20 Trans Stars Who Got Recast When They Started Hormones

Navigating Hollywood is a complex challenge that becomes even more intricate when an actor undergoes a public gender transition. Physical changes brought on by hormone replacement therapy often necessitate a shift in the types of characters these performers can authentically portray. Casting directors and showrunners must sometimes reimagine existing roles to align with the actor’s real-life evolution. This list explores twenty stars whose careers or specific characters were reshaped as they embraced their true selves.

Elliot Page

Elliot Page starred as Vanya Hargreeves in the first two seasons of the hit Netflix superhero drama ‘The Umbrella Academy’. When Page publicly came out as transgender in 2020 the showrunners decided to mirror this journey within the narrative rather than recasting the actor. Season three saw the character transition into Viktor Hargreeves complete with a haircut and a name change that reflected Page’s real-life status. This creative pivot allowed Page to continue leading the ensemble cast while presenting an authentic trans masculine storyline.

Isaiah Stannard

Isaiah Stannard was initially cast as a female character named Sadie in the crime comedy-drama series ‘Good Girls’. As Stannard began his own transition the creator Jenna Bans worked with him and the writers to incorporate this development into the script. The character eventually came out as a trans boy named Ben aligning the fictional narrative with Stannard’s personal growth. This collaborative approach avoided a traditional recasting and instead provided a nuanced portrayal of a trans youth.

Lachlan Watson

Lachlan Watson was one of the youngest non-binary actors to navigate a high-profile transition while on the major streaming series ‘Chilling Adventures of Sabrina’. Originally cast to play Susie Putnam a character grappling with gender identity Watson’s own experiences helped shape the character’s arc. The writers eventually had the character transition to Theo Putnam a transgender boy to better reflect Watson’s evolving identity and physical changes. This evolution prevented the need for a new actor and kept Watson central to the show’s supernatural plot.

Josie Totah

Josie Totah rose to fame as a child star appearing in projects like ‘Glee’ and ‘Champions’ presenting as male. After coming out as a transgender woman Totah’s casting bracket shifted entirely leading to her breakout role as Lexi in the ‘Saved by the Bell’ revival. Her transition meant leaving behind the boy roles of her early career to embrace characters that aligned with her female identity. This career-level recasting allowed her to play a popular cheerleader in a role she noted was a dream come true.

Jake Zyrus

Known globally for a powerhouse soprano voice under a former name Jake Zyrus famously appeared on ‘Glee’ and performed with major musical legends. After starting testosterone his vocal range deepened significantly necessitating a complete reinvention of his musical style and acting prospects. Zyrus acknowledged that losing his upper register was a trade-off for his personal happiness and mental health. His career has since pivoted away from the belting diva roles of his past toward projects that suit his new tenor voice.

Brian Michael Smith

Brian Michael Smith spent years acting in various roles before publicly disclosing his trans status. While he was not fired from a specific role his decision to come out reshaped his casting opportunities from stealth background parts to visible trans masculine characters. This shift led to his groundbreaking role as Toine Wilkins in ‘Queen Sugar’ where he played a trans man for the first time. He later cemented his status as a leading man in ‘9-1-1: Lone Star’ proving that hormonal transition can expand rather than limit a career.

Alexandra Billings

Alexandra Billings joined the cast of ‘Transparent’ to bring authenticity to a show criticized for casting a cisgender man in the lead trans role. Her presence served as a form of casting correction for the industry showing that trans women who have medically transitioned are the best choices for these stories. Billings used her platform to advocate for trans actors to play trans roles effectively pushing for a systemic recasting of Hollywood’s approach. Her performance highlighted the distinct physical and emotional reality of a trans woman that cis actors cannot replicate.

Laverne Cox

Laverne Cox broke barriers with her role as Sophia Burset in ‘Orange Is the New Black’ a character whose backstory required a pre-transition depiction. Rather than casting a cis male or using makeup effects on Cox the production cast her twin brother to play Sophia before her transition. This unique recasting solution allowed the show to depict the physical changes of hormones and surgery without compromising Cox’s identity. The role launched her into superstardom and redefined what was possible for trans actresses on television.

Jamie Clayton

Jamie Clayton played Nomi Marks in ‘Sense8’ in a role that was explicitly written to be played by a trans actress. The creators ensured that the character’s physical and emotional journey reflected genuine trans experiences. Clayton’s casting was a direct rejection of the industry norm of casting cis men in wigs for such parts. Her performance demonstrated that authentic casting brings a depth to the role that transcends mere acting.

