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.

Interview with Rebecca Root

 

Rebecca Root, a British actress, stand-up comedian, and voice and speech teacher, was born in Woking, Surrey, England. She spent her early childhood there before her family moved to rural Oxfordshire when she was eleven. She attended Bartholomew School in Eynsham and developed an interest in acting through local drama groups and the National Youth Theatre of Great Britain. After completing her sixth-form education in 1987, she moved to London to train at the Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts. Root subsequently spent approximately a decade working as an actress in television and theatre. Her early television appearances included the popular British sitcom Keeping Up Appearances and the medical drama Casualty. Her theatrical work included productions of The Lady's Not for Burning, Hamlet, and Tartuffe. Although she gained professional experience across a range of productions, she eventually found that opportunities in acting had become more difficult to obtain following her transition. In 2003, Root transitioned from male to female. She later pursued a new professional direction by studying voice at the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama, where she earned a Master of Arts in Voice Studies in 2012. Combining her academic training with her acting experience, she developed a career as a voice and speech coach, helping transgender people find voices that felt authentic to their gender identities. 

 

Her work reflected an understanding that voice is an important aspect of personal expression and how people are perceived by others. Root also explored the subject through writing and research. In 2009, she published an article entitled There and Back Again: Adventures in Genderland in the journal Voice and Speech Review. Her professional interests brought together acting, vocal technique, gender, and the practical challenges faced by transgender people seeking a voice that better reflected who they were. In August 2014, the BBC commissioned Boy Meets Girl, a romantic sitcom centred on Judy, a transgender woman in her forties who begins a relationship with a younger man. Root was selected to play the leading role, marking a significant opportunity for a transgender actress to portray a transgender character in a major British television comedy. The commission attracted attention because transgender actors had long faced limited opportunities to play substantial, authentic roles on screen. For Root, the project offers the prospect of combining her acting talents with a story featuring a transgender woman at its centre. Her growing recognition is also reflected in the wider discussion about transgender representation in British entertainment. Root has been emerging as an actress whose experience, professional training, and commitment to vocal work gave her a distinctive place in the industry.

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.