Hunter Schafer is over being cast in transgender roles: ‘I find it ultimately demeaning’
Cerys Davies April 3, 2024
Hunter Schafer isnt interested in playing transgender roles anymore. The 25-year-old actress, most recognized for her breakout role in Euphoria, HBOs Emmy-winning drama, no longer wants to be reduced to this element of her identity.
In an interview with GQ, she voices her concerns about
only
being recognized
only
as trans, especially by the media. She often avoids the word trans entirely in interviews feeling that her
gender
identity shouldnt be the first thing people mention.
Hunter Schafer broke through in Euphoria. Now shes mining her life for it
As soon as I say it [being transgender], it gets blastoff, Schafer said. It took a while to learn that and it also took a while to learn that I dont want to be [reduced to] that, and I find it ultimately demeaning to me and what I want to do. Especially after high school, I was sick of talking about it.
“I worked so hard to get to where I am, past these really hard points in my transition, and now I just want to be a girl and finally move on.
Her acting career began in 2018 when she was cast as Jules,
Zendayas character Rues
best friend and love interest
of Rue, who is played by Zendaya
. But
,
being an actor was never her intention. She started off as a model who got scouted immediately after high school
her work in activism
spotlit spotlighted
her and caught the fashion industrys attention.
From there, she found herself
in
being cast in a series full of either up
–
and
–
coming or established actors
, with co-stars including her costars being
Zendaya,
Alexa Demie and Sydney Sweeney.
Hunter Schafer of ‘Euphoria’ arrested in cease-fire demonstration at 30 RockEver since playing a part in the career-launching series, S
he has since played roles in The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes and in Tilman Singers newest horror movie Cuckoo. In addition to acting, she has continued modeling and has worked with brands such as Prada, Dior
and
Gucci
and many other prominent fashion houses
.
Schafer does feel guilty for not being more of a spokesperson for the transgender community, but she sees her separating herself from being trans as more of a strategy than anything else.
But ultimately,
I really do believe that not making
it
[being trans] the centerpiece to what Im doing will allow me to get further. And I think getting further and doing awesome
shit s
, in the interest of the movement, will be way more helpful than talking about it all the time, Schafer
said told GQ. ‘Euphoria’ star Angus Cloud overdosed on mix of fentanyl, cocaine and more, coroner confirms
Having been offered many transgender roles and denying them, Schafer isnt looking to achieve some sort of utopia.
She said she’s “totally cool” with people calling her a man or dissing her because she’s trans. She’s not interested in changing those hearts and minds.I am totally cool with people hating me for being trans or calling me a man. I am not interested in trying to convince them anymore.
“As long as youre staying in your lane …
” she points away from her, across the room
work. Work! Do that. And Im going to be over here with people I love, Schafer said.
