Interview with Calpernia Addams

Calpernia Addams is an American actress, musician, author, spokesperson, and activist for transgender rights and visibility. Her journey is one of resilience, artistry, and advocacy. 

Born in Nashville, Tennessee, Calpernia served as a hospital corpsman in the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps. It was during her final year of military service that she embraced her identity as a transgender woman. The name "Calpernia" was inspired by both Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar and a tombstone in The Addams Family movie, a perfect blend of classic literature and gothic charm!

Her career has been multifaceted, spanning entertainment, activism, and education. In 2002, she co-founded Deep Stealth Productions with Andrea James, creating educational and entertainment content about gender identity. She even coached Felicity Huffman for her Academy Award-nominated role in Transamerica.

Calpernia's presence on screen has been just as impactful. She starred in Soldier’s Girl, a film that told the heartbreaking story of her relationship with PFC Barry Winchell, whose murder became a pivotal moment in the discussion of LGBT rights in the military. She also appeared in the 2006 documentary Beautiful Daughters and headlined the 2008 reality TV series Transamerican Love Story, where she brought humor and heart to the dating world. 

Beyond acting, Calpernia is a talented musician, releasing her own music and collaborating with artists such as Willam Belli. She has also used her voice for advocacy, becoming a spokesperson for PFLAG’s This Is Our Love Story campaign and performing alongside icons like Jane Fonda, Glenn Close, and Salma Hayek in The Vagina Monologues.

 

Monika: A woman of strength, creativity, and unwavering passion, Calpernia continues to inspire countless people through her work. I’m thrilled to have her here today. Welcome, Calpernia!

Calpernia: Hello, Monika!

Monika: With so many talents under your belt, you seem to have a special focus on acting. Are there any film directors or movies that have particularly inspired you on your journey?

Calpernia: Well, Frank Pierson was a legendary writer and director going back many decades who eventually came to direct the film about my life called "Soldier's Girl". He has been the most personally influential director in my life, and if you look back at his body of work, anyone would see why he is very inspiring to me as an artist.

On a deep and personal level, I am inspired by the films of Marilyn Monroe. I know it can be a cliché to say that one likes "Marilyn", but I do feel a deeper personal connection to her story as a woman and an artist after studying her life, films, and myth-making process in depth. Living in Hollywood, I pass by the places she knew and went to almost every day, so she is sort of in the air.

Strangely enough, I have always been very inspired by Cassandra Petersen's "Elvira, Mistress of the Dark" character and the work of cartoonist Charles Addams, as well. I have a dark side tempered by a sense of humor, which you'll find in both people's work. And Elvira's self-deprecating sexiness and slapstick comedy were always goals of mine.

Calpernia Le Heur Blue
by Krista Benson.

Your portrayal of Ingrid in Woman’s Picture (2011) breaks away from the common expectation of transgender actresses being cast in solely transgender roles.

Calpernia: In "Woman's Picture", Ingrid was a trans woman returning home to retrieve a cherished memento of her accepting grandmother from her un-accepting mother. I portrayed Ingrid as a fully transitioned person, completely comfortable in herself as a female. Ingrid's main conflict was with her mother's intolerance.

Although I certainly didn't plan it this way, if you look at a listing of my film and television work on my IMDB page, you'll see the word "trans" in most of my projects. 

I began my career during the early years of the internet's widespread entry into the average family home, and America's awareness of trans people was only just beginning to blossom at the time that I came upon the scene.
I think that shaped the opportunities which came my way, and I was seen as an accessible and likable representation of the trans characters that outsiders were writing.
My business partner, trans director, and writer Andrea James, and I created the short film "Casting Pearls" to depict some of those early experiences in Hollywood as an actress auditioning for trans roles. I think writers have progressed from portraying trans people as deviant killers to tragic victims and now they tend to write us as non-threatening comedic relief.
There are notable exceptions, of course, but I think one can see a similar progression in the opportunities for Black actors in Hollywood. I look forward to the next steps, where we are just normal participants, but only time will tell.

Outfest 2011 - Interview with Calpernia Addams
and Andrea James (YouTube)

 

Monika: Some critics argue that the modern film industry still falls short in offering enough opportunities for women to showcase their talents and tell stories that truly resonate with female audiences. Do you share this perspective?

Calpernia: Women in Hollywood are still rarely allowed to "open" a movie, meaning that filmmakers are not confident that a film centered on a woman's story will recoup their investment by selling enough tickets. Of course, there are many examples of iconic female characters who buck this trend, but for the most part, the money is invested in male-led stories and women are supporting characters or co-stars.

Comedic films are proving to be the main exception, and movies like "Bridesmaids" have inspired a new spate of female-centered films currently in production, so hopefully, more equality is on the horizon.

