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Tag: Laverne Cox

  • Laverne Cox of ‘Orange Is the New Black’ Shares Words of Encouragement For ‘Struggling’ Fans

    Laverne Cox of ‘Orange Is the New Black’ Shares Words of Encouragement For ‘Struggling’ Fans

    Laverne Cox of Orange Is the New Black took a moment Sunday to share a few words of encouragement for fans at her first-ever appearance at the Golden Globe Awards.

    While speaking with Ryan Seacrest on the red carpet Sunday night, Laverne paused to offer a heartfelt and inspiring message to fans who are struggling.

    “I want to do a shout-out to everybody out there who’s watching who feel like your lives might … you’re struggling with feeling like you’re enough, like your lives are treated like they don’t matter, ” she said. “Your lives matter, your voices matter, your stories matter.”

    The 31-year-old actress looked lovely in a custom white gown designed by Elizabeth Kennedy and jewels by Lorraine Schwartz for the occassion.

    Cox later tweeted her excitement about the awards show on Saturday, writing, “Landed in Los Angeles today to attend the #GoldenGlobes tomorrow night for the first time. #excited Repping #oitnb #transisbeautiful.”

    The actress told Ryan Seacrest that she was very honored to be a part of her hit Netflix show, which was nominated for Best Television Series, Comedy or Musical.

    “I’m so grateful to be a part of this show that’s changed my life and has unprecedented diversity of women on television,” Laverne said.

    Cox hinted that big things are on the horizon for fans of the Netflix original series.

    “Our brilliant creator Jenji Kohan has this amazing vision,” Laverne revealed. “We just finished shooting season four and we’re going deeper into the issues of these women and the criminal justice system and it’s getting even more real if you can believe it.”

  • Victoria Justice Cast as Janet Weiss in Fox’s Remake of “Rocky Horror Picture Show”

    Victoria Justice has been cast in the role of Janet Weiss in Fox’s upcoming remake of Rocky Horror Picture Show. Justice’s role was played by Susan Sarandon in the original film.

    Taking to social media to share her “big secret,” Victoria Justice announced her new role via Twitter.

    Victoria Justice then gave shout-outs to some of her cast mates.

    Orange is the New Black star Laverne Cox will star alongside Victoria Justice, too.

    The Huffington Post isn’t sure Victoria Justice in Rocky Horror Picture Show is good casting.

    “But in what world does choosing Justice as Janet make any sense, apart from trying to convince audiences that she has shed her child-star persona in favor of some more controversial fare?” they ask.

    “This is Rocky Horror not Spring Breakers,” the HuffPost adds.

    What are your thoughts on Victoria Justice playing Janet Weiss in Rocky Horror Picture Show? Will she pleasantly surprise her critics, or will this be another of those TV remakes that simply shouldn’t have come to fruition?

  • Laverne Cox Nabs Dr. Frank-N-Furter Role in ‘Rocky Horror’ Remake

    Laverne Cox Nabs Dr. Frank-N-Furter Role in ‘Rocky Horror’ Remake

    Laverne Cox, best known as Sophia on Netflix’s Orange is the New Black, has signed on to play Dr. Frank-N-Furter in an upcoming remake of cult classic The Rocky Horror Picture Show.

    Nothing like a little wind in a girl's hair. #TransIsBeautiful. It's a lovely day today!

    A photo posted by laverne cox (@lavernecox) on

    The role was made iconic by actor Tim Curry (also well known for playing Pennywise the clown in the adaptation of Stephen King’s IT and Darkness in Ridley Scott’s Legend) in the 1975 musical, which also starred Barry Bostwick and Susan Sarandon.

    News of the remake emerged earlier this year. CNN reported in April:

    Fox is developing a two-hour remake of the 1975 cult classic to be directed, executive-produced and choreographed by Kenneth Ortega (“High School Musical”). The project, tentatively titled “The Rocky Horror Picture Show Event,” is casting-contingent.

    The special will be filmed in advance and not air live, but few details beyond that are known. In addition to Ortega, Gail Berman and Lou Adler, who produced the original film, are also attached as executive producers. The special will be produced by Fox 21 Television Studios, and Berman’s The Jackal Group.

    The production is expected to premiere next fall.

