Full disclosure: I’m pretty sure that’s not really true, but I can’t find any record of another transgender actress working as a Stand-In. I’ve asked Screen Actors Guild, Disney, Warner Bros, Paramount, and four major casting companies about this, but all of them refuse to give me an answer about how often they hire trans people as Stand-Ins.
I have off-the-record statements that it’s happened at least three other times (All of which were in the last ten years) and I’m sure there are other examples that I haven’t heard about. But… In my thirty years in the industry I have never worked as a stand-in, and I’ve seen a trans stand-in, or spoken to a trans actress who said she had done this kind of work.
Part of the problem is that you need to be in Screen Actors Guild to be a stand-in, and there were very few openly transgender people in SAG until a few years ago. This is shown by their own LGBT studies, and backed up by other studies which show that unions, in general, have low numbers of trans people.
I suspect that most of the trans people who have SAG cards today became eligible by working on the shows Pose, and Transparent. Both of which demanded that trans people be employed as cast and crew.
Even the individual members of SAG’s leadership won’t give me an on-the-record statement about how many trans people work as Stand-Ins. Off-the-record, though, some high-ranking people in SAG have told me they’ve never seen it happen, and most of their careers involve decades of experience in the industry. But, none of them will say so in writing. Doing so means they would have to admit that the union was not welcoming to transgender people until very recently (And are reluctantly tolerant of us even now).
So, I hereby proclaim myself as the history-making First