15 Trans and Nonbinary Rising Stars and Where to Watch Them

15 Trans and Nonbinary Rising Stars and Where to Watch Them

In honor of Pride, Rotten Tomatoes is highlighting LGBTQIA+ voices, and as part of the celebration, we’re spotlighting actors, activists, and storytellers of queer and trans experiences. In each of their respective roles, the following actors and storytellers offer trans, nonbinary, and gender-nonconforming communities the chance to see ourselves not just reflected and represented, but in command of an audience. They show us that queer existence is as powerful as it is commonplace. They’re changing Hollywood, redefining authenticity and originality one role at a time.
By portraying characters of varied gender expressions, these actors and performers both honor the queer...

In honor of Pride, Rotten Tomatoes is highlighting LGBTQIA+ voices, and as part of the celebration, we’re spotlighting actors, activists, and storytellers of queer and trans experiences. In each of their respective roles, the following actors and storytellers offer trans, nonbinary, and gender-nonconforming communities the chance to see ourselves not just reflected and represented, but in command of an audience. They show us that queer existence is as powerful as it is commonplace. They’re changing Hollywood, redefining authenticity and originality one role at a time.
By portraying characters of varied gender expressions, these actors and performers both honor the queer trailblazers before them and inspire generations to come. They entertain us while offering opportunities to see ourselves in an industry long known for perpetuating divisions of race, gender, and sexuality.
What does it mean to be trans or nonbinary and an actor in Hollywood? Whether portraying a mother of dragons, an engineer of artificial intelligence, a teen trying to survive in the wilderness, or a babysitter looking for their life’s purpose, the following trans and nonbinary rising stars are redefining and defying the gender binary onscreen. Bella Ramsey 96% The Last of Us (Photo by Liane Hentscher/HBO)
At just 19, Bella Ramsey has become a thriving breakout star leaving a trail of memorable roles in their midst in a short amount of time. Earning praise for their portrayal of the young yet fierce Lyanna Mormont on Game of Thrones , Ramsey quickly became synonymous with strong, independent, and outspoken characters.
More recently, Ramsey can be seen playing the hardheaded and sharp-witted Ellie in The Last of Us . As a nonbinary actor, Ramsey has stated: “Playing these more feminine characters is a chance to be something so opposite to myself, and it’s really fun.” Bilal Baig 100% Sort Of (Photo by Courtesy of HBO Max)
Approaching gender and sexuality in an earnest, messy, and heartwarming way, Bilal Baig highlights the wonderfully complex potential of what it means to write what you know. Their spellbinding MAX series Sort Of tells the story of Sabi, a babysitter seeking purpose in life — and ultimately themselves. In writing and portraying Sabi, Baig’s work feels so unfiltered that the lines between character and creator start to blur.
Inspiring and reflective of the ever-fluid state of self, Baig’s exploration serves as a universal call for self-acceptance and understanding. Dua Saleh 95% Sex Education (Photo by Sam Taylor / Netflix / Courtesy Everett Collection)
Dua Saleh is a Sudanese-American actor, musician, and performer. Before becoming a recording artist and actor, Saleh was involved in grassroots organizations and studied systemic inequality at Augsburg University in Minnesota. Since 2019, they’ve released three EPs, citing Sister Rosetta Tharpe (a queer icon and the mother of rock and roll) as well as Arab and Sudanese music as heavy influences on their RB stylings.
In season 3 of Netflix’s Sex Education , Dua portrays Cal, a nonbinary student who defies their British private school’s aesthetic and social expectations while challenging their peers to question each others’ assumptions about gender and sexuality. Emma D’Arcy 88% Game of Thrones (Photo by Ollie Upton / HBO)
To play a woman on the verge of inheriting a kingdom is no easy feat, yet Emma D’Arcy has given themselves over to the role of Rhaenyra Targaryen completely, filling our screens with sublime angst in every episode. Within the demands of the character, D’Arcy shows that one’s personal identity doesn’t infringe on the character they portray – in fact, the caliber of this role and its performance are mutually enhanced.
D’Arcy is a leading...