  • Emma Watson, a UN Goodwill Ambassador, Named Top Feminist Celebrity of the Year

    Emma Watson, a UN Goodwill Ambassador, Named Top Feminist Celebrity of the Year

    Emma Watson was named the top feminist celebrity of the year by the Ms. Foundation and Cosmopolitan.com. She was chosen by the public in an online survey.

    As a UN Goodwill Ambassador, Watson helped found the HeForShe Campaign this year, for which she gave a rousing speech urging men to take up the feminist cause, telling them, “gender equality is your issue, too.”

    The recently single Watson, a Brown University graduate with a degree in English Literature, explained her reasons for advocating for the feminist movement during the speech.

    “I started questioning gender-based assumptions when at eight I was confused at being called ‘bossy,’ because I wanted to direct the plays… When at 14 I started being sexualized by certain elements of the press. When at 15 my girlfriends started dropping out of their sports teams because they didn’t want to appear ‘muscly.’ When at 18 my male friends were unable to express their feelings.”

    Watson went on to say gender equality is not just a fight for women.

    “..in the UK suicide is the biggest killer of men between 20-49 years of age; eclipsing road accidents, cancer and coronary heart disease. I’ve seen men made fragile and insecure by a distorted sense of what constitutes male success. Men don’t have the benefits of equality either. We don’t often talk about men being imprisoned by gender stereotypes but I can see that that they are and that when they are free, things will change for women as a natural consequence.”

    The complete list includes Emma Watson, Laverne Cox, Rachel Maddow, Beyoncé, Cher, Amy Poehler, Tina Fey, Meryl Streep, Mindy Kaling and Ann Curry.

    “We celebrate all feminists every day, but today we’re giving a hat tip to celebrities who are helping to promote women’s equality,” Ms. Foundation President Teresa Younger said in a statement. “Every celebrity on the list has either embraced the term ‘feminist,’ spoken out for women’s equal rights or battled against sexist oppression.”

  • Laverne Cox Gushes Over Adoring Fans

    Laverne Cox Gushes Over Adoring Fans

    Laverne Cox is at the top of her game!

    In addition to having a starring breakout role on the popular Netflix series Orange Is the New Black, she is also the first transgender woman to cover Time magazine.

    Needless to say, the 30-year-old actress is living life to the fullest and bringing her dreams to fruition.

    Now, she’s become an advocate for transgender youth who struggle with their identity just like she did.

    Cox, who recently spent time promoting her MTV documentary The T Word, sat down for an interview with E! News. She opened up about one fan she recently met who deeply impacted her life.

    “I was in Virginia earlier this week and I met this amazing young man. He’s 16 years old, his name is Andrew, and he came to my talk and we got to meet and do a photo afterwards, and he gave this letter and I read the letter afterwards and I was just bawling,” she shared.

    “And he talked about sort of having been depressed, he’s come out as trans, his family’s been really supportive, but he’s just been so depressed going to school.”

    She continued, “And apparently he found out I was coming to Richmond and everyone just told me that he just perked up immediately and got really excited.”

    She went on to share her sentiments of her adoring fans.

    “It’s pretty awesome,” she said. “I’m just a person who’s trying to live my dreams. I’m very lucky to be living the American dream right now when so many of my trans siblings are not so lucky. And just that he would be inspired just that I was coming—that would change his mood, and give him hope and a sense of inspiration. It’s a lot of responsibility, but I thank you.”

  • Conan O’Brien Relevant Again Thanks to ‘OITNB’

    Conan O’Brien Relevant Again Thanks to ‘OITNB’

    Gone are the days when Conan O’Brien was a household name. Since the late night host’s departure from NBC, he has been relegated to the deep, dark corners of late nights on TBS, a station which consistently fails to live up to its “Very Funny” slogan. Despite the fact that Conan is no longer featured on a major network, he still manages to stay on the air – a true testament to his survival instincts.

    Every once in a while, Conan suddenly becomes relevant again, usually do to some crazy schtick which really has no lasting appeal. With Monday night’s show, Conan was able to save his television career once again by tying himself to a much more popular “television” series, Orange is the New Black.

    Essentially the entire cast of the hit Netflix drama appeared on Conan last night, most likely with the hopes that their appearance would help push the show to win even more Emmy awards on August 25. The episode was filled with character-acting, anecdotes from the set of Orange is the New Black, advice from the characters, and constant jabs at Conan himself.

