Alexandra Grey

Alexandra Grey
Grey at the Miguel Contreras Learning Complex in April 2018
Born Alexandra Elisha Grey
January 4, 1991 (1991-01-04) (age 27)
Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
Residence Los Angeles, California
Education Crete-Monee High School
Alma mater California State University, Northridge
Occupation Actress, singer
Years active 2011–present
Known for

Alexandra Elisha Grey (born January 4, 1991) is an American actress and musician, best known for her roles as Elizah Parks on Amazon's Transparent and Denise Lockwood on the NBC TV medical drama Chicago Med. She has since landed guest roles on Code Black, Doubt, Drunk History and the ABC mini-series When We Rise.[1]

Early life and education

Grey was born in Chicago.[2] She grew up in foster care.[3][2] Grey, a trans woman, stated in an interview, "I knew as early as 4 that I wanted to be a girl," but didn't know how to discuss this with her foster parents, stating "In the African‑American community, this stuff is not even up for discussion."[3]

After graduating from community college, Grey initially came out to her foster parents as gay. They were reluctant to accept her sexuality.[4][3] Once she told them she was transgender, they threw her out of the house.[4][3] She moved from Chicago to Los Angeles, and lived in an LGBT homeless shelter until she saved enough money to get her own place.[4] She attended California State University Northridge and studied theater.[2]

Career

Grey moved to Los Angeles with the hopes of beginning a career in singing or acting.[5] In 2016, she was cast as Elizah Parks in the third season of Transparent. Grey played a troubled foster youth living in South Central Los Angeles, California whom calls Maura played by Jeffrey Tambor on the LGBT suicide hotline for help. The season went on to win the GLAAD Media Award for Best Comedy Series and later earned seven Primetime Emmy Nominations in 2017.[3]

Grey also guest-starred on Season 2 of the CBS TV medical drama Code Black as Beth Jensen a young queer woman battling cancer.[6] She then guest-starred on Season 4 of the Comedy Central series Drunk History where she portrayed gay rights activist Marsha P. Johnson. Upon its release, the episode trended on Facebook for two days and was nominated for a GLAAD Media Award for Outstanding Individual TV Episode. The same year the episode was nominated for two Primetime Emmy Awards. Grey was even considered for an Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series nomination. On June 3, 2016, it was announced that she was cast alongside Michael K. Williams and Phylicia Rashad to play trans activist and pioneer Seville Anderson in the new ABC mini-series When We Rise. In the fall of 2016, she was cast in a recurring-guest role on Chicago Med, in which she plays Denise, the older sister of head charge nurse Maggie Lockwood.[7] She appeared as a guest star on the legal drama Doubt in 2017 with co-star Dule Hill. Grey played Delilah Johnson, a woman on trial for the murder of a famous athlete. The storyline was based off the real life story of CeCe McDonald.[8]

As a singer, Grey opened for singer-songwriter Zara Larsson in October 2016. As well as completed a 12 city summer music tour the same year.[5][9]

In 2017, transgender actors and actresses including Grey (with the help of GLAAD and ScreenCrush) were part of a filmed letter to Hollywood written by Jen Richards, asking for more and improved roles for transgender people.[10][11]

Personal life

Grey currently resides in Los Angeles, California.

Filmography

Film

Year Title Role Notes
2011 K-11 Xandra Kayden
2012 I Do College Student
2013 Baggage Claim Kiele
2015 The Fix Alexis
2015 Between The Miles Dana Fields
2015 Straight Outta Compton News Reporter Uncredited
2016 This Holiday Erica
2018 The Blue Sky Lisah Blue Post-production

Television

Year Title Role Notes
2011 Jess Like Me Lisa Knight 22 episodes (main role)
2012 DTLA Eva Episode: "Pilot"
2015 Glee Erica Episode: "Transitioning"
Chasing Life Kenya Martin Episode: "As Long as We Both Shall Live"
2016 Transparent Elizah Parks Episode: "Elizah"

Won - GLAAD Media Award for Best Comedy Series (2017)

Nominated - Golden Globe Award for Best Television Series - Comedy or Musical (2017)

Nominated - OFTA for Best Ensemble in a Comedy Series (2017)

Won - Dorian Award for LGBTQ TV Show of the Year (2017)

Code Black Beth Episode: "Life and Limb"
Chicago Med Denise Lockwood Episode: "Natural History"
Drunk History Marsha P. Johnson Episode: "Bar Fights"
Nominated - GLAAD Media Award for Outstanding Individual TV Episode (2017)

Nominated - Primetime Emmy Awards for Outstanding Variety Sketch Series. (2017)

2017 When We Rise Seville 2 episodes
Doubt Delilah Johnson Episode: "Faith"
2018 Palomino & Swissy Rhonda Jordan Recurring
Razor Tongue Ariel Adams Series regular

References

  1. ↑ O'Shaughnessy, David (2016-04-02). "The Glaad Media Awards 2016". Entertainment.ie. Retrieved 2016-04-02.
  2. 1 2 3 "Alexandra Grey: Celebrity Impressions and Seeing More Diverse Women on TV". AfterBuzz TV. January 16, 2017. Retrieved January 18, 2017.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 Stacey Wilson Hunt (September 28, 2016). "The Trans Talent Behind Transparent". Vulture. Retrieved January 17, 2017.
  4. 1 2 3 Dawn Ennis (November 15, 2016). "Trans Actress Alexandra Grey's Journey From Homelessness To Prime Time: "We're Not Just Doing This To Be Famous"". Logo TV. Retrieved January 17, 2017.
  5. 1 2 Alex Schmider (October 5, 2016). "Alexandra Grey is the trans actress taking over fall TV". GLAAD. Retrieved January 17, 2017.
  6. ↑ Petski, Denise (July 20, 2016). "Code Black: Camryn Manheim, Eric Roberts & Alexandra Grey To Guest Star In Season 2". Deadline.com. Retrieved 2016-07-20.
  7. ↑ Hearon, Sarah (2016-07-20). "TVLine Items: Code Black Guest Stars, The Rock Hits Muscle Beach and More". TVLine.com. Retrieved 2016-07-20.
  8. ↑ Maria Elena Fernandez (September 8, 2016). "Alexandra Grey Cast in Guest Role on CBS's Doubt". Yahoo News. Retrieved January 17, 2017.
  9. ↑ John Walker (September 27, 2016). "Meet Alexandra Grey, the breakout star of 'Transparent' season three". Fusion. Retrieved January 17, 2017.
  10. ↑ "New Video Breaks Down Why Hollywood Needs Transgender Actors | HuffPost". Huffingtonpost.com. 2017. Retrieved 2017-06-21.
  11. ↑ Reynolds, Daniel. "Trans Actors Ask Hollywood for Roles With Dignity and Depth in Open Letter". Advocate.com. Retrieved 2017-06-21.
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