Trace Lysette tells THR on the red carpet of the Spirit Awards that she has received endless messages from trans women for her film 'Monica,' saying it's meant the most for her throughout this entire process.
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00:00 I was just talking to these guys and I was asking them what performance they wanted to shout out and Noel Galvin said yours
00:05 That's got to feel good. I mean you probably have heard that from a lot of your peers over the past year
00:10 there's been a lot of
00:12 Votes of confidence for since since Venice you have the last two years
00:16 And that feels really good
00:19 On a personal level and so I'm just grateful that film independent decided to honor this movie
00:26 We got nominated for cinematography, too
00:29 and
00:31 Yeah, they keep any film alive
00:33 And I know you have said this a couple times just about like the reception has been so great since Venice
00:38 But but but the offers didn't roll in have has the work has that changed?
00:44 There's a couple things on the table, but I think it's still trickling in so we'll see I'm hopeful
00:52 Yeah
00:54 Is and there's been also a lot of other headlines about just how hard it is to be an actor right now because things have
01:00 Not fully geared up yet. How hard is it?
01:03 well acting is it's just a lot of rejection and
01:09 You have to just weather the storm for most working actors unless you've got some kind of a connection in the industry
01:19 But I think for the ones that work our way up got it out the mud
01:23 It's just a different journey, and I'm constantly wondering when you get to that level where you feel
01:29 Safe, I mean that's what I've been chasing
01:31 And for me, it's it's just about
01:35 Not having to wonder you know where the next gig is and like being able to like pick
01:42 which role and
01:45 Financial security it's all tied into
01:48 survival so
01:50 It's tough
01:51 It's been a tough year
01:53 It doesn't been a great year for just just it's been tough here. Yeah strike all there's a lot of stuff. That's happened
02:00 The Spirit Awards seem like a particularly great place for you and this movie. You know they have long supported
02:08 independent film and storytelling in such a way that like
02:12 Shouting out people you know and and lifting up performances which which you have been lifted up this this year through a lot of places
02:19 I know that you deserve a little bit more, but
02:22 How are you feeling now that you could kind of like coming to the end of this the the road for this movie?
02:28 What has been like them I guess
02:32 the most impactful
02:35 Moment of this ride this Monica ride for you was it Venice was it you know?
02:41 Maybe a Q&A was it was it a DM from a peer?
02:45 Probably just the endless messages I get from trans women
02:49 telling me how much this film means to them because
02:52 An award is nice a nomination is nice
02:56 But if it's something if it's a piece of art that lives on through generations of trans women that is priceless
03:03 So it's been it's been the response from my my peers that that means the most to me
03:11 What yes that was a good answer and sorry I kind of took me a minute to get there
03:14 I feel like I have so much. I want to ask you I always end up tripping over my words
03:18 But it's true because you you set an example for
03:21 Trans performers, and I know and by the way congratulations on your HRC award. What was that like?
03:27 Yeah being a trailblazer
03:31 It's hard, but but it felt good to be recognized
03:34 And I don't know I'm just trying to look towards the future and and the next chapter
03:40 As a leading lady now, and you know I'm excited for that. Yeah, tell me how you envision that next chapter
03:46 Just abundance abundance and collaboration with people that I've watched for years that would be that would be amazing for me
03:54 And one of the great things about the spirit awards like I said is lifting up other performances
03:59 Who whose performance did you love this year or or a film that meant a lot to you?
04:03 Well, I loved Coleman Domingo in Rustin
04:08 I need to do some catching up on on the performances this year. It's crazy here for me. You're amazing
04:15 Have a great day nice to see you again
04:17 (laughter)
04:18 [BLANK_AUDIO]