Two LGBTQ actors will be playing recurring roles in the third season of "Star Trek: Discovery" this October. CBS All Access announced the news this week, confirming that both a nonbinary character, Adira, and transgender character, Gray, will be featured in the series, according to USA Today.
"Star Trek: Discovery" debuts Oct. 15 and sees Adira, played by nonbinary actor Blu del Barrio, join the USS Discovery, while Gray, played by transgender actor Ian Alexander, strives to become a Trill host.
Speaking with GLAAD in an interview published Wednesday, del Barrio described Adira as a "wonderfully complex" character.
"They're astonishingly intelligent and yet they're still a kid. They experience their emotions at a heightened level, like most teenagers," said del Barrio. "That's what makes them so fun to play. I like to describe them as cerebrally brilliant and emotionally a puppy. Adira is an introvert, but they keep a few people close to the chest, which I definitely resonate with. I don't want to say too much and get in trouble, but all in all, Adira is a uniquely strange and beautiful character."
The actor also shared what it was like working on set with Alexander.
"I absolutely love him, and it was so fun working alongside him," del Barrio said. "Having him join the show with me was a godsend. It's pretty overwhelming joining a show with such a well-known cast going into its third season. So I was so thankful to have his support whenever I was freaking out. He's a talented, hardworking actor, and an all-around magnificent human being, so it was a joy having him as a partner."
Alexander, who also starred in the sci-fi series "The OA," is the first out transgender Asian American to act on television, according to USA Today.
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