The Girl Is on Fire

Actress Laverne Cox proves to the world there is power in living an authentic life.

By Michelle M. Havich

Photography by Norman Nelson

I'm living my dream right now,” actress Laverne Cox says, laughing. “I co-hosted The View today! I told Whoopi I’ve always wanted to co-host The View!”

To say Cox has had a good year would be an understatement, and her star continues to rise. Best known for her Emmy-nominated role as transgender inmate Sophia Burset on Netflix’s hugely successful original series Orange Is the New Black, Cox also is a successful producer with television programs Laverne Cox Presents the T-Word and TRANSform Me. Not least, she is a tireless advocate for the transgender community. Her success in both avenues even landed her on the cover of Time magazine, “a dream I didn’t even have the audacity to have.”

Cox is using her fame as a springboard for her advocacy. She is on a college lecture circuit speaking with youth about her journey of growing up in Alabama with her twin brother, being raised by a single mom, being bullied and harassed and what it’s like to be a transgender woman in today’s world. Still, the thought of herself as the face of the transgender community still strikes her as odd. “I can’t represent the entire community. I can only represent myself,” she says. “I try to elevate the stories of other trans people whenever possible, so that folks will understand that it’s not just about me. It’s about a rich tapestry of diversity in our community.”

One of those voices she is elevating is CeCe McDonald, the subject of the documentary Free CeCe, which Cox is producing with filmmaker Jac Gares. McDonald is an African-American transgender woman, who was attacked in a racist and transphobic hate crime. She defended herself, and one of her attackers died. McDonald spent 19 months of her 41-month sentence in a men’s prison. The film looks at the criminal justice system and the culture of violence toward transgender women of color, and will be released in late 2015 or early 2016.

“According to the National Coalition of Anti-Violence Programs, the homicide rate in the LBGT community is highest among trans women,” Cox says. “In 2013, statistics show more than 72 percent of homicides in the LBGT community were trans women, and of that, 67 percent were trans women of color. Globally, we understand that violence against trans women is at epidemic proportions, and disproportionately trans women of color.”

Cox says there are several reasons why trans women, and especially trans women of color are targeted with violence, one of which is transphobia. “There’s an assumption that trans people are not who we say we are, and I believe it’s culturally acceptable to target us for being who we are,” she says. She sites an example of Internet comments on a story about a trans woman who might have been with a celebrity. “People wrote, ‘Oh if I found out I was dating someone trans I would beat her up, or I would kill her.’”

I’ve always dreamed that I’d be able to do something with my life as an artist that would make things better for the people who follow me.”

But, Cox adds, there are also the issues of institutional racism and poverty. “Whenever we deal with identity politics, we have to understand that people don’t have a single identity,” she says. “Trans women of color aren’t just being assaulted because they are trans. They’re also being assaulted because of their color. There are intersections of multiple identities.”

Education is a big step in helping to end transphobia and violence against transgender people, Cox explains. “I think things are better, but I think we need better education about what it means to be trans, and we need better education about gender in general. Those are two key elements.”

“At the end of the day, it’s about listening to trans people’s voices,” she says. “We are both the platforms and the resources to tell our own stories on our own terms.” She adds that instead of focusing on bodies, surgeries and transition, the focus should be on making schools safer for trans- and gender-conforming people, with policies in place that educate teachers and students so trans students feel safe at school.

“We should talk about how to NOT stigmatize trans identity but how to celebrate it,” Cox says. “Trans people are so courageous just for having the audacity to be themselves in a world that tells us we aren’t who we say we are. We should really do the work lifting the stigma around the various identities and celebrating people and giving them the resources to make their lives better.”

It’s those voices in the trans community that inspire Cox to do what she does. She says she has met amazing young people who have told her that by sharing her story, they have been inspired to live more authentically, and people who are not transgender have told her they have a better understanding of trans identity because of her presence and her work.

“I met a woman who told me that her mother had not spoken to her in years because of her transition,” Cox says. “Orange Is the New Black was her mother’s way to understanding her daughter’s identity better, and now they are talking again. The show and my presence on the show brought this family back together. That’s the power of being on this wonderful show… It’s about visibility of the diverse.”

Cox also draws inspiration from writers Bell Hooks, Janet Mock, and Cornel West. One of the first African-American opera singers for the Metropolitan Opera Leontyne Price, who famously sang Puccini’s Tosca on television for NBC Opera Theatre in 1955, is Cox’s idol. “She had a really groundbreaking career and made things possible for singers who followed her that were not possible before her,” Cox says. “I’ve always dreamed that I’d be able to do something with my life as an artist that would make things better for the people who follow me.”