    Perhaps the most appealing part of the show, however, was the opening scene. Before creating a parody of the Orange is the New Black opening credits with himself and Andy Richter, Conan received some much needed advice from Laverne Cox (Sophia) concerning the quiff he has been sporting for the past 30 years:

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g_LIOPqbNhU#t=139

    Cox was not the only person to get a jab in on Conan, however. Kate Mulgrew (“Red”), who rose to fame by playing Captain Kathryn Janeway on Star Trek: Voyager, finally got revenge on Conan for him almost destroying her career by forcing her to do an Irish jig on his show in 1995. The payback? Conan had to do a jig of his own, which he openly admitted was not really payback at all, stating, “It’s not really revenge if that’s the crap I’m doing all the time on this show anyway!”

    Proof that truer words have never been spoken:

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y6jSFPwXGPk

    While it’s easy to poke-fun at Conan O’Brien and his antics, last night’s show was quite a success for both Conan and Orange is the New Black. Although Conan might not be winning an Emmy award anytime soon, he can rest his laurels on the fact that he is quintessentially, without a doubt, the weirdest person on late night television.

    Image via YouTube

  • Jodie Foster Talks Best Director Emmy Nom

    Jodie Foster Talks Best Director Emmy Nom

    Jodie Foster has received a Best Director Emmy nomination for her work on the Netflix original series Orange Is The New Black. Foster directed the third episode of the show’s first season, entitled “Lesbian Request Denied” that focused on the backstory of Laverne Cox’s character Sophia Burset.

    “As a director, dramedy is what I do. It’s not who I am as an actor. The genre requires a very specific skill in terms of recognizing what is quirky and perverse, and to be moved by it. The female prisoners on Orange Is The New Black have a very spiritual journey that’s so complex. They’re all soul-searching and they change through each other” said Foster of her experience on OITNB.

    Foster has been steadily building her television expertise, this being her second Emmy nomination after being nominated for the 1999 Showtime film The Baby Dance, which she executive produced. She returned to OITNB to direct the season two episode “Thirsty Bird,” and also recently took a turn as director for another popular Netflix series, House of Cards.

    “I’m not one for lounging around and having long soliloquies about a character” said Foster when addressing the drastic differences between the preparation process for film versus television. “TV is the biggest team effort and the pace happens so fast.”

    To remedy this, Foster met with actors before shooting “Lesbian Request Denied” to delve into their characters, lending her unique perspective of being both an actor and director. “I am an actor’s director, the first of whom signed with Orange. A lot of the actresses on the show are fresh out of Juilliard.”

    “Lesbian Request Denied” is one of the most notable episodes of season one, as it addresses in detail the transition process of Sophia, a transgendered woman in prison for credit card fraud. “It’s all about the journey of Laverne’s character and it’s the beginning of the audience really understanding what Orange Is The New Black is really about,” said Foster of the episode. “It’s about identity and struggle.”

    Foster’s direction clearly jives with the cast as her nomination is one of many among the OITNB actors, most notably Laverne Cox’s history-making nomination for Outstanding Actress in a Comedy Series as Cox is the first openly transgendered actor to be nominated for an Emmy.

    Image via YouTube

  • Jennifer Lopez Honored With The Top GLAAD Award

    During last night’s presentation of the 2014 GLAAD Awards, Jennifer Lopez was among the honorees. It marks the 25th year that the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation Media Awards have taken place, and they were held at the Beverly Hilton in Los Angeles.

    In addition to Jennifer Lopez, actress Laverne Cox from Orange Is The New Black was honored, and she is someone who has been very outspoken about her life as a transgender woman, and wanting others to feel open and comfortable with their body.

    The award was presented to her by Ellen Page, who was also making her first public appearance since coming out on Valnetine’s Day, and she discussed how one of the best things about it was being able to publicly show support for those people who give her courage.

    Jennifer Lopez was presented with the top prize, the Vanguard Award, which celebrates the efforts to increase visibility and understanding of the gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender community. She was supported by her boyfriend Casper Smart at the event.

