Laverne Cox — SPARQNOW

At-a-Glance

First transgender person nominated for a Primetime Emmy Award in an acting category for her role in "Orange Is the New Black."
First trans woman to win a Daytime Emmy Award as executive producer for "Laverne Cox Presents: The T Word."
First transgender person to appear on the cover of Time magazine (June 2014) and Cosmopolitan magazine (South African edition, February 2018).
Co-produced and co-hosted the VH1 makeover television series "TRANSform Me."
Honored by GLAAD with the Stephen F. Kolzak Award (April 2014) for her advocacy for the transgender community.
Studied creative writing and dance at Alabama School of Fine Arts, and acting at Marymount Manhattan College.

Biography

Laverne Cox is an American actress, producer, and LGBTQ advocate, widely recognized for her groundbreaking role as Sophia Burset in the Netflix original series "Orange Is the New Black." Her performance earned her a Primetime Emmy Award nomination, making her the first transgender person to be nominated in an acting category.