Laverne Cox feels being a black transgender woman has limited her opportunities as an actress.
Laverne Cox
The 'Orange Is The New Black' believes she's been overlooked for certain roles because of her profile -
but Laverne thinks the landscape is improving and she considers herself to be "blessed" by the career she's had.
She said: "Two years ago ... I was in the waiting room with actresses who were like, 'Oh my God, this is my fourth audition today.
"And I was like, 'Oh, I've never auditioned that much.' There have never been that many parts as a black, openly transgender woman.
"Because I am who I am, there probably have been fewer opportunities for me to work. I feel like we've made the very most of what we have been given ... I feel very blessed now."
However, Laverne is now determined to make the most of her platform by campaigning for certain demographics to be better represented in Hollywood and on TV.
She explained: "Certainly there are fewer opportunities for someone like me being black and being trans and being a woman. In the face of that, it's not bad.
"The truth is I'm one of the lucky ones. The question for me becomes ... as I produce, how to bring other people along for the ride."
The 45-year-old actress - who recently became Cosmopolitan magazine's first transgender cover star - recently thanked other members of the trans community for helping to change the landscape for people like herself.
In a lengthy Instagram post, she wrote: "It's not my first #CosmoQuiz but it's the first one I've taken on camera for @cosmopolitansa. 42 years ago this month @iambeverlyjohnson became the first black woman to appear on the cover of Cosmopolitan magazine.
"Thanks Ms. Johnson for paving the way for all of the black women who have followed you over the years on Cosmo covers.
"Thanks to trans models like @leat @andrejapejic @harinef @valentts @geenarocero @therealtraceyafrica
and more who are changing beauty standards and breaking barriers for trans folks on the covers of fashion magazine's all over the world. (sic)"
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