Hollywood icon Laverne Cox has reflected on Netflix series Orange Is The New Black’s mammoth legacy, seven years on from the finale.
The hit comedy-drama set in a women’s prison was one of the first major streaming shows to pave the way for a total transformation of the TV landscape when it debuted on Netflix in 2013.
And that wasn’t the only reason it was a revolutionary piece of media, with the majority-female cast showcasing a diverse range of women. For years, it’s been hailed for its LGBTQ+ representation, exploration of the prison system in the US and the standout acting from many of its breakout stars.
That includes Laverne, 54, whose role as Sophia Burset in the show was her biggest yet, making her one of the most recognisable TV stars of the time as she broke down barriers for trans women in the industry.
Speaking to Metro ahead of her new movie Animal Farm and the release of her memoir, Transcendent, she opened up about just what the impact of this groundbreaking series has meant to her.
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Not least because the show led to her becoming the first-ever trans woman to cover TIME magazine and be nominated for an Emmy in the acting category.
She said: ‘The legacy is in the fans for me. I’ve gotten to do so many things since Orange [Laverne’s shorthand for the show], but everything that’s happened in my life is because of that show.
‘It’s a beautiful thing to have been a part of something that has that impact, and it was so diverse. Since then, we haven’t had a show as diverse as Orange in terms of the representation of different kinds of women, ages, races, body types.
‘It’s just such beautiful, incredible memories. All of the wonderful history that that show allowed me to make with the Emmy nominations and the SAG award wins and the magazine covers and the hope that it gave so many trans people all over the world that they could live their dreams.
‘When I was on the cover of TIME magazine, one trans woman was like: “Did we overcome?”’
Of course, the path to change has never run smooth, and trans rights are under more threat than ever by political forces and high-profile figures leading the charge against progress.
Laverne Cox on trans rights, Animal Farm and the future
In a career defined by firsts, we’ve seen Laverne’s celebrity reach towering heights at the same time as trans rights have cycled through change for the better, and in recent years, an alarming regression across the Western world.
But with more voices than ever staking their claim in the toxic debate over equal rights for the trans community, Laverne tells Metro that, ultimately, trans people know themselves best.
It may seem an obvious point, but as the actress celebrates the release of her powerful new memoir, Transcendent, it’s clear she’s not done being a beacon for those most in need.
‘It’s insanely vulnerable,’ she says of the book.
But the star is determined to remain optimistic and highlights just how far we’ve come since her time on the Netflix series.
‘One of the things I’m most proud of post-Orange is that I’m not the last.
‘[The show] was not this one-off that propelled one trans person into the limelight, but it created space for other trans people to come after and be on magazine covers and be nominated for Emmys, win a Golden Globe,’ she said.
She is, of course, referring to Michaela Jaé Rodriguez, who won a Golden Globe in 2022 for her role in Pose.
She continued: ‘Obviously, there’s political backlash against that visibility, but once you see that you’re possible, you can’t unsee it. We’re not going anywhere as trans people, and I’m so proud of that and that Orange Is the New Black created a space for that.’
Most crucially of all, she acknowledged that her character Sophia was a ‘multi-dimensional human being’ who invited audiences to see her as more than just one identity.
‘That humanising process of trans people is crucial as we go forward,’ she concluded.
Animal Farm is in UK and Ireland cinemas. Transcendent is available to buy now.