When people focus on someone who is transitioning, it's surprisingly rare that they think about the companion the person could potentially leave behind. Perhaps not as extravagant in their demonstration of choices, this person is just as layered, complex and forever changed- and there is no actress better suited to play such a nuanced character than the great Judith Light.
Shown in acting classes as example of some of the best acting of all time for her portrayal of "Karen on the Stand" on One Life To Live, Judith Light has proven to truly be the real deal. As Shelly Pfefferman on Transparent, Light never fades into the background, but makes use of her role and commands attention, which will attribute to the longevity of the show as it will stand to be more about the stories of these brilliant characters, and less about a centralized focal point that the writers could have offered up on a simpler platter.
But, as LGBTQ issues are all the rage and every celebrity now seems to tout themselves as an activist for the cause, again- Light is the real deal. A loyal advocate to the community, she stood up for LGBTQ rights when audiences swore they wouldn't watch her because of it. She is part of many LGBTQ organizations and even helped Who's The Boss? co-star Danny Pintauro come out. She has dedicated much of her life and career to bringing awareness to the causes of this community, and Transparent seems to be the ultimate culmination of that work, both as an activist an actor, making her more than well deserved for Emmy gold.
Here, Light sits down to talk about Transparent, her process, and her activism;
Touch on how, at its core, Transparent is really first and foremost a family show.
That's right! The content of this show is about a person who has chosen to live an authentic life, and while doing that and showing their true self to their family, they have created a new family relationship. So, what you're seeing here is that our center of our show- the very courageous Maura played by Jeffrey Tambor, is also asking the family who they are and if they will show their true selves. And thus begins this progress of each individual character evolving and unfolding. That's why I think it's such a universal story- there's not a person out there who doesn't have someone in their family who hasn't brought upon a game-changer. The content might be different, but every family goes through this in their own way. And that's what is fascinating- you are watching the process of a family and seeing a question that is posed which is; "Will you still love me if I show my true self?"
As relevant as Transparent might be right now, talk a little bit about why it's necessary for transgender people to continue to be on family shows and not just be "novelty television."
It's so important for the world to know that this is not "trend television." Yes, there is content about a transgender person- but what we are seeing is a real family dealing with a new issue for them. Also, you are seeing stories of part of the community that have been for so long in the shadows. By talking about this issue it's very powerful, but it should never just be a trend. It's really a very universal family story of acceptance. A lot of people ask if Transparent brought this issue to light, but this is a story that simply needed to be told and its time had come and that's why it will continue. Our genius creator Jill Soloway made sure that this story had many levels beyond just capitalizing on what could be hot, and gave many levels to all these characters.
A big theme in Transparent is following one's truth- and that rings true with all the characters, including Shelly. Talk about her evolution, particularly in season 2, and what we can expect from season 3?
In season 2, Shelly is thrown up against her deep desire to be connected to Maura and keep this person in her life. In many ways, her love for Maura is unconditional. You watch Shelly long to be held in the bosom of the family and wanting to be connected to everyone, but literally have no idea how to connect. It's awkward and uncomfortable. You also get to see her sexuality explore- which I think it's always interesting to see mature people and their sexuality. You really see the sorrow and loss, and then the immediate need to get into another relationship because she feels she cannot be alone. Jill [Soloway] really did a great job at representing the relatable loneliness that so many people feel in life. What you'll be seeing in season 3 is more of the background of Shelly and Mort, and uncover the background of where these issues come from.
How did you prepare in your research for this role? Did you speak to any women who have been in this situation?
Actually, I have been involved with the transgender community and their partners for a long time because I was on the board of an organization called Point Foundation where we give scholarships to people who have been marginalized because of their sexuality or their gender presentation. I didn't specifically go out and research for this role, it's been something that has been part of my life for a really long time. I've always been in conversation with many transgender people and their partners. I also would speak to Jenny Boylan, our consultant, and Zachary Drucker and Rhys Ernst, two of our producers, and have conversations about what it does to the partner of the person who is making the transition.
You have been one of the largest advocates for the LGBTQ community your entire career. Talk about your relationship with the LGBTQ community and how your advocacy started.
It really started back during the breakout of HIV and AIDS. I was watching so many of my friends pass, and they were so young and I was so shocked. I began watching what was happening to the world and the level of homophobia showed no compassion to the people I saw as my family and my friends. It became very important for me to stand up and say something. I began to watch how the entire community came together and I realized these are the people I want to be around- people that carry leadership and make a change. So many people said they wouldn't watch me again and that they wouldn't support me, but I didn't care- I thought anyone who didn't support me for supporting this community was support I didn't want. This definitely wasn't a matter of what was a new or trendy cause at that time. But, for me it was unconscionable. So, I watched Elizabeth Taylor and took a page from her book. And I was fortunate enough to have an agent, David Eidenburg, who sadly just passed, and he spoke to ABC about me playing Jeanne White in The Ryan White Story- and after meeting Ryan and Jeanne and hearing their stories, it only intensified my beliefs that this is not okay. People, again, said they would never watch me again, but I didn't care- I knew we had to keep talking about this and telling the truth.
Your role as Karen Wolek on One Life To Live is shown in acting classes as one of the greatest pieces of acting of all time. Can you talk about that and how it raised the bar in television for women, making them rise to the occasion and perform as more than just eye candy?
Well, I never thought of myself as eye candy! People always told me I would never be on a soap opera and that I didn't have the right look, and I had really been very prejudicial about doing soaps. But, I came to a point in my career where all my prejudices dropped and I learned how hard everyone was working on those shows. So, I thought that whatever work I had done in the past, even in the theater, could be channeled. My directors were all theater directors, as were my co-stars- great people, and we worked together to bring the kind of work we knew we could deliver. But, what people are really responding to about that witness stand, whether they know it or not, is someone just like Maura in Transparent- someone who is coming out. The bravery and the courage it takes to come out in the face of what you know could be a disastrous response. That story inspires people. People respond to bravery and truth.
You have had a tendency to play very strong women. Even on Who's the Boss? which was a much lighter family sitcom, your character was extremely groundbreaking as she owned her own advertising company and was the one to employ the man. Talk about playing powerful women and what draws you to them.
I've always felt it was very important that the choices that I make in my roles come from a context of wanting to serve the public to understand your characters conditions. And you have to give kudos to ABC to do a cutting edge show like that! Switching the roles like that in 1983 was an extremely powerful moment in time in the women's movement, which is partly the reason why I wanted to do it. And I knew that because Tony [Danza] relates so well to women that he would be perfect in relation to me and we could do something with such an amazing duality. And now there are so many women who tell me that Angela Bower was a role model for them, as was my on screen mother Mona, played by Katherine Helmond. So, I never held it like a silly little part on a sitcom, that was never what that was to me. People responded to it and I knew I made the right choice. The same way people respond to Transparent- I choose things that I hope will resonate with people and they can recognize in themselves.
What can fans expect from you next?
I have a workshop for a play that I can't really talk about, and a solo show this fall written by Neil Labute. And I have a recurring part on Doubt. And I can't wait to start filming the fourth season of Transparent! It's the most thrilling show to work on. Jeffrey Tambor always says that everywhere you look is genius, and it's so true- the cast, the writers, the crew, the list goes on and on...and I'm so overjoyed to be a part of it!
And it's that list of universal genius that makes the show work. On a show like Transparent, it would be very easy for the centralized member to overshadow everyone, but as wonderful as Tambor is, his supporting family is constantly there to elevate the work to new heights- particularly the amazing Judith Light.
The third season of Transparent will be available on Amazon this fall.