Interview with Bianca Leigh

Bianca Leigh’s journey to becoming a celebrated actress and advocate for transgender rights is a story of persistence, passion, and breaking boundaries. Born in 1962 in Willingboro, New Jersey, Bianca was captivated by the world of performance from an early age. Growing up, she found inspiration in the glamour of Hollywood’s golden era, idolizing actresses like Lucille Ball, Carole Lombard, Rita Hayworth, and Barbara Stanwyck. These icons sparked her desire to perform, even if the world she saw on screen didn’t yet reflect someone like her. As a child, Bianca’s love for classic films was matched only by her aspirations to be a part of that magical world. But it wasn’t just the glitz and glamour that drew her in; it was the chance to escape and tell stories, stories that didn’t yet include the complexity of her own identity. When Bianca set her sights on acting, it was clear that this was not just a passing interest. She was determined to make it her life.

 

Her journey into formal training began at Rutgers University, where she earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in acting from the prestigious Mason Gross School of the Arts in 1984. However, her time there wasn’t without its struggles. As she grappled with her emerging gender identity, Bianca faced harsh realities: her professors warned her that coming out as transgender could cost her career opportunities. It was a pivotal moment in her life, and despite the advice to remain silent, Bianca knew she couldn’t live a lie. The desire to live authentically was too strong to ignore, and so she set off on a path that would not only shape her career but also her identity. In the late 1980s and early '90s, Bianca found herself immersed in the vibrant downtown theater scene in New York City. It was a time when the boundaries of performance art were being pushed, and Bianca became a part of that revolution. She worked with avant-garde theater groups like The Talking Band and collaborated with performance artist Taylor Mac, whose productions were known for their boldness and subversive storytelling. Some of her most notable stage roles included performances in Cornbury: The Queen’s Governor and The Lily’s Revenge, both of which earned her a reputation for her fearless, unconventional approach to acting.

 

Photo by Maya Guez.

 

While theater became Bianca's creative home, she also ventured into film, marking her place in the world of cinema. In 2005, she landed a role in the critically acclaimed film Transamerica, starring Felicity Huffman. Bianca played Mary Ellen, a character who became an important support to Huffman’s Bree, a transgender woman on a journey of self-discovery. It was a role that not only showcased her acting talent but also highlighted her commitment to bringing authentic transgender stories to the screen. Bianca would go on to appear in other films, including Redirecting Eddie (2008) and The Battle of Pussy Willow Creek (2010), but it was her work in Transamerica that truly solidified her place in the world of queer cinema. Television also called to Bianca, and she answered. In 2015, she appeared on Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, portraying Dr. Rachel Sandow, a psychiatrist who deals with the delicate subject of transgender issues. Her performance was a reflection of her deep understanding of the complexities of transgender lives, offering viewers a rare and much-needed perspective.

 

Yet Bianca’s work didn’t stop at acting. She was a passionate advocate for transgender representation and rights. In 2011, she created and performed Busted, a one-woman show that debuted at the Laurie Beechman Theatre. The show was a powerful exploration of her own life and the challenges of living as a transgender woman in the world of performance. She continued to use her platform to create space for transgender voices, participating in productions like Trans Scripts, Part I: The Women, which premiered at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe in 2015. The production sought to present a diverse range of transgender experiences, challenging stereotypes and expanding the narratives about transgender lives. As much as Bianca was building a career in the public eye, her personal journey was just as intricate. By 2015, Bianca had become a trailblazer in an industry that had long excluded transgender voices. Her courage to speak out and to embrace her identity not only shaped her own career but also paved the way for greater representation and visibility for transgender individuals in the arts. And though Bianca’s journey was far from over, the legacy she was building would inspire generations to come.

 

Photo by Jeff Eason for Next Magazine.

 

Monika: Hello Bianca! Welcome to my blog!

Bianca: Witam, Monika!

Monika: Monika: “She’s got Bette Davis eyes, Joan Crawford’s facial expressions, Faye Dunaway’s angst, Norma Shearer’s hauteur, and Marlene Dietrich’s cross-sexual appeal.” Who is this woman?

Bianca: A press agent’s dream! LOL That woman is me on-stage, chewing the scenery. The off-stage me is much more sedate. A little boring, even.

Monika: It’s been almost a decade since your film debut as Mary Ellen in the groundbreaking film Transamerica (2005), alongside Felicity Huffman. Looking back, how do you feel about the role now, and what impact has it had on you?

Bianca: Mary Ellen is still amazing. She’s a wonderful foil for Bree, who’s just begun her transition. Bree is awkward and unsure, while Mary Ellen has been her authentic self for many years. She has persevered and thrived; she’s completely comfortable in her own skin. She’s got a great sense of humor, a big heart, and loves an occasional glass of white wine.

I had the best time doing Transamerica. Everyone involved believed in the project so strongly. It was a dream job. Felicity was especially generous, showing me how to work with the camera - I had done mostly theatre before then. Felicity also read her lines to me from off-camera during my shots. Stars rarely do that. She’s a real actress and salt-of-the-earth.