Michaela Jaé Rodriguez

Michaela Jaé Rodriguez began her career in theater playing male roles such as Angel in ‘Rent’ before her medical transition. After starting hormones and stepping away from the stage to transition she re-emerged to audition for female roles. She was cast as Blanca Evangelista in ‘Pose’ a role that required the specific lived experience of a trans woman of color. This shift effectively recast her entire career trajectory moving her from male ensemble parts to an Emmy-nominated leading lady.

Indya Moore

Before starring in ‘Pose’ Indya Moore worked primarily as a model while navigating the early stages of medical transition. The physical changes brought on by hormones helped Moore align more closely with high-fashion female modeling standards before pivoting to acting. Moore’s casting as Angel Evangelista allowed them to explore the realities of being a trans woman in the 1980s. The role was a significant departure from the limited opportunities available to them prior to their transition.

Hunter Schafer

Hunter Schafer made her acting debut in ‘Euphoria’ as Jules Vaughn a character whose trans identity is present but not the sole focus of her arc. Schafer worked closely with the show’s creator to ensure that Jules’s experiences with hormones and puberty blockers were portrayed accurately. The role was effectively tailored to Schafer’s own life experiences and physical reality as a young trans woman. This casting choice signaled a move away from tragic trans narratives toward more complex three-dimensional character studies.

Nicole Maines

Nicole Maines made history by playing Nia Nal in ‘Supergirl’ as the first transgender superhero on television. The character was created specifically to introduce a trans perspective into the DC Arrowverse requiring an actress who had actually lived through the transition process. Maines brought her experience as a young trans woman to the role which included discussions about family acceptance and physical changes. Her casting replaced the potential for a cis actor to play trans in a genre heavily reliant on physical transformation.

Asia Kate Dillon

Asia Kate Dillon made headlines as the first non-binary actor to play a non-binary main character on North American television in ‘Billions’. Their character Taylor Mason was written to challenge the gender binary of the high-finance world. Dillon’s casting forced the industry to rethink its gendered award categories and casting calls. The role was not a recast of a previous character but a recasting of the archetypal hedge fund shark proving that gender diversity fits in every genre.

Alex Blue Davis

Alex Blue Davis joined the long-running medical drama ‘Grey’s Anatomy’ as Dr. Casey Parker a trans male intern. The showrunners chose to reveal his trans history specifically through a medical plotline that required knowledge of his own transition. Davis noted that his voice and physical appearance allowed him to play the character as stealth initially. This casting decision normalized the presence of trans men in professional settings without their gender history being the only plot point.

Ian Alexander

Ian Alexander was cast as Buck Vu in ‘The OA’ shortly after he began his own testosterone therapy. The show’s creators incorporated Alexander’s real-time voice changes and physical development into the character’s growth across the seasons. This meta-narrative allowed the audience to witness a genuine transition alongside the fictional story. It was a rare instance where the actor’s medical timeline dictated the pacing of the character’s development.

Angelica Ross

Angelica Ross transitioned from a career in the tech and nonprofit sectors to become a powerhouse actress. After her breakout in ‘Pose’ Ryan Murphy cast her in multiple seasons of ‘American Horror Story’ playing roles that were not exclusively defined by her trans status. Her ability to play these diverse characters marked a shift from her early days when casting directors struggled to place her. Ross has been vocal about how hormone therapy helped her align her physical self with the strong female characters she now embodies.

Jen Richards

Jen Richards is an actress and writer who has openly discussed how her transition affected her casting opportunities. She was cast in ‘Nashville’ to play a physical therapist a role that brought visibility to trans women in the South. Richards has argued against cis actors playing trans roles stating that the physical changes of hormones create a unique presence that cannot be acted. Her career serves as a testament to the necessity of casting trans actors to tell their own stories authentically.

Chaz Bono

Chaz Bono grew up in the public eye as the child of Sonny and Cher appearing on their television shows as a young girl. After a highly publicized transition in his forties Bono had to completely rebuild his public image and acting portfolio. He eventually found success in the horror genre landing roles in ‘American Horror Story’ that utilized his masculine presence. His transition effectively recast him in the eyes of the public from a celebrity daughter to a male character actor.

Yasmin Finney

Yasmin Finney rose to prominence playing Elle Argent in ‘Heartstopper’ a trans girl who transfers to a girls’ school after transitioning. The role was designed to show the joy and normalcy of a young trans life rather than just the trauma. Finney’s casting was essential to the show’s authenticity as she was navigating her own teenage years and identity simultaneously. Her performance has opened doors for her in other major franchises including ‘Doctor Who’ signaling a permanent shift in how young trans talent is scouted.

Tell us which of these casting evolutions you found most impactful in the comments.