Drag, crossdressing, androgyny, and gender transition have been depicted since the earliest days of cinema.
Thomas Edison employed a famous performer named Gilbert Sarony, famous for comedic drag portraying an unattractive “old maid,” in some of Edison’s earliest films in 1901.
In recent years, many excellent sympathetic portrayals of transgender people have emerged.
This lists below are not exhaustive, and many portrayals listed are controversial.
Films with trans or gender diverse actors
- Glen or Glenda? (1953) – Ed Wood as Glen/Glenda
- Women in Revolt (1971) – Candy Darling as Candy, Jackie Curtis as Jackie, Holly Woodlawn as Holly
- El Transexual (1977) – Eva Robin’s as Lorna
- The Last Seduction (1994) – Serena as Trich Swale
- Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil (1997) – The Lady Chablis as Chablis Deveau
- Wild Side (2004) – Stéphanie Michelini as Stéphanie
- Gun Hill Road (2011) – Harmony Santana as Vanessa
- Surrogate Valentine (2011) – Calpernia Addams as Tammi
- Woman’s Picture (2011) – Calpernia Addams as Ingrid
- Boy Meets Girl (2014) – Michelle Hendley as Ricki
- Drunktown’s Finest (2014) – Carmen Moore as Felixia
- Tangerine (2015) – Kitana Kiki Rodriguez as Sin-Dee Rella, Mya Taylor as Alexandra
- Saturday Church (2017) – Indya Moore as Dijon
- A Fantastic Woman (2017) – Daniela Vega as Marina
- Assassination Nation (2018) – Hari Nef as Bex
- Port Authority (2019) – Leyna Bloom as Wye
- They/Them (2022) – Theo Germaine as Jordan
- 1Up (2022) – Hari Nef as Sloane
- Bros (2022) – Ts Madison as Angela, Eve Lindley as Tamara, D’Lo as Tom, Becca Blackwell as Lucas
- Monica (2023) – Trace Lysette as Monica
Documentaries about trans and gender diverse people
- Queens at Heart (1967) – about trans women in pre-Stonewall Manhattan
- Let Me Die a Woman (1978) – about Deborah Harten and other trans women
- Paris Is Burning (1990) – about the Manhattan ballroom scene
- Wigstock: The Movie (1995) – about the drag festival, with Alexis Arquette, Candis Cayne, Jayne County
- The Brandon Teena Story (1998) – about Brandon Teena
- Gendernauts (1999) – about gender diverse people in San Francisco
- Southern Comfort (2001) – about Robert Eads
- Beautiful Boxer (2003) – about Parinya Charoenphol
- Screaming Queens: The Riot at Compton’s Cafeteria (2005)
- Beautiful Daughters (2006) – about the first all-trans Vagina Monologies
- Almost Myself (2006) – about ex-trans activist Josef Kirchner
- Red without Blue (2007) – about identical twins Clair and Mark Farley
- She’s a Boy I Knew (2007) – about Gwen Haworth
- Still Black: A Portrait of Black Transmen (2008)
- Prodigal Sons (2008) – about filmmaker Kimberly Reed’s family
- Major! (2015) – about activist Miss Major Griffin-Gracy
- Game Face (2015) – about MMA fighter Fallon Fox
- The Trans List (2016) – featuring Kylar Broadus, Caroline Cossey, Amos Mac, Bamby Salcedo, Buck Angel, Miss Major Griffin-Gracy, Nicole Maines, Shane Ortega, Caitlyn Jenner, Alok Vaid-Menon, Laverne Cox, Janet Mock
- The Death and Life of Marsha P Johnson (2017) – about activist Marsha P Johnson
- Call Her Ganda (2018) – about Jennifer Laude
- Transmilitary (2018) – about trans US military servicemembers
- Man Made (2018) – about four transgender bodybuilders
- Whirlybird (2020) – about helicopter journalist Zoey Tur
- Disclosure (2020) – about trans media depictions
- No Ordinary Man (2020) – about musician Billy Tipton
