Tranny get your gun!
May 8th 2008 17:21
From Caroline Cossey to Candis Cayne: showing the evolution of the acceptance of transsexual actors.
I was very impressed to learn that the actor playing the transsexual character in the new TV drama series "Dirty Sexy Money" is a real life transsexual.
The transsexual character of Carmelita is played by Candis Cayne. Candis is the first transgender actor to have a recurring role on a prime-time series. In the show Carmelita is having an affair with married New York Attorney General Patrick Darling (played by William Baldwin), and including her as a recurring character has been responsible for giving the series much of its edge and creating one of the most compelling story arcs.
Candis Cayne has made TV history by becoming the first transsexual to play a transsexual on a primetime show. The stunning actress is now reaching mass audiences playing the part of a millionaire's mistress and love interest.
Candis Cayne was born as Brendan McDaniel in Hawaii and stand 5 feet 10 tall. Brendan transformed himself into "Candis Cayne" and became one of the United States' most popular and sought-after female impersonators. Candis first made a name for herself at the famed NYC gay hot-spot "Boy Bar", where her performances drew raves. A classically trained dancer, Candis has thrilled audiences from coast-to-coast with her amazing gift for dance, choreography and glamour. Candis Cayne appeared in the 1995 film To Wong Foo Thanks for Everything, Julie Newmar and was the 2001 winner of the Miss Gay Continental U.S.A. national pageant for female impersonators, held every Labor Day in Chicago, Illinois.
In 1980 transsexual actor/model Caroline Cossey caused controversy when she appeared in a non-speaking (uncredited) role in the James Bond film For Your Eyes Only. Her appearance is during the scene in which Bond goes to Gonzoles’ villa in Madrid. She is one of the many unnamed girls at poolside.
Caroline Cossey’s modeling career took off even before having her sex-reassignment surgery because there was high demand for tall models (she stood at 6 feet tall). Post-op, she became a well-known fashion model, did various advertisements, and appeared on several magazines covers before being cast in For Your Eyes Only.
After it was revealed that Cossey was a transsexual, it severely disrupted her acting career. However, Cossey continued as a successful model for several years. She appeared in the music videos for Duran Duran’s “Rio” and for Power Station’s “Some Like It Hot”, and she has even made multiple appearances in Playboy magazine (the first openly “out” transsexual ever to do so).
Transexual women have come a long way in being accepted in mainstream media and the inclusion of Candis Cayne is a show of strength for the transgendered community . . . stick by your guns girls!
Caroline Cossey has written two autobiographies - “Tula: I am a Woman” (1982) and “My Story” (1991). Cossey’s memoirs have also been published as part of a new book entitled “Sexual Metamorphosis: An Anthology of Transsexual Memoirs” (2005).
I was very impressed to learn that the actor playing the transsexual character in the new TV drama series "Dirty Sexy Money" is a real life transsexual.
The transsexual character of Carmelita is played by Candis Cayne. Candis is the first transgender actor to have a recurring role on a prime-time series. In the show Carmelita is having an affair with married New York Attorney General Patrick Darling (played by William Baldwin), and including her as a recurring character has been responsible for giving the series much of its edge and creating one of the most compelling story arcs.
Candis Cayne has made TV history by becoming the first transsexual to play a transsexual on a primetime show. The stunning actress is now reaching mass audiences playing the part of a millionaire's mistress and love interest.
Candis Cayne was born as Brendan McDaniel in Hawaii and stand 5 feet 10 tall. Brendan transformed himself into "Candis Cayne" and became one of the United States' most popular and sought-after female impersonators. Candis first made a name for herself at the famed NYC gay hot-spot "Boy Bar", where her performances drew raves. A classically trained dancer, Candis has thrilled audiences from coast-to-coast with her amazing gift for dance, choreography and glamour. Candis Cayne appeared in the 1995 film To Wong Foo Thanks for Everything, Julie Newmar and was the 2001 winner of the Miss Gay Continental U.S.A. national pageant for female impersonators, held every Labor Day in Chicago, Illinois.
