- Born
- Height5′ 11″ (1.80 m)
- Laverne Cox is a four time Emmy-nominated actress, Emmy winning documentary film producer and a prominent equal rights advocate. Laverne's role of Sophia Burset in the critically acclaimed Netflix original series "Orange is The New Black" brought her to the attention of diverse audiences all over the world. This role led to Laverne becoming the first openly transgender actress to be nominated for a Primetime acting Emmy.
An artist and an advocate with an empowering message of moving beyond gender expectations to live more authentically, Laverne is the first openly transgender person to appear on the covers of TIME Magazine, Cosmopolitan magazine, British Vogue and Essence magazines among others. She was named one of Glamour magazine's 2014 Women of the Year. Laverne also proudly holds two SAG Awards winning them with her Orange Is The New Black cast mates.
Laverne's Emmy winning documentary "Laverne Cox Presents: The T Word" helped lead her to Executive Producing two powerful documentaries. Available on Netflix, "Disclosure: Trans Lives on Screen" is an unprecedented, groundbreaking look at the depiction of transgender characters throughout the history of film and TV and "Free CeCe" which tells the story of CeCe McDonald, a transgender woman who was controversially sentenced to 41 months in a men's prison for second degree manslaughter after defending herself against a racist and transphobic attack. The documentary focuses on McDonald's case, her experiences while incarcerated and the larger implications of her case for the transgender community and for communities of color at large.
Upcoming in 2024 : Clean Slate a Laverne Cox Production in Collaboration with Norman Lear's Act III Productions, Sony Television Studios & Amazon Prime.- IMDb Mini Biography By: IMDb Mini Biography By: Anonymous
- ParentsGloria Cox
- RelativesM. Lamar(Sibling)J. P. Cox(Grandparent)Emma Jane Jones(Grandparent)
- She has a twin brother, musician M. Lamar, who appeared on Orange Is the New Black (2013) in a flashback as the pre-gender transition version of her character, Sophia.
- She has spoken in many interviews about the bullying and lack of support she received from both peers and teachers as a child in Alabama. Her third grade teacher warned her mother that she was sick and "would end up in New Orleans wearing a dress if we don't get him into therapy right away." As an adult, in her capacity as an LGBT activist, she has lectured at many universities, including New Orleans's Tulane, where she did indeed wear a dress.
- She appeared on the cover of the June 9, 2014, issue of Time magazine, and was interviewed for the article "The Transgender Tipping Point" by Katy Steinmetz. This makes her the first openly transgender person to appear on the cover of Time in the magazine's history.
- Her nomination for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series - for her performance in Orange Is the New Black (2013) - at the 2014 Primetime Emmy Awards makes her the first openly transgender person to be nominated for an acting award in the history of the Emmys.
- She attended high school at the Alabama School of Fine Arts, a state-wide, public, magnet, boarding and day school in Birmingham. Admission to ASFA is by competitive application and - depending on the area of arts interest - audition. She started as a creative writing major, before later switching to the dance program.
- [on being a spokesperson for the transgender movement] Some folks, they just don't understand. And they need to get to know us as human beings. Others are just going to be opposed to us forever. But I do believe in the humanity of people and in people's capacity to love and to change.
Contribute to this page
Suggest an edit or add missing content