There are women who live many lives in one. Denise Chanterelle DuBois is one of them. An actress, environmentalist, businesswoman, and author, Denise has carved her story with grace, resilience, and the kind of radiant strength that comes only after walking through fire. Born in Portland, Oregon, she bloomed into her truth later in life, transitioning just shy of her 50th birthday. But what might seem like a late arrival was, in fact, a bold and beautiful rebirth. In her unforgettable memoir, Self-Made Woman (2017), Denise opens the curtain on a life shaped by trauma, addiction, survival, and ultimately, transformation. With honesty and elegance, she recounts her path from turmoil to triumph, refusing to let the shadows of her past dim the light she now shares so freely with the world. Whether as Margaret le Plage in The Auteur or Sunshine the Barfly in Rid of Me, Denise’s screen presence is as magnetic as her real-life authenticity.
Beyond the spotlight, she is a passionate advocate for trans rights, a lover of fashion with a West Coast flair, and a woman whose inner peace radiates in every carefully chosen word. She writes, acts, and lives with intention, always mindful of the power of representation and the importance of being seen, not as a spectacle, but as a full human being. Interviewing Denise feels less like asking questions and more like stepping into a room filled with light, courage, and kindness. She is, in her own words, “fortune’s favorite daughter”, a phrase that captures both the miraculousness of her survival and the gratitude that defines her every day. And perhaps that’s her greatest gift to all of us: a reminder that no matter how late it may seem, it is never too late to become yourself.
Monika: Today, it’s my pleasure and honor to interview Denise Chanterelle DuBois, an American actress, environmentalist, and businesswoman from Portland, Oregon, as well as the author of the biographical memoir Self-Made Woman (2017). Hello, Denise!
Denise: Hi Monika, and thank you so much for interviewing me today! I really appreciate it.
Monika: You describe yourself as “fortune’s favorite daughter.” Could you share a bit more about what that means to you?
Denise: In my memoir, I write about so many close calls I had with death, yet survived basically unharmed. I had huge drug and alcohol problems in “my other life,” as I like to call it, and I rightfully should either be dead from overdosing or in a nursing home with no brain left. Yet here I am, still standing and grateful for that. Indeed, I am “fortune’s favorite daughter.”
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| SELF-MADE WOMAN book trailer (YouTube) |
Monika: You have an impressive career as a businesswoman, but you’ve also made your mark as an actress. IMDb lists you in two films: The Auteur (2008) as Margaret le Plage, and Rid of Me (2011) as Sunshine the Barfly. Could you tell us how you got involved in these projects and what those roles meant to you?
Denise: Both of those movies won awards at the Tribeca Film Festival in New York. After I transitioned to Denise, my life opened like a flower for me. At a party, I met the writer and director of the comedy The Auteur, and we became friends. When auditions came around sometime later, I was invited to audition for the role of Margaret le Plage, who was president of Arturo Domingo’s fan club, Arturo being the main character in the movie. Arturo was an over-the-hill porn director who made really bad porn but was still enthusiastically invited to Portland to be honored at the “Northwest Porn Festival.” That movie traveled the globe, and I went along for the ride. It was a great experience for me and gave me a whole new perspective on life and creativity.
Monika: What was it like attending the Tribeca Film Festival and experiencing the film industry from that side?
Denise: Thanks to Rid of Me, a dark comedy about a middle-class couple whose marriage crumbles into chaos, I met Robert De Niro, Tina Fey, Sigourney Weaver, and Steve Martin in New York during the festival. It was thrilling to be among such renowned actors and filmmakers; the atmosphere was electric and inspiring. I was cast as Sunshine the Barfly and had a drunken scene in the middle of the movie with the main character. It was challenging but fun to step into that role and bring authenticity to the character’s chaotic energy.
Monika: Did your experiences in these films influence your life or career in any unexpected ways?
Denise: Absolutely. Acting allowed me to explore different facets of myself and pushed me beyond my comfort zone. It gave me confidence and a voice in ways I hadn’t imagined before. These roles also helped me connect with people from diverse backgrounds, enriching both my personal and professional life. It was an important chapter in my journey of self-discovery and expression.
Monika: Do you enjoy acting? Are there any actresses you particularly admire?
