that from me.

[James42]

Thanks for sharing your experience...

Though, the last bit wasn't really necessary.
Besides, with how famous he is, a doctor would have leaked this by now anyway even if it was true.
But no more about that from me.

yea if he wanted to get seriously sued....

[Simon]

Also, I am legit starting to wonder if JB is a transsexual... He's not an actor, but I figured I'd toss it in the air.

I understand your curiosity but Justin Bieber has been the target of people calling him "female" for years. I honestly have felt bad for the kid before (especially since the murder/castration plot was uncovered. That was insanity. He's a kid and people take this "celebrity" thing too far.) As far as being trans I don't think he is but I wouldn't be surprised if he had hypogonadism or another hormone deficiency.

[tekla]

What I know about acting on a professional level is that if you look like they pictured the person playing the role, you've got it.  At most of the calls (pro) that I've been at it seems like the skill is about equivalent (pretty good, at least at cold reading, which is what's happening) and it's all about 'the look' whatever that is and 'it' (which everyone claims - and me too - that they know 'it' when they see 'it', but they really can't define 'it'), and depending on whose vision of 'the look' and 'it' gets the deciding vote.

There is very little casting against type.  The more money that is involved, the less against type they are going to be.  College theater loves to play around with casting the funky Romeo and extremely strange Juliet but in real life those roles always go to Leonardo Dicaprio and Claire Danes.  Always.

The up-side of that is that if you look like (and can act it) one of the major types, you can do OK. 

[~RoadToTrista~]

As far as being trans I don't think he is but I wouldn't be surprised if he had hypogonadism or another hormone deficiency.

I don't think so, I mean, his body is actually kinda hot now, lulz. His face is still very androgynous though.

[Simon]

I don't think so, I mean, his body is actually kinda hot now, lulz. His face is still very androgynous though.

I'm not going to argue about it (it's kinda pointless) but I'm just saying his body is not typical of an almost 19 year old cis male (His body looks like a 14 year old boy who has been lifting light weights). If he has/had a hormone issue I'm sure they've corrected/are correcting it.

[GentlemanRDP]

What I know about acting on a professional level is that if you look like they pictured the person playing the role, you've got it.  At most of the calls (pro) that I've been at it seems like the skill is about equivalent (pretty good, at least at cold reading, which is what's happening) and it's all about 'the look' whatever that is and 'it' (which everyone claims - and me too - that they know 'it' when they see 'it', but they really can't define 'it'), and depending on whose vision of 'the look' and 'it' gets the deciding vote.

There is very little casting against type.  The more money that is involved, the less against type they are going to be.  College theater loves to play around with casting the funky Romeo and extremely strange Juliet but in real life those roles always go to Leonardo Dicaprio and Claire Danes.  Always.

The up-side of that is that if you look like (and can act it) one of the major types, you can do OK.

Thanks for your opinion And for actually staying on topic.

True enough, it's definitely true that appearance and disposition has a lot to do with getting the role. If you don't look right, no matter how much talent you have, you're probably out of luck.

Frankly though, there are plenty of 'pretty boys' out there, especially in the world of acting (Well, more so movies and such, even though I'd rather act on stage, but still) That and the 'gay boy' type seems fairly common, which I've definitely got in the bag xD

[tekla]

Yeah everyone says they want to do stage (and indeed, stage is, I think, the best form of acting - it's at least complete and not segmented) until they see the relatively poor wages and low number of actual roles, vs. the amount of money in film, TV, commercial work and the huge amount of work in those areas. 

But I don't think any of those 'visual' types of arts care as much about who you are as what you look and act like.  It never mattered that good actors could do well outside of themselves - ie playing 'gay' or trans - so it never mattered that the actors ever matched the roles.  So lots of classic gay men did these macho chick-melting movies, while some of the straight guys did real well in gay roles.  The only thing that ever mattered was if it looked right and felt right on the stage/screen.  Since absolutely no part of it is real, it's never really mattered if the actor matched the role in reality - it just has to look 'right'.