Making history: Supergirl series 4 to feature trans character. Photo: WarnerBros.com
Transgender actor and activist, Nicole Maines, has made history by becoming TV’s first transgender live action superhero.
Producers made the announcement at the Comic Con International show currently on in San Diego.
Maines was ‘beyond thrilled’ at getting the chance to play a positive role model for trans people. ‘And in a super-suit. I get to wear a super-suit’, Maines said.
Dreamer: Nicole Maines makes history as TV’s first live action transgender superhero. Photo: nicolemaines instagram
‘It seems only fitting that we have a trans superhero for trans kids to look up to.’
Nai Nal appearsin the fourth series of Supergirl as an employee of CatCo Worldwide Media. The character is also known as Dreamer.
Character’s storyline will be about much more than being trans
Refreshingly, the plot lines around Maines’ character’s won’t just revolve around them being trans.
‘Nia is so much more than just a trans superhero. She is a reporter, she is hopeful, she’s powerful, wise and such a good friend.’
Nicole’s acting career so far has led her to a 2016 GLAAD award for her performance in US show Royal Pains.
Speaking to Variety magazine at the Comic Con show, Maines said there had been trans representation on TV for years. However, she said it ‘hadn’t been the right kind of representation’.
She said trans characters had been played by cisgender men and were portrayed as sex workers and drug addicts. She said it was great to see writers, directors and casting agencies stepping up to help disprove some of the stereotypes around transgender people.
“We’ve had trans representation on television for a while but it hasn’t been the right representation,” says Nicole Maines, who will play TV’s first trans superhero on #Supergirl https://t.co/xsvh5qAJZ3 pic.twitter.com/P9BVkbUY96
— Variety (@Variety) 22 July 2018
‘I think we’re in a time now, where, more than ever, representation in the media matters,’ she told Variety.
Although hugely excited about the historic role, Maines confessed to being nervous. ’It feels fitting to say with great power, comes great responsibility,’ she told Variety, ‘I’m nervous because I want to do it right’.
As reported by Gay Star News in May, series producers announced plans for a transgender superhero to be included in the series earlier this year.
We couldn’t be more excited and please for Maines and can’t wait to see the next series.
The fourth season of Supergirl is due to be aired on the CW Television Network in the US on 14 October.
See also:
New Doctor Who wows Comic Con crowd with gender fluid comments