Monika: After Transamerica, you appeared in two more films: Redirecting Eddie (2008) and The Battle of Pussy Willow Creek (2010). How were those experiences for you, and what stood out about working on them?

Bianca: Yes. ‘Battle’ was great because I got to work with Dirty Martini and Wendy Jo Cohen. Dirty and I played streetwalkers plying our trade under a bridge in some godforsaken part of Brooklyn. We had a blast! You know almost immediately when the people involved in a project are trans allies, and when you are the gag. In Redirecting Eddie, I was the gag.

Monika: Despite having the intelligence, talent, and looks that would make anyone a great Hollywood actress, your acting career hasn’t flourished as expected since Transamerica. What do you think contributed to that, and how has the industry changed since then?

Bianca: I was hoping to get more film and television work after Transamerica, but the parts really weren’t there. No agent wanted a trans client at that time, no matter how much they admired your work. Things are much different now. 

 

Performing A Night at the Tombs at Bowery Poetry Club.
Photo by New York Times.

 

Monika: It seems that your talent has found a more prominent place in the theater world, with standout performances in productions like Cornbury: The Queen's Governor and The Lily's Revenge. How has the theater scene, particularly in New York, shaped your career, and what do you enjoy most about working in this space?

Bianca: Yes, I work all the time in the ‘downtown’ theatre here in New York. In that respect, I’d have to say that my career has flourished. I love it - so many gifted artists who advance the art form in brilliant ways. I have several life-long colleagues and collaborators, like Taylor Mac and Tim Cusack, that I work with again and again. 

Monika: In addition to your acting, you wrote and starred in your own biographical solo plays, A Night at the Tombs and Busted. What does being a transgender artist mean to you, and how has your journey as a trans woman influenced your work?

Bianca: I’m not sure. I just think of myself as an actress with a trans history; an actress who has faced closed doors in Hollywood and some dry spells in New York because of that trans history. So I decided to write my own show. I’d like to think there is art in what I wrote and performed, but my initial motivation was to make work for myself.

Monika: Do you think transgender art is becoming more visible and recognized in today’s world?

Bianca: Yes, I do. I see trans rockers, writers, composers, directors, and producers. We have always been here, but we seem to be getting more attention.

Monika: How do you feel about the portrayal of transgender stories and characters in films, books, and the media so far? Have any stood out to you?

Bianca: I love Transparent. My pal Laverne Cox is doing wonderful work both as an actress and a public speaker. She’s on fire! And having Janet Mock host her own show on MSNBC? Wow! I love when a script ‘touches’ on trans issues but doesn’t focus solely on them. Bury those tired old tropes!

 

Photo by Michael Wakefield.

 

Monika: Are there any exciting new projects you’re currently working on or looking forward to?

Bianca: I am going to Edinburgh this August with the wonderful Paul Lucas and his verbatim theatre piece Trans Scripts. It’s based upon over seventy interviews Paul did with trans and intersex people from around the world. We are trying to present a broader range of trans stories, told in our own words. The creative team is incredible, and the production will feature an international cast.

I’m also going to be in a new web series in the fall titled Last Call, by my buddy Mike Dreyden.

Things are going well (knock on wood). I just signed with a new agency and they have already submitted me for several projects. And I have just been cast in an episode of Law & Order as psychiatrist Dr. Rachel Sandow!

Monika: How do you view the current state of transgender women in American society, especially considering the progress and challenges we face today?

Bianca: It’s a bit maddening here. On the one hand, trans women are making major strides politically and culturally; we are breaking barriers in government, medicine, business, and the arts, but at the same time, our lives are still considered so disposable, especially trans women of color. TWOC are being murdered - it’s deplorable.

Monika: At what age did you begin your transition, and how would you describe the process? Were there particular challenges or moments that stood out for you?

Bianca: I was young. I’ve been living as a woman for over thirty years. It’s hard to say how difficult it was. Of course, I faced hatred and derision at times, but I’d already faced that as an effeminate boy. It was so much easier to face adversity as my true self.

The first year was awkward, but as I got it together, I was just so happy to live my life as a female that I was on a pink cloud much of the time. I was also pretty, and people were much easier on the pretty girls. It was like a get-out-of-jail card. Don’t get me wrong - I still faced plenty of scorn, but, luckily, it wasn’t a constant.

Monika: During your transition, did you have any transgender role models or figures who inspired you?

Bianca: Yes. Tula (Caroline Cossey) was my inspiration. I got to meet her and she was so beautiful and gracious. Many of the ballroom beauties here in New York offered me friendship and guidance and got me through those early years.

 

Backstage selfie at the Stonewall Inn.

 

Monika: Are there any transgender women today who you particularly admire or look up to for their work and impact?

Bianca: My friend-for-life Roz Blumenstein - she went from teenage trans girl on the streets to sober social worker. Carmen Xtravaganza was the great beauty of my generation. She was always so kind to me in the bad old days. I think Laverne is stepping up to the plate with such aplomb - she really hits it out of the park every time. I’m also a great fan of Janet Mock.

 

END OF PART 1

PART 2

 

All photos: courtesy of Bianca Leigh.

The main photo credits: Ted Ely.

© 2015 - Monika Kowalska

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