The award-winning 'Tangerine' actress talks to ETonline about turning to Caitlyn for advice after the reality star lent support to her Oscar campaign.
As transgender actress Mya Taylor continues to make history,
she has Caitlyn Jenner standing by her side.
The Tangerine star
recently won a Film Independent Spirit Award for Best Supporting Actress, the first major acting award for
a transgender entertainer. Previously, Harmony Santana had been nominated in
2011 for the same prize and Laverne Cox earned a 2014 Primetime Emmy nomination
for her role on Orange Is the New Black.
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Ahead of the ceremony, Taylor opened up to ETonline about
her budding friendship with Jenner, who lent her support to the actress and
Tangerine earlier this year.
“I talk to her every week; she's a sweetheart,” Taylor
revealed. “She's very supportive and she gives me good advice.”
In January, the I Am
Cait star hosted a screening of Tangerine
for the film’s Oscar campaign -- namely to draw attention to Taylor’s critically acclaimed
performance. (Jenner’s own series returns for season two on Sunday, March 6.)
“Movies like this are so important because this is about
honesty; this is about actually what happens out there in the community,”
Jenner said at the time.
The film’s director, Sean Baker, and producers, Mark and Jay
Duplass, who launched the campaign, were also appreciative of Jenner’s support.
“She's a very busy woman, so to make the time to come out
and support our little indie means everything in the world,” Baker said. “On top of that, she was able to have a nice dialogue
and discussion with Mya. It's just really nice to know that this film is sort
of making waves across many different trans communities and it feels good.”
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While Tangerine
failed to earn any Oscar nominations, Jay Duplass is still overjoyed with what
the film accomplished. “I'm already so proud of them and everything they've
done,” the Transparent actor said,
referring to everyone who was involved in making and promoting the film.
And for Taylor, things continue to push forward. She will
portray transgender rights pioneer Marsha P. Johnson in the short film, Happy Birthday, Marsha! The film, which was
funded by fans through Kickstarter and Indiegogo, will be released later this year.
“Marsha's such a sweet soul and I feel like her story needed
to be heard,” she said.