Denise: I’ve always been drawn to acting like a moth to a streetlight. I did quite a bit of stage acting earlier in life, in my other life, in very masculine roles. Jigger Cragin in Carousel and Buffalo Bill Cody in Annie Get Your Gun, to name just a few. I just like the creative spontaneity of acting, and theater was my game. Being cast in movies was an abrupt departure from what I’d done before, but I found that experience just as enriching and rewarding as stage acting. Favorite actresses include Laverne Cox, Uma Thurman, Glenn Close, and Meryl Streep, to name just a few who come to mind.
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Denise: I hesitated for a number of years before deciding to pen it. I was afraid to step out into the public eye and tell the brutally honest, no-holds-barred story of my life. After transitioning in November of 2003, just one month shy of my 50th birthday, all I wanted to do was melt back into society. But, as time drifted by and I became acutely aware of the struggle going on all around me, society’s blindness to the transgender movement’s fight for acceptance, how could I just sit back and do nothing? No, my story had to be told.
Monika: Your book is incredibly honest. You describe your life as being overshadowed by abuse, alcoholism, drug use, and a gender identity crisis. Which parts of your experience do you think could be most helpful for other trans women?
Denise: I ran away from my true self for decades and numbed myself with all the substances you just mentioned, in an effort to forget. In the end, my true self caught up with me. Your shadow in the sun is always with you! Remember, that is my sage advice, spare yourself the agony of what I endured. Accept yourself sooner rather than later, and your life will improve. You deserve this, for the both of you, inside you! Take care of yourself, learn to accept and love yourself, and share your joy with humanity.
Monika: We often pay a high price to live authentically, losing families, friends, jobs, and social standing. Did you experience such losses? What was the hardest part of your coming out?
Denise: I lost my wife of 15 years, whom I loved dearly, but fortunately we had no children. My mother struggled with my transition from the start, and I write about her in the opening chapter of the book. She was beginning to come around when she suddenly passed away five years ago. I had to create a new family of friends who are supportive and loving toward me, and for that, I’m very grateful. Another difficult phase I experienced was job discrimination. I had real trouble finding employment in my fields, even with a great résumé. I write about that in my book, particularly my time living in Manhattan and what happened there.
Monika: You transitioned to a woman at age 50. Have you ever regretted making this change so late in life?
Denise: Sometimes I do; other times I just shrug my shoulders and fall back on that old axiom: “better late than never.” I’ve been so happy being Denise these past 14 years that it really doesn’t matter much to me. It’s all about finally achieving balance between my brain and my body. Such contentment!
Monika: When you were transitioning, did you have any transgender role models you looked up to or followed?
Denise: There really weren’t that many role models back then, and it all seemed kind of dated to me compared to the explosion of media exposure happening these days. Today’s media attention on transgender issues is remarkable, and I’m so glad to witness this. So no, I didn’t have any role models to speak of, but when I had my gender-affirming surgery in Bangkok, Thailand, I met some incredible women who have served as role models for me ever since.
Monika: Are there any transgender women you admire and respect today?
Denise: Yes. Actress Laverne Cox, author Nichol Maines, and trans activists, authors, and actresses Calpernia Addams and Andrea James.
Monika: The transgender community is often said to be thriving now. As Laverne Cox said, “Trans is beautiful.” Teenage girls become models and dancers, talented women become writers, singers, and actresses. Those interested in politics, science, and business become successful politicians, academics, and businesswomen. What is your overall view of the current situation for transgender women in society? Are we just scratching the surface, or is real change happening?
Denise: Change is constant and never ceases. Yes, we are making progress, mostly in baby steps with occasional setbacks, but in the end, we will get there. What does “get there” mean? The day is coming, and I hope, within my remaining years, to witness it, when it will no longer matter if you are trans, gay, lesbian, bisexual, or questioning, and society will simply accept you as a contributing member, without any conditions or discrimination whatsoever. Happy days when we reach that milestone.
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| SELF-MADE WOMAN book trailer (YouTube) |
Monika: The transgender cause is usually included as part of the broader LGBTQ community. Being the penultimate letter in the acronym, do you think the transgender community can promote its own cause effectively within the LGBTQ group?
Denise: Outside of a very few, I’ve seen tremendous support for the trans community in promoting our causes from our sisters and brothers within the rainbow coalition. So, I would turn that question around and ask what we can do to help support everything the rainbow stands for and assist their particular causes. We are all in this together and must remain united, because this cultural divide, promoted and encouraged by some in this country with disinformation and inaccuracies, is far from over.
Monika: What are your thoughts on how transgender stories or characters have been portrayed so far in films, newspapers, or books?