In 1980 transsexual actor/model Caroline Cossey caused controversy when she appeared in a non-speaking (uncredited) role in the James Bond film For Your Eyes Only. Her appearance is during the scene in which Bond goes to Gonzoles’ villa in Madrid. She is one of the many unnamed girls at poolside.
Caroline Cossey’s modeling career took off even before having her sex-reassignment surgery because there was high demand for tall models (she stood at 6 feet tall). Post-op, she became a well-known fashion model, did various advertisements, and appeared on several magazines covers before being cast in For Your Eyes Only.
After it was revealed that Cossey was a transsexual, it severely disrupted her acting career. However, Cossey continued as a successful model for several years. She appeared in the music videos for Duran Duran’s “Rio” and for Power Station’s “Some Like It Hot”, and she has even made multiple appearances in Playboy magazine (the first openly “out” transsexual ever to do so).
Transexual women have come a long way in being accepted in mainstream media and the inclusion of Candis Cayne is a show of strength for the transgendered community . . . stick by your guns girls!
Caroline Cossey has written two autobiographies - “Tula: I am a Woman” (1982) and “My Story” (1991). Cossey’s memoirs have also been published as part of a new book entitled “Sexual Metamorphosis: An Anthology of Transsexual Memoirs” (2005).
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Comment by Louie
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Comment by Morgan Bell
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i think a substantial about of transsexuals begin in the gay community as drag queens and thats where they create the (sometimes tacky) names . . .
Caroline Cossey used the stage name "Tula" lol
when i watched the first episode of Dirty Sexy Money i honestly couldnt tell if it was a man or a woman playing the transsexual, apparently the producers digitally lowered her voice because Candis came across as so feminine they didnt know if audiences would understand the character was transsexual!
i think shes incredibly beautiful and i agree: good on her!
Comment by Louie
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and yes I think you are right about the origin of names, i was going to say B grade porn star but Drag Shows is far more on the money.
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Comment by RubySoho
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some men (gay and straight) do play dress-ups and we would call them transvestites, cross-dressers or drag-queens, but some people are just born in the wrong bodies and they are transsexual
actually, ill get all philosophical now, perhaps if male and female gender roles were not so clearly defined in society the problem of mismatched gender identity vs sexual organs would not be so severe and disturbing for the transsexual
you only have to look at intersex people (those born with both male and female sexual organs) and see that parents selecting their gender as a child may not ultimately suit their personality as they mature
i could talk about trannys all day, gender and sexuality are my pet topics, but i wont bore you any further!
im just glad to see some positive media and representation for the transgendered community . . . so many hate bashings and suicides . . . its nice to see a tranny being treated as an equal . . . they are a misunderstood bunch i think!
Comment by RubySoho
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And why are we both still orbling at 310 am?
Comment by postmoderncritic
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im an insomniac who prefers to write at night and sleep a little during the day . . . im like a bat! haha
that was a really interesting statement about narrow-minded people, it is funny how to "not change" is always the default reaction and it takes so long for society to evolve . . . i wonder who really is the majority though and who is just outspoken and confident?
hey epiphanie,
yeah i dont think gender is binary but these queer theories will probably take an eternity to permeate the thinking of the everyday person . . . i think candis is inspirational shattering the misconception that transsexual people can only be sex workers . . . shes getting such great exposure as a regular career gal with a great future in her profession . . . i hope it leads to more acceptance in real life (life imitating art lol)
oh and Louie
(i forgot your response there!) i have to say i think of Rebecca Romjin as far more beautiful now that she took on the role of a tranny, i had written her off as a bit of a bimbo before that, but i think it takes real strength to risk being typecast . . . similarly with Famke Janssen in Nip Tuck . . . and Felicity Huffman in Transamerica . . . actually all three of them have unusual names which could suit a drag queen!
Comment by Miswanderlust
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The title of this post is inspired! (as is the post itself) Good work!
Mis
Comment by Morgan Bell
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there actually used to be a drag show in sydney called "Tranny Get Your Gun" as a play on "Annie Get Your Gun" . . . and i thought id also make a pun of the concept of sticking by your guns . . . its pun-o-rama around here! haha
thanks for the compliment!