Euphoria star Hunter Schafer has voiced her decision to step away from portraying transgender characters on screen.

The 25-year-old actress gained recognition for her portrayal of Jules Vaughn, a transgender character, in the popular teen drama series on HBO.

However, Schafer has expressed her desire to expand her acting horizons beyond roles that focus solely on her transgender identity.

“I worked so hard to get to where I am, surpassing these significant hurdles in my transition, and now I just want to embrace being a girl and move forward,” she conveyed.

In an interview with GQ magazine, Schafer shared her sentiments about being categorized solely as a “trans actress,” describing it as “ultimately demeaning to me and what I want to do.”

She elaborated, “I’ve been offered numerous trans roles, and I simply don’t want to pursue them. I prefer not to dwell on it. I know I’m currently one of the most recognizable trans figures in the media, and I do feel a sense of responsibility, maybe even a tinge of guilt, for not being a more vocal advocate.”

“However, I genuinely believe that steering away from making it the focal point of my career will propel me further. Achieving success and contributing positively to ‘the movement’ through my work will be more impactful than constantly discussing it,” she added.

The issue of representation in casting has sparked ongoing discussions in Hollywood, particularly concerning transgender roles. Many in the transgender community advocate for authentic representation, insisting that trans characters should be portrayed by trans actors.

Several actors have acknowledged their missteps in accepting trans roles. In 2021, Eddie Redmayne reflected on his portrayal in the 2015 film The Danish Girl, admitting, “I made that film with good intentions, but I now recognize it was a mistake.”

Conversely, some argue that acting is about embodying characters different from oneself and that confining actors to roles mirroring their personal characteristics would be overly restrictive.

Schafer shared the screen with Zendaya, Jacob Elordi, and Sydney Sweeney in the gritty, Emmy-winning series Euphoria, which is slated to return for a third season.

In addition to her role in Euphoria, Schafer recently appeared in the Hunger Games prequel The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes and is set to star in the upcoming psychological thriller Cuckoo.