She’s shaping Hollywood in her own image.
Years ago, Laverne Cox met a stranger at a speaking engagement and the pair established a rapport.
“I woke up and was like,I’m meeting with a reporter today.
I better look nice,” she explains.
To prepare, Cox met with Duke, eagerly soaking up every story she could about the trainers life.
And yet, Cox ended up holding onto Dukes sensitivity the most.
Headpiece: Crown and Maiden; Dress: Andrea Grossi
Foolhardy as that desire may be, that was the side of Kacy that Cox most wanted to highlight.
Cox refers to Dukes approval of her casting as “courageous.”
“To be open to a trans woman playing you?
Earrings: Mi Manera jewelry; Gloves: Ella Douglas
Inventing Annamarks something of a Netflix homecoming for the actress.
Needless to say, the experience was formative for Cox.)
She continued to act, too, guest-starring in everything fromThe Mindy ProjecttoDear White PeopletoThe Blacklist.
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All these projects, and yet, something aboutInventing Annafelt unique.
Turning her vintage finds into fashionable partywear, Cox had no trouble bypassing lines for the most exclusive events.
That night, however, the thrill was nowhere to be found.
Dress: Ella Douglas; Corset: Laurel Dewitt
But, apparently, now,Iwas the celebrity.”
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Its puzzling for Cox to consider.
To be surrounded by Nicole Kidman, Annette Bening, and Tom Hanks?
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“It was stackedjust all these Oscar winners.”
“Deservingis a strange thing,” she answers.
“I think feeling like youdeserveto be famous is really ridiculous.
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No onedeservesto be a celebrity.”
Rather, she hopes that as she continues to refine her craft, shell earn her spot one day.
“As an actor, Ive been very lucky,” she says.
Headpiece: Laurel Dewitt; Jacket: Levi’s
I think thats the truth."
Cox has spent years trying to do the same, but many of her efforts have been in vain.
At one point, it had landed at a connection.
Ditto for a different show she once pitched aroundthis one was partially autobiographical.
“It feels like, post-Pose, people dont want to make trans stories.”
Initially, Netflix didnt even buy it," she remembers.
The fact that it got made and that its out in the world is a miracle."
“Now, I get to turn 50 and beopenly50, she enthuses.
As such, she wants to have a good time with people she loves.
As she approaches her fifth decade, Cox has placed a significantly larger focus on her mental health.
The pandemic, however, changed things.
For better or worse, embracing this new practice has pushed her to speak out less.
While trying to write the never-releasedDaring to Be Myself, Cox felt like the timing was off.
Most of her best stories were about events in her life she wasnt ready to publicly share.
Upon hearing this news, bell hooks allegedly exclaimed, “Why did you give the money back?
Dress: Asquin; Boots: SYRO
Nobody gives the advance back!”
And perhaps that choice was for the best.
Though shes committed to telling trans stories, she’s just as happy to be cast in non-trans roles.
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Dress: Asquin; Boots: SYRO
Then, theres everything else.
(“Im anactress,” she recalls bewailing.
“I dont want people to forget that and think Im just this ‘red carpet correspondent.'")
She also has her podcast.
Produced by Shondaland,The Laverne Cox Showfinds the actress interviewing everybody from Chase Strangio to Billy Porter.
As Kacy Duke says inInventing Anna, Just thank your legs for holding you up.”