Calpernia by Jose Guzman.

Monika: How do you feel about the way transgender stories have been portrayed in films so far? Do you think the industry is moving in the right direction?

Calpernia: As I alluded to before, most trans characters have been prostitutes, punchlines, psychos, or "poor tragic things". Andrea and I refer to these archetypes as "The Four P's".

I admit that we are a tiny minority overall. We are also a very diverse community of people comprised of all races and backgrounds. A "transgender story" can be that of a wealthy Black socialite, a tough White military pilot, a poor Asian prostitute, a single French parent, and yes there are criminals and malcontents alongside the strong and brave heroes in our community.

There are an infinite variety of stories to tell, but I wish we could see more positive portrays to balance out the almost universally negative, tragic, and/or hyper eroticized characterizations of the past.

Monika: At the 2009 GLAAD Media Awards, while accepting the award for 'Transamerican Love Story,' you delivered an emotional speech reflecting on how profoundly your life had transformed over the past decade...

Calpernia: When I moved to Hollywood sometime around 2002, I was focused on acting. I have gained some success as a live singer with vintage Hollywood cabaret music from the '40s and '50s, Jazz, Traditional Music, and some original Pop music as well. As I am no longer in my 20's, I face the same difficulty all actresses experience in finding roles that embrace my maturity.

But I will always be happy so long as I can perform artistically, whether on a cabaret stage or in front of a camera. I was recently featured as a singer in a commercial for Facebook's launch of their new software, and this Fall I was fortunate enough to be chosen as the face of OCC Makeup's Fall campaign in Sephora stores nationwide.

Calpernia Accepts GLAAD Media Award for
Transamerican Love Story (YouTube)

Monika: Which movie or role do you consider the true stepping stone for your acting career? Was it 'Transamerica' (2005)?

Calpernia: "Transamerica" was an incredible opportunity for me to become friends with star Felicity Huffman. My onscreen time was brief, but Felicity worked with Andrea and I for months researching her character, and during that time we became friends. She gave me some very good advice, which has led indirectly to several other jobs in Hollywood for me.

The most impactful work I ever had in Hollywood never actually made it to the screen: My friend Jane Fonda brought me into work with her on the comedy "Monster In Law", and although my scenes were cut, working on the film got me into the Screen Actors' Guild (SAG), which is the actors' union. Getting a membership is difficult, so I will always remember my experience hanging out with a Hollywood legend (Jane), the other star (Jennifer Lopez), and learning a lot about the process of film-making.

Starring in my own show on MTV's LOGO network ("Transamerican Love Story") did much to get me out into the mainstream as a television personality, as well. I am so grateful for that opportunity.

Calpernia Addams Presents: UNREAL
at Hamburger Mary's (by Matthew McPeck).

Monika: You’ve been a remarkably prolific artist, engaging in cabaret shows, songwriting, film productions, and scriptwriting. Which artistic field do you enjoy the most?

Calpernia: Right now, I'm enjoying the live performance the most. As a child, I performed traditional music with my family on Violin and other instruments, and currently, I do live shows in Cabaret, Traditional Music, and even tour with my friend, cult superstar, and singer/songwriter Patrick Wolf.

Monika: Do you have any exciting new projects in the works?

Calpernia: My campaign for OCC Makeup's Fall collection in Sephora stores nationwide will debut soon. I am scheduled to tour for the launches in New York, LA, and other major cities, where I will also sing at the after-parties.

I will be doing a cruise this Fall, and I am scheduled to record an acoustic Traditional Music album in London this year.

Monika: At what age did you transition to living as a woman? Was the process challenging for you? Did you receive support from your family and friends, and how did it affect your job situation?

Calpernia: I always had a feminine soul, but was forced to suppress myself throughout my youth. I finally began social transition in my early 20's, after I left my years as a military Combat Medic in the Navy Hospital Corps to become a stage performer. I began medical and legal transition in my mid-to-late 20's.

Monika: During your transition, did you have any transgender role models to look up to? What was your understanding of transgender issues at that time?

Calpernia: The first transsexual women I ever saw were showgirls in a very large, popular gay theatre and nightclub. I saw them combining a positive environment for transition with my love of performance, so I set it as my goal to join their show, which I soon did.

Calpernia by Jose Guzman.

Monika: What was the most challenging aspect of your coming out experience?

Calpernia: I was used to the cruelty and lack of acceptance from the world since I had always been a feminine, sensitive outsider. But being harshly rejected by my family upon revealing my intention to transition was the most difficult experience. They are resigned to my transition now, but they still do not understand it nor do they respect it.

END OF PART 1

PART 2

 

All the photos: courtesy of Calpernia Addams.

© 2013 - Monika Kowalska

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