- Kokomo City (2023) – about Koko Da Doll
- The Stroll (2023) – about Manhattan trans sex workers
Television with trans actors
- Dirty Sexy Money (2007–2008) – Candis Cayne as Carmelita Rainer
- Orange Is the New Black (2013–2018) – Laverne Cox as Sophia Bursett
- The Fosters (2013–2018) – Tom Phelan as Cole
- Transparent (2014–2019) – Alexandra Billings as Davina Rejennae, Trace Lysette as Shea, Hari Nef as Gittel, Alexandra Grey as Elizah Parks
- The Bold and the Beautiful (1987–) Scott Turner Schofield as Nick [2015]
- Sense8 (2015–2018) – Jamie Clayton as Nomi Marks
- Supergirl (2015–) – Nicole Maines as Nia Nal
- Chicago Med (2015–) Alexandra Grey as Denise Lockwood
- Her Story (2016) – Jen Richards as Violet, Angelica Ross as Paige
- The OA (2016–2019) – Ian Alexander as Buck Vu
- Grey’s Anatomy (2005–) – Alex Blue Davis as Casey Parker [2017–2018]
- Queen Sugar (2017) – Brian Michael Smith as Toine Wilkins
- The Magicians (2017–2018) – Candis Cayne as Fairy Queen
- Chilling Adventures of Sabrina (2018) – Lachlan Watson as Theo Putnam
- The Conners (2018–) – Alexandra Billings as Robin Shetsky
- Mrs. Fletcher (2019) – Jen Richards as Margo Fairchild
- Tales of the City (2019) – Jen Richards as young Anna Madrigal, Daniela Vega as Ysela,
- Pose (2018–2021) – Michaela Jaé Rodriguez as Blanca Rodriguez-Evangelista, Dominique Jackson as Elektra Evangelista, Indya Moore as Angel Vasquez-Evangelista, Angelica Ross as Candy Johnson-Ferocity, Hailie Sahar as Lulu Evangelista
- Goliath (2018) – Alexandra Billings as Martha Wallace
- Glee (2009–2015) – Alex Newell as Unique
- The L Word: Generation Q (2019–2023) – Leo Sheng as Micah Lee, Jamie Clayton as Tess Van De Berg, Sophie Giannamore as Jordi Sanbolino, Carolina Gutierrez as Marissa
- Euphoria (2019–) Hunter Shafer as Jules Vaughn
- The Umbrella Academy (2019–2024) Elliot Page as Viktor/Vanya Hargreeves
- Saved by the Bell (2020) – Josie Totah as Lexi
- Dispatches from Elsewhere (2020) – Eve Lindley as Simone
- 9-1-1: Lone Star (2020–) – Brian Michael Smith as Paul Strickland
Unscripted television series with trans subjects
- Big Brother UK (2004) – Nadia Almada
- There’s Something About Miriam (2004) – Miriam Rivera
- I Want to Work for Diddy (2008) – Laverne Cox
- TransGeneration (2005) – trans college students Raci Ignacio, Gabbie Gibson, Lucas Cheadle, T.J. Jourian
- Transamerican Love Story (2008) – dating show with Calpernia Addams, Andrea James, Jim Howley
- RuPaul’s Drag Race (2009–) talent competition with Peppermint, Gottmik, Kylie Sonique Love, Carmen Carrera, Stacy Layne Matthews, Lashauwn Beyond, Jiggly Caliente, Kenya Michaels, Monica Beverly Hillz, Adore Delano, Laganja Estranja, Gia Gunn, Aja, Eureka O’Hara, Gigi Goode, Kerri Colby, Willow Pill, Kornbread, Jasmine Kennedie, Bosco, Sasha Colby
- TRANSform Me (2010) – makeover show with Jamie Clayton, Laverne Cox, Nina Poon
- Amazing Race Canada (2015) – Hamilton Elliott
- I Am Jazz (2015–) – follows transgender youth Jazz Jennings
- I Am Cait (2015–2016) – about Caitlyn Jenner and friends, with Caitlyn Jenner, Candis Cayne, Jennifer Finney Boylan, Kate Bornstein, Zackary Drucker, Chandi Moore, Ella Giselle, Sophia Hutchins, Jen Richards, Mimi Marks, trace Lysette, Van Barnes, Janet Mock, Alex Shmider, laith Ashley, Marci Bowers, Mara Kiesling
- Transcendent (2015-2016) – Bionka Simone, Bambiana, Xristina Ja’Lyxie Blioux, L.A. Onate, Nya Cruz
- Survivor: Millennials vs. Gen X (2016) – Zeke Smith
