Girl on Fire

Actress and activist Laverne Cox has emerged as a New York icon. She reminisces about her salad days in the city with Eddie Roche.

Photography by David Lipman

Have you spent a lot of time at Hogs & Heifers?

I’d heard of it, but I had never been here before today, which feels bizarre. What first brought you to New York? I came here for college back in the day. I don’t like to say what year that was. I still adore this city, and I don’t think I’d ever want to live anywhere else. At least not in the United States!

Where did you first live?

For a semester, in a dorm at Marymount College on the Upper East Side. Then I moved into an apartment with another student. That roommate experience was challenging, so I moved back to student housing. I eventually found an apartment on the Upper West Side, and in that apartment, when I stretched out my arms, I could touch both walls. The bathroom was in the hall.

What I love about this city is that we know how to leave each other alone. it’s great to be neighborly, but you can also be anonymous and disappear."

How much did you pay in rent?

That probably dates me, too! I was paying weekly, a little over $100 a week. The landlord knew it was a great deal and told me I had to move into a different apartment so he could renovate and raise the rent. So I finally got my own bathroom, but my rent doubled. At the time I was working at Coffee Shop in Union Square, and every dime I made went to rent. Now I’m living in the NoMad-slash-Flatiron area. I love my neighborhood—it has changed a lot. It’s interesting seeing New York change and which businesses survive. Very few do. So much of New York is about the restaurants and the convenience stores. I love a 24-hour deli. There’s a salon in my neighborhood that’s open 24 hours where you can get your nails done and a blowout. Sometimes at two in the morning, you need a manicure!

You’ve done it?

Of course! That’s one of the things I love about New York. I love the energy. And it’s a walking town. I don’t have a driver’s license, so I love that you don’t need a car here. When I first moved here, you could go to nightclubs with the rich and famous…and then there would be a black trans woman in thrift store clothes at Lot 61.

Which clubs do you miss most?

Bungalow 8. Decadent things would happen that I can’t talk about, but it was just wonderful. I was a nobody, but I had style, and that was my currency. It wasn’t about spending a thousand dollars—it was about how creative you were. As exclusive as Bungalow 8 was, I always got in.

Which restaurants do you frequent?

I’ve been going to Soho House a lot because there are no photos allowed, which is great.

Why is that important?

Whenever the camera is on, I’m working. Even if I take selfies with fans, I understand that it’s work. Nobody wants to work all the time.

What’s your favorite place to get fries in the city?

I’m not eating French fries right now, but my favorite are from L’Express on 20th and Park. I die for them.

How are you surviving life without French fries?

I’m healthier. French fries aren’t good for you, as delicious as they are. I’m also surviving without ice cream and Snickers bars. Diabetes runs in my family, so I’m trying to be healthier. I decided to see what life was like without sugar.

What has that brought you?

I have more energy and clarity. I had a ritual of getting a pint of Ben & Jerry’s ice cream, microwaving it for 90 seconds and eating the whole pint. I got into a sugar coma. My life has changed so much in the past couple of years that I need to be present for it.

What’s your favorite street in the city?

I used to live on 75th between Columbus and Amsterdam, just a couple of blocks from Central Park. A lot happened for me on that street, including a lot of growing up.

Fave New Yorker?

Donald Trump. Kidding! [Laughs] Fran Lebowitz. She has such an acerbic wit. She feels like New York to me. So does Sylvia Miles. And Pat Field is New York!

Thoughts on Times Square?

It’s a remarkable place. People say it’s like Disney or a strip mall, but there’s something charming about it. It’s so big and commercial, but it’s America.

What’s next for you, work-wise?

Grandma, my film with Lily Tomlin, will be out in theaters. Working with the legendary Lily Tomlin was a delight. She should win the Oscar for her performance!

What’s the most New York thing about you?

What I love about this city is that we know how to leave each other alone. It’s great to be neighborly, but you can be anonymous and disappear. I love the anonymity, even if I’m not able to be anonymous anymore. I fight for it in my New York life now. Space is at such a premium here that real New Yorkers know how to leave each other alone, but we’re also friendly. I’ve given tourists directions so many times. I also walk really fast. I hate being behind slow walkers. I hate it! That’s a very New York thing.

Ashish from Mahna Mahna NYC gown; Marc Bouwer faux-fur stole; Stuart Weitzman shoes; Paul Morelli earrings; Paul Morelli and Jason of Beverly Hills bracelets; Paul Morelli and Victoria Deny Jewelry rings.

Styled by Christina Pacelli

Hair and makeup by Dee for DD Pro

Photographed at Hogs & Heifers, NYC