Denise: I’ll take it, and I am grateful for the exposure. As I’ve crept into the public eye, it’s become painfully clear to me how much lack of education and understanding, through no fault of their own, about trans people prevails in the cisgender community within this country. Basic questions I get now, which I take for granted from my transition 14 years ago, are still being asked. It’s important for me to slow down, respect those questions, and answer them patiently so I can do my part to help. I’m very impressed and happy with the recent media focus on trans issues over the past several years, as this helps, in my opinion, to break the ice, let the sunshine in, and educate. That way, we can move forward and make our society all it can be as a united people.
Monika: Do you participate in any lobbying campaigns? Do you believe transgender women can make a difference in politics?
Denise: Oh Monika, don’t tempt me! I’ve given great thought to entering politics because I feel that, as an elected trans woman to public office, I could make a huge difference in educating people. We need more of this, and I’m not getting any younger, so if I do decide to go into politics, it needs to be soon.
Monika: Do you think that in our lifetime we might see a transgender woman become President of the USA? Or at least the First Lady?
Denise: Yes. I never thought I’d live to see a person of color become president of this country, and that happened. I hope to still be around when the day comes that a transgender person becomes president of this country. And let’s not rule out one of our trans brothers being in that mix. Trans men get much less media coverage than trans women. I know many trans men and have great respect for all of them. They’ve gone through so much pain and suffering too and seem so forgotten. It breaks my heart.
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| SELF-MADE WOMAN book trailer (YouTube) |
Monika: Are you passionate about fashion? What styles or types of outfits do you usually prefer? Do you have any favorite brands, colors, or trends you follow?
Denise: I love shopping for affordable West Coast-designed dresses, specifically with a Pacific Northwest slant. I have a favorite dress shop here in Portland and like to buy at the end of the season to catch closeout sales, so I can wear the clothes the following year. I also love shoes, accessories, and lingerie. My winter style leans toward nice coats, scarves, hats, winter dresses, and boots.
Monika: How do you adapt your fashion choices during the colder months? Any tips or personal favorites?
Denise: One thing about winter is you can get away with a bad hair day by simply wearing a hat, and I do tend to skip pedicures more often in winter because, who sees your toes? I’ve always been light in the makeup department of my life. I have nice skin with a darker tone, so I can get away with it, and I’m blessed with long eyelashes. I wear lipstick in many different colors all the time, and my hair is plentiful and runs on automatic pilot. I have no grey or white hair yet and sometimes wonder why at my age, but I’m not complaining! I love the wax salon and get waxing done regularly, including Brazilians. I just love the way my soft skin feels after a waxing session.
Monika: How important is love in your life, and what role does it play in your personal journey?
Denise: Loving humanity is the greatest love one can have, and learning to love yourself and forgive others will go a long way to help get you there. It’s one thing to love a significant other in your life, which of course is healthy, but quite another to love humanity for all its faults and the perceived wrongs that may have been perpetrated against you or those you love. This is what I mean by forgiving. We must learn to forgive and love each other unconditionally. If we can find this path toward each other, the power of the universe will open before us.
Monika: Are you currently working on any new projects you’d like to share?
Denise: Yes. I’ve begun writing my second book. It picks up where Self-Made Woman ends in 2004. So much has happened since then, and I can assure you, Monika, it will be just as much a page-turner as my current book is. The journey continues!
Monika: What advice would you give to transgender girls and women who are struggling with gender dysphoria?
Denise: Don’t despair. Things will and do get better. Remember who you are, where you came from, and let your inner strength guide you. It’s there! Think of yourself as a raft out at sea in a great storm, one that in the end you will endure and survive. Look to the bright future that awaits you when the storm is over, the rainbow comes out, and life begins anew for you. Each and every one of us is special, as is all of humanity, even those who have lost their way in rejection and hate toward others. Remember to forgive them too. Don’t let hate rule your heart, for that’s what they want.
Monika: My pen friend Gina Grahame once told me that we should never limit our potential because of how we were born or by what we see other transgender people doing. She said our dreams should not end on an operating table, that’s where they begin. Do you agree with this?
Denise: Dreams never end, and never should. Always follow your dreams. That is your birthright and the gift of being alive. Follow your dreams wherever they may lead you, and enjoy the short time we have on this planet. Remember, our Earth has completed over 4 billion orbits around the sun! If we’re very lucky, we get 100 orbits. We will always be children to Mother Earth.
Monika: Denise, thank you for the interview!
All the photos: courtesy of Denise Chanterelle DuBois.
© 2017 - Monika Kowalska
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