- Big Brother US – Audrey Middleton
- The Ts Madison Experience (2021) – Ts Madison
Non-trans actors playing trans people
Films
- Funeral Parade of Roses (1969) – Peter as Eddie
- Myra Breckinridge (1970) – Raquel Welch as Myra Breckinridge
- Dog Day Afternoon (1975) – Chris Sarandon as Leon Shermer
- The Rocky Horror Picture Show (1975) – Tim Curry as Dr. Frank-N-Furter
- In a Year of 13 Moons (1978) – Volker Spengler as Erwin / Elvira Weishaupt
- Dressed To Kill (1980) – Michael Caine as Dr. Robert Elliott / Bobbi
- Come Back to the 5 & Dime, Jimmy Dean, Jimmy Dean (1982) – Karen Black as Joanne
- Kiss of the Spider Woman (1985) – William Hurt as Luis Molina
- Second Serve (1986) – Vanessa Redgrave as Renee Richards
- Orlando (1992) – Tilda Swinton as Orlando
- The Crying Game (1992) – Jaye Davidson as Dil
- The World According to Garp (1992) – John Lithgow as Roberta Muldoon
- Just Like a Woman (1992) – Adrian Pasdar as Gerald Tilson/Geraldine
- The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert (1994) – Terence Stamp as Bernadette Bassenger
- Ace Ventura: Pet Detective (1994) – Sean Young as Lois Einhorn
- Ed Wood (1994) – Johnny Depp as Ed Wood
- Different For Girls (1996) – Steven Mackintosh as Kim/Karl Foyle
- Ma Vie En Rose [My Life In Pink] (1997) – Georges Du Fresne as Ludovic “Ludo” Fabre
- The Adventures of Sebastian Cole (1998) – Clark Gregg as Henrietta
- Boys Don’t Cry (1999) – Hilary Swank as Brandon Teena
- All About My Mother (1999) – Antonia San Juan as Agrado
- Flawless (1999) – Philip Seymour Hoffman as Rusty
- Hedwig and the Angry Inch (2001) – John Cameron Mitchell as Hedwig Robinson/Hansel Schmidt
- Soldier’s Girl (2003) – Lee Pace as Calpernia Addams
- Normal (2003) – Tom Wilkinson as Roy/Ruth Applewood
- Transamerica (2005) – Felicity Huffman as Bree
- The World’s Fastest Indian (2005) Chris Williams as Tina
- Breakfast on Pluto (2005) – Cillian Murphy as Patrick/Patricia “Kitten” Braden
- Grilled (2006) – Sofia Vergara as Lori
- A Soap (2006) – David Dencik as Veronica
- Itty Bitty Titty Committee (2007) – Lauren Mollica as Aggie
- The Skin I Live In (2011) – Elena Anaya as Vera
- Albert Nobbs (2011) – Glenn Close as Albert Nobbs, Janet McTeer as Hubert Page
- Dallas Buyers Club (2013) – Jared Leto as Raymond Rayon
- 3 Generations (2015) – Elle Fanning as Ray
- The Danish Girl (2015) – Eddie Redmayne as Lili Elbe
- Zoolander 2 (2016) – Benedict Cumberbatch as All
- The Assignment (2016) – Michelle Rodriguez as Frank Kitchen
- Anything (2017) – Matt Bomer as Freda Von Rhenburg
- Girl (2018) – Victor Polster as Lara
Television
- Soap – Billy Crystal as Jodie Dallas
- Hit & Miss – Chloe Sevigny as Mia
- Ugly Betty – Rebecca Romijn as Alexis Meade
- Medical Center – Robert Reed as Pat Caddison
Explicitly anti-trans media
- Trans Kids: It’s Time to Talk (2018)
- Dead Name (2022)
- What Is a Woman? (2022)
- Dysconnected (2022)
- Uncomfortable Truths: The Reality of Gender Identity Ideology (2023)
- Cut: Daughters of the West (2023)
- No Way Back (2023)
- Het transgenderprotocol [The Dutch Protocol] (2023)
- Lady Ballers (2024)
References
Lewis, Mary Grace (July 10, 2018). 23 Cisgender Actors Who Played Transgender in Movies. The Advocate https://www.advocate.com/arts-entertainment/2018/7/10/23-cisgender-actors-who-played-trangender-movies#rebelltitem5
Resources
Gender Variance in the Arts (gvarts.blogspot.com) [archive]