16 trans actors who have been nominated for major acting awards

These trans actors deserve every bit of recognition they get!

It’s only been a little more than a decade since major awards started recognizing and celebrating trans actors. In 2011, Harmony Santana became the first out trans actor nominated for a major acting award in the U.S., and since her, there’s been some progress — but not nearly enough.

These trans actors have opened doors, broken glass ceilings, and continue to inspire and amaze audiences with their skills as artists and storytellers.

Unfortunately, no binary trans men have been nominated for major awards yet, and some awards, like the Oscars, have yet to recognize any out trans actors. For this post, we’re focusing on mainstream awards, not just awards bestowed by queer groups like the GLAAD Awards and Dorian Awards.

One thing to note is how many of these actors have not had major projects after their nominations, especially Black trans women and other trans women of color. Another thing to note is how few actual winners of these awards are on this list.

Here are 16 trans actors who have been nominated for major film and television awards.

1. Harmony Santana

2011 Sundance Hit GUN HILL ROAD hits theaters August 5!!! NYC Angelika Film Center, AMC Empire 25 on 42nd St., & AMC Bay …

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In 2011, Harmony Santana made history when she was nominated for an Independent Spirit Award for her role as a trans teen in Gun Hill Road. When she did, she became the first out trans actor to be nominated for a major acting award in the United States.

2. Laverne Cox

There is no one you can talk to the way you talk to your hairdresser. This moment between Piper and Sophia discussing life after …

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Cox is considered, in many ways, the mother of major award-nominated trans actors. In 2014, she became the first out trans actor to be nominated for an acting Emmy for her role as Sophia Burset in Orange Is the New Black. She was nominated again three more times, in 2017, 2019, and 2020 for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series. She’s also been nominated for an Image Award, a Critics Choice Television Award, and two Screen Actors Guild Awards.

3. Mya Taylor

A working girl tears through Tinseltown on Christmas Eve searching for the pimp who broke her heart.

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Taylor made history along with Kitana Kiki Rodriguez when she won the Independent Spirit Award for Best Supporting Female for the role of Alexandra in Tangerine and the Gotham Award for Breakthrough Actor. She was also nominated for the San Francisco, Seattle, and New York Film Critics Awards.

4. Kitana Kiki Rodriguez

Non-monetized channel. | Contact: [email protected] The Image: That totally fierce and fabulous snapshots of …

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Both of the trans leads of 2015’s Tangerine were nominated for Independent Spirit and Gotham Awards for their roles as sex workers on a mission in Los Angeles. She was nominated for the Independent Spirit Award for Best Female Lead and Gotham Award for Breakthrough Actor.

5. Michaela Jaé Rodriguez

Relive all of the most memorable moments from Blanca’s emotional, inspiring story. Stream all episodes of #PoseFX on Hulu.

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As the star of Pose, which ran from 2018-2021, Rodriguez became the first out trans actor to earn an Emmy nomination for a lead acting award when she was nominated for her role in the third and final season. That year she also earned her first Golden Globe nomination for the role as house mother Blanca Rodriquez-Evangelista, and made history as the first out trans actor to actually win a Golden Globe for acting. She also has nominations for MTV Movie & TV Awards and Critics’ Choice Television Awards.

6. Rain Valdez

razortongueshow Anti-transgender polices, violence and negative depictions have become the rule and yet we have exceptions …

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Writer, producer, and actress Rain Valdez was nominated in 2020 for a Primetime Emmy for Outstanding Actress in a Short Form Comedy or Drama Series for starring in the web series Razor Tongue, which she also created.

7. Patti Harrison

Watch now: https://www.togethertogethermovie.com/ Watch the official trailer for TOGETHER TOGETHER. — When young loner …

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Harrison, best known for her comedy skills, was nominated for Best Female Lead at the 2021 Independent Spirit Awards for playing a pregnancy surrogate in the film Together Together.

8. Emma Corrin

The stuff of which fairytales are made. Season Four of The Crown. 15th November. ➡️SUBSCRIBE FOR MORE: …

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Corrin, who came out as nonbinary in 2021, has been nominated for several awards, including a Screen Actors Guild Award, an MTV Movie & TV Award, a Primetime Emmy (all for playing Princess Diana in The Crown), an Olivier (for Anna X), and an Independent Spirit Award (for A Murder at the End of the World). They also have won a Critics’ Choice Award and Golden Globe for The Crown.

9. Yasmin Finney

Love meets doubt. Fear meets joy. Boy meets boy. HEARTSTOPPER, an eight chapter story about life, love and everything in …

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In 2022, Finney was nominated for a Children’s and Family Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Performance for playing trans teen Elle Argent in the Netflix series Heartstopper.

10. Trace Lysette

Opening in theaters May 12 Starring: Emily Browning, Patricia Clarkson, Trace Lysette, Adriana Barraza & Joshua Close Director: …

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Lysette has a long history in Hollywood and was nominated for an Independent Spirit Award for 2023’s Monica, in which she plays a trans woman returning home to her estranged, ailing mother.

11. Emma D’arcy

All the dragons roar as one. The #HouseoftheDragon trailer has arrived. House of the Dragon premieres August 21. Download the …

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D’arcy, who is nonbinary, was nominated for a Golden Globe for Best Actress – Television Series Drama for playing Rhaenyra Targaryen in House of the Dragon on HBO in 2023.

12. Bella Ramsey

The official #TheLastOfUs trailer is here. From the Emmy award-winning creator of Chernobyl and the creator of the acclaimed …

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Ramsey is still young but already has a ton of award nominations under their belt. The Game of Thrones star, who came out as genderfluid in 2023, has picked up nominations for everything from the MTV Movie & TV Awards, to the Gotham Awards, to the Golden Globes, Critics’ Choice, People’s Choice, SAG Award, Independent Spirit Award, and Primetime Emmy for their role as Ellie in The Last of Us.

13. Lío Mehiel

Mutt_2023 #Drama #Overview Over the course of a single hectic day in New York City, three people from Feña’s past are thrust …

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Mehiel is a trans and nonbinary actor who made their feature film debut in 2023’s Mutt, which premiered at Sundance. They won the U.S. Dramatic Special Jury Award in Acting for their role, becoming the first out trans actor to win the award.

14. Nava Mau

When a struggling comedian shows an act of kindness to a vulnerable woman, it sparks a suffocating obsession which threatens …

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In 2024, Mau made history as the first trans woman nominated in the category of Best Supporting Actress in a Limited Series at the Emmys for playing Teri in the smash success Netflix series Baby Reindeer.

15. Brigette Lundy-Paine

SUBSCRIBE: http://bit.ly/A24subscribe From writer/director Jane Schoenbrun and starring Justice Smith and Brigette Lundy-Paine …

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In 2024, Lundy-Paine, who is nonbinary, was nominated for a Gotham Award for Outstanding Supporting Performance for playing Maddy Wilson in I Saw the TV Glow.

16. Karla Sofía Gascón

Passion has a new name. Karla Sofía Gascón, Zoe Saldaña, and Selena Gomez star in Jacques Audiard’s audacious fever dream …

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Gascon is an Oscar frontrunner for playing the title character in 2024’s Emilia Pérez, where she plays a Mexican cartel leader who transitions. She, along with co-stars Selena Gomez, Adriana Paz, and Zoe Saldaña already won the Best Actress award at the Cannes Film Festival.