    While not a lesbian herself, Lopez was honored for the work that she does publicly, as well as her involvement with the new show The Fosters. The award was presented to her by Rita Moreno, who mentioned that “It’s ironic that Jennifer Lopez has been so successful as a judge on ‘American Idol’ because the woman in real life does not judge.”

    In her acceptance speech, she described her Tia Marisa, who was gay, and one of the driving forces for convincing the 44-year-old singer and actress to become a part of the series, and show such care for the gay and lesbian community.

    Speaking on her aunt, and her involvement with the show, she said “I also realized the lessons I’ve learned from my family about love, tolerance, and acceptance. We loved her… So I wanted to do this because I thought that she would be so proud of me. I thought about that a lot when I was doing this and as I do it now. I think, ‘She would love this.”

    Jennifer Lopez was a bit hesitant to work on the show due to its subject matter, but she is glad that she decided to go through with it, thanks to the impact that it is having. The Fosters is a series that focuses on a lesbian couple raising their two twins, and foster children. She serves as an executive producer on the ABC series, which also won an award for outstanding drama series.

    Image via Youtube

  • Jennifer Lopez Among 2014 GLAAD Honorees

    Jennifer Lopez was honored at the 2014 GLAAD Awards this weekend at the Beverly Hilton in Los Angeles. The 25th annual Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation Media Awards was dubbed ‘GLAAD 2.0’ by CEO Kate Ellis.

    “It’s a whole new world for us,” she said.

    Ellen Page made her first public remarks since coming out while she presented the Stephen F. Kolzak award to Laverne Cox from Orange is the New Black.

    “One of the best things about it was the way it enabled me to publicly show support for the people who inspire me and give me courage,” Page said.

    Cox, who also received a GLAAD Media Award back in 2009 for starring in VH1’s I Want to Work for Diddy, shared what she has in common with Lopez, who previously was in a relationship with Diddy.

    “I’d like to think about after doing that show that Jennifer Lopez and I both have some memories with Diddy that we’re trying to forget,” she said.

    Host Ross Matthews expressed his admiration for Jennifer Lopez, saying, “Honey, I’m gay but there’s always room for J. Lo,” said Matthews. “I love you Mami.”

    Rita Moreno presented the Vanguard Award to Jennifer Lopez, and remarked about Lopez’s acceptance of the first openly gay contestant on American Idol.

    “It’s ironic that Jennifer Lopez has been so successful as a judge on American Idol because the woman in real life does not judge,” Moreno said.

    Lopez admitted she experienced a bit of trepidation about working on The Fosters, which focuses on a lesbian couple raising their two twins as well as some foster children.

    “I asked myself, do I do this or do I not do this,” said Lopez. “I’m not going to lie to you. Being in the media, being in the public eye is a bitch sometimes and sometimes you don’t feel like getting beat up that day.”

    Jennifer Lopez serves as executive director of The Fosters, which is set to air for its second season on the ABC Family network starting in June.

    Kudos to J. Lo for receiving the GLAAD honor, but even more importantly for being the kind of loving and accepting person that she so clearly is. The world could use more people like her.

    Image via Twitter

  • Jennifer Lopez Honored at GLAAD Awards

    Jennifer Lopez Honored at GLAAD Awards

    Jennifer Lopez was among those honored at the 25th annual Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) Media Awards at the Beverly Hilton in Los Angeles on Saturday.

    Rita Moreno, the first Hispanic woman to ever win an Oscar, presented the Vanguard Award to Lopez for her work as an executive producer on the ABC Family drama series, The Fosters.

    “It’s ironic that Jennifer Lopez has been so successful as a judge on American Idol, because she doesn’t judge,” Moreno said.

    Lopez, onstage in a sequined dress by designer Zuhair Murad, explained that she was conflicted about working on The Fosters, which focuses on a lesbian couple raising their twins and foster children.

    Lopez said that she listened to her “heart” over her “gut” when she made the decision to work on the show. 

    “I asked myself, do I do this or do I not do this,” said Lopez. “I’m not going to lie to you. Being in the media, being in the public eye is a bitch sometimes and sometimes you don’t feel like getting beat up that day,” she said.

    “I’ve always felt tremendous love for the LGBT community and the LGBT community has always supported me and returned that love. That was one reason I wanted to produce this,” the 44-year-old singer said.

    Lopez also said her Aunt Marisa was an inspiration in her decision to work on The Fosters.

