Trace Lysette makes history as first trans actress to lead a film at Venice Film Festival
Trace Lysette has made history as the first trans actress to headline a competition film at the Venice Film Festival. On 3 September, the Transparent star attended the coveted event for her new film Monica.
Directed by Andrea Pallaoro, the movie follows Lysette’s titular character as she returns home to take care of her sick mother – who had previously rejected her trans identity.
Per the logline, the film explores “universal themes of abandonment, ageing, acceptance, and redemption.” After attending the premiere, the Hustlers star opened up about her groundbreaking Venice Film Festival achievement during an interview with Deadline. “I’m just figuring all that out.
That headline dropped [this week] and I questioned it, and now I’m just processing it,” she told the news outlet. “I hope what it means is more open doors for Trans people in the world cinema and feature films in general. “I feel there is such a lack… there are rooms we just don’t get in and it’s so rare we get to lead a film.
