'Euphoria' star Hunter Schafer says she doesn't want to take on 'tons of trans roles'
"I put in immense effort to reach this point in my journey, overcoming numerous challenging moments during my transition. Now, all I desire is to live my life as a woman and continue progressing," Schafer stated during an interview with GQ.
On April 3rd, 2024 at 4:44 PM Coordinated Universal Time, as reported by the news platform Variety.
Recently, Hunter Schafer opened up in a GQ cover story about how she has been quite thoughtful when it comes to controlling the narrative around her gender identity as a transgender person. The popular "Euphoria" star wishes to be recognized for her talents and not just solely for her gender identity. She even confessed to avoiding mentioning the word "trans" during interviews to steer away from the topic and ensure that her profession is not defined by her gender identity.
"It did not occur on its own accord in any way. Even if I allowed it to occur, every article would still label me as a 'transsexual actress'," Schafer expressed.
"When I mention the word 'trans' during my interviews, it quickly becomes the main topic," she explained. "It took me some time to understand this, and I also realized that I don't want to be defined solely by my gender identity. It's ultimately degrading and does not align with my aspirations. After finishing high school, I became tired of constantly discussing my transition. I put in a lot of effort to reach where I am today despite facing difficult challenges, and now I just want to move on with my life as a woman."
Schafer is aware that being able to redirect attention from her gender identity is a fortunate opportunity. She purposely made this decision and turned down many roles that involved transgender characters, as she does not wish to discuss this topic.
I am aware that I am currently one of the most well-known transgender individuals in the mass media. This makes me feel a sense of obligation and a tad guilty for not being a stronger advocate. However, I firmly believe that not focusing solely on this aspect of my identity will actually help me progress even more in my endeavors. By achieving great things and contributing to the cause in my own way, I can effectively aid the movement rather than constantly discussing it.
Schafer's debut acting part was playing Jules in "Euphoria," the HBO series that won the Emmy award and helped advance her career. Additionally, she co-wrote and starred in the special episode "Fuck Anyone Who's Not a Sea Blob" with the series' creator, Sam Levinson, who is currently producing new scripts for the postponed third season. Schafer stepped up as a movie star in the previous year, portraying a supporting character in "The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes," and now she's making her first debut as a lead actress in Neon's horror movie "Cuckoo."
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