    “Tia Marisa was my cool aunt. She was my mom’s older sister. I lived in the Bronx and she lived in Manhattan. Like worlds away. And she wanted to be an actress and I always wanted to be like her,” Lopez continued.

    “Marisa [was] gay in a time [when] life could be very difficult, and that her struggles were mostly kept to herself. It wasn’t until I got older that I really got to know and appreciate the difficulties that she dealt with and the struggles of her community,” Lopez said.

    “I also realized the lessons I’ve learned from my family about love, tolerance, and acceptance…So I wanted to do this because I thought that she would be so proud of me. I thought about that a lot when I was doing this and as I do it now…The world is changing and that’s because love is stronger than hate. It’s been proven many times tonight,” Lopez said.

    Ross Matthews, who hosted the awards ceremony, cracked jokes throughout the evening, and expressed his admiration for Lopez.

    “Honey, I’m gay but there’s always room for J.Lo,” said Matthews.

    “I love you Mami,” he said.

    Lopez donated $25,000 to GLAAD.

    Transgender actress Laverne Cox, who stars in the Netflix series Orange is the New Black, was also honored at the event.

    Additional awards will be distributed at the GLAAD event in New York on May 3.

    Image via YouTube

  • ‘Orange Is The New Black’ Star Attends Islan Nettles Vigil, Raises Awareness

    Earlier this month, Islan Nettles, a transgender woman, was attacked and killed in Harlem. The NYPD has reportedly said that Nettles was with her friends when one or more people attacked her while using anti-gay and anti-transgender slurs. She was taken to the hospital, but on August 22nd, was taken off life support. One person has been arrested.

    “It is impossible to separate the bias and confusion about transgender individuals from the long history of violence against transgender communities,” wrote ACLU staff attorney Chase Strangio this week. “With questions circulating all week about who is deserving of medically necessary care and being talked about with dignity, the story of Islan Nettles reminds us that these are not insignificant questions, but life and death questions for many transgender people.”

    Nettles was only 21 years old.

    A vigil was held at Jackie Robinson Park in Harlem, just down the street from where the incident took place. In attendance was Laverne Cox, the transgender actress who portrays Sophia Burset on Netflix’s Orange is the New Black.

    Cox is, in addition to being an actress, an advocate for transgender rights, and has received a great deal of attention since the show has attracted so much buzz. Her presence at the vigil has to have substantially raised awareness about the crime and the issue at hand.

    Cox recently appeared with fellow OITNB cast members Kate Mulgrew and Uzo Aduba, as well as Piper Kerman, the author of the memoir upon which the show is based, on MSNBC. She also spoke about transgender rights in that discussion.

    50 years after Matin Luther King, Jr. gave his speech about equality, hate crimes continue to occur much too frequently.

    According to the National Coalition of Anti-Violence Programs, 53.8% of anti-LGBTQ homicide victims last year were transgender women [ACLU].

    Image via ACLU

  • ‘Orange Is The New Black’ Author And Cast Members Talk Stereotypes And Real-Life Prison

    Over the weekend, Kate Mulgrew, Uzo Aduba, Laverne Cox, cast members of the new Netflix series Orange is the New Black, along with Piper Kerman, who wrote the memoir on which it is based, appeared on Melissa Harris-Perry’s show on MSNBC to discuss the show, the stereotypes it deals with, the real-life prison system, etc.

    The Network has shared a few segments from the discussion on its site:

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    Visit NBCNews.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

    Visit NBCNews.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

    Orange is the New Black has already been renewed for a second season. Filming began a week ago, and several pictures from the set have been released. The show has also picked up a new cast member, and promoted a couple of others to regulars.

    Many of the cast member beyond those who appeared on MSNBC have been doing interviews, and I would imagine we’ll be seeing quite a few more, as the show has generated a great deal of buzz. It appears to be Netflix’s most popular original series so far.

    Naturally, now that a lot of people have had time to breeze through the first season, a lot of speculation and questions are coming out surrounding plot points of the forthcoming season (due in 2014). Dascha Polanco, who plays Dayanara Diaz on the show recently discussed a key part of her character’s storyline with Vulture last week, for example. It will be interesting to see if we can make it to the second season without too many spoilers coming out.