It’s really important for me to remember that yes, I do advocacy and that’s needed, but I’m an artist, and that is what made the public recognize me and this character that I play. That is what has gotten me here, and I focus my energy and work there. That sets me free to get back to the craft.”

Blazing trails as a powerful voice for the transgender community can become overwhelming. “Where do I see myself in the larger scheme of things? It’s hard for me,” she says. “I’m so in it right now, trying to see what my work is, and trying to listen to myself, listen to my higher power about the next right thing to do.”

Part of that involves what Cox calls self-care, where she is learning how to balance her mission and taking care of herself. “Mothering myself.” She makes sure she takes time off, enjoys a massage, goes to a therapy session, spends time with friends, re-reads Brené Brown. “All of those self-care items are crucial for me as I embark on the enormous task of the work that I am doing.”

She also focuses on her craft. “It’s really important for me to remember that yes, I do advocacy and that’s needed, but I’m an artist, and that is what made the public recognize me and this character that I play. That is what has gotten me here, and I focus my energy and work there. That sets me free to get back to the craft.”

And then there is karaoke. Cox loves getting friends together to sing it out. “It’s therapeutic and soooooooo much fun!” For the wrap party for season three of Orange Is the New Black, they celebrated with live band karaoke, and Cox busted out her songs of choice—Dream On by Aerosmith, One Moment in Time by Whitney Houston and Chandelier by Sia.

The third season of the show will be released on Netflix mid-2015, and fans will have to wait until then to find out what happens to the ladies in Litchfield, as Cox wasn’t giving any spoilers. “But I will say I had the time of my life shooting this season,” she says. “They wrote some wonderful stuff for my character, really unexpected stuff. I am continuously blown away by my amazing costars. These women are ferocious and forces to be reckoned with, and I think it’s the best cast on television. I said it. Yes. It’s the best cast on TV.”

I am continuously blown away by my amazing costars. These women are ferocious and forces to be reckoned with, and it’s the best cast on television. I said it. Yes. It’s the best cast on TV.”

In addition to the new season of Orange Is the New Black, Cox will appear on Bravo’s new scripted show, The Girlfriend’s Guide to Divorce and as a guest judge on Project Runway All Stars. She would love to play a powerful attorney at some point, inspired by her love of shows like The Good Wife, Scandal, Suits and How to Get Away with Murder (“Viola Davis is a goddess.”). “Eventually, I’d like to play Lady Macbeth on stage.”

She also will be taking her story back on the road, with speaking engagements booked through the first half of this year. Dates are available on her website, lavernecox.com.

Cox acknowledges that she’s been blessed this year, and is thankful for all the amazing people in her life, including her family and friends who support her no matter what, and believed in her before she believed in herself. Her mother has been Cox’s date at recent events, including the Glamour Woman of the Year (“She’s my woman of the year every year.”) where Cox was honored, and at the GLAAD Awards in Los Angeles. “My mom is really proud,” Cox says, an emotional catch in her voice. “I don’t want to say I’m jaded, but to experience this with her, I get to see her excitement and her joy, and how happy she is for me. It reminds me of the journey we’ve gone on together.”

A journey all the way to the top. ■

ZAC Zac Posen navy bondage gown Swarovski crown necklace, bangle bracelet, click ring and celestial earrings, Stephanie Kantis Montecito silver ring, Haridra diamond bracelet

Only Hearts velvet bodysuit, BCBGMAXAZRIA white cape jacket, Valentina Kova Thohir mega ring, Halston Heritage plaque double wrap belt, Erickson Beamon for Anna Sui necklace, Erickson Beamon matte black spike bracelet and ring, Stephanie Kantis cube silver ring

Nicole Miller Artelier twill cupro jersey top, Nha Khanh pencil skirt, Haute Hippie chain and spike necklace Rue Gembon black pearl earrings, Delfina Delettrez two-in-one eye ring Stephanie Kantis cube silver ring, Swarovski bangle bracelet

Valentina Kova long cape, BCBGMAXAZRIA top and jacquard skirt, Lele Sadoughi earrings, Haridra diamond stacked bracelets, Swarovski ring, Mark Cross Hadley flap bag

Photography: Norman Nelson

Photography assistant: Zachary and Zannini

Fashion: Christina Pacelli

Makeup: Deja Smith

Hair: Ursula Stephens for Motions/Epiphany Artist Group Inc