Hunter Schafer doesn’t want to be identified solely by her transition story.
The actress, who made her acting debut as trans character Jules in “Euphoria,” told GQ that she has turned down playing “tons” of other trans roles, and even tries not to use the term “trans” in interviews.
“I’ve gotten offered tons of trans roles, and I just don’t want to do it. I don’t want to talk about it,” Schafer said. “It’s a privilege, but it’s been very intentional.”
Schafer, who is leading feature debut “Cuckoo” (filmed in 2022) and appeared in 2023’s “Hunger Games” franchise prequel “Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes,” admitted that she does “feel a sense of responsibility” to represent transgender people in the media. However, Schafer she believes the label of “transsexual actress” is “ultimately demeaning” to her craft and career.
“If I let it happen, it would still be giving ‘Transsexual Actress’ before every article ever,” Schafer said. “As soon as I say it, it gets blastoff. It took a while to learn that and it also took a while to learn that I don’t want to be [reduced to] that, and I find it ultimately demeaning to me and what I want to do. Especially after high school, I was sick of talking about it. I worked so hard to get to where I am, past these really hard points in my transition, and now I just want to be a girl and finally move on.”
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Schafer continued, “I know for a fact that I’m one of the most famous trans people in media right now, and I do feel a sense of responsibility, and maybe a little bit of guilt, for not being more of a spokesperson. But ultimately, I really do believe that not making it the centerpiece to what I’m doing will allow me to get further. And I think getting further and doing awesome shit, in the interest of ‘the movement,’ will be way more helpful than talking about it all the time.”
Schafer co-wrote “Euphoria” episode “Fuck Anyone Who’s Not a Sea Blob” that focused on her character Jules’ backstory. She also co-executive produced the episode and called it “one of the most artistically fulfilling things I’ve ever done.”
With “Euphoria” Season 3 delayed, Schafer will star in David Lowery’s “Mother Mary.” She’d ultimately like to make a “Girls”-type series set on trans women instead, telling GQ, “We’ve been dreaming about a show about trans girls like that.”
