With a second season on the way, the woman behind Golden Globe-winning comedy drama Transparent has revealed that a new group of cult stars will be joining the cast. Just a month after signing a modelling contract with Gemma Ward’s agency IMG, Dazed 100 queen, trans model and actress Hari Nef will appear. Starring alongside her will be the internet’s favourite photographer Petra Collins and actress Kiersey Clemons from Sundance hit Dope. The show’s director Jill Soloway revealed the cast via a series of behind-the-scenes photographs posted to her Instagram account.
Transparent, which made its debut on Amazon TV last year, follows the journey of a family whose father comes out as transgender. But despite taking home two awards at this year's Golden Globes, the show faced outcry when cisgender actor (Arrested Development star Jeffrey Tambor) was cast in the role of this father, Maura Pfefferman. The act received heavy criticism from the trans community, as well as accusations of “transface”. The casting of Nef however, signals change.
Speaking on Laverne Cox and Caitlyn Jenner, the actress and model told Dazed about the importance of trans visibility. “It’s a lot easier for those people on TV to be understood and loved, even desired,” she said. “I don’t want the same trans story to be told over and over again. I don’t want people to get stuck on this very western idea of what it means to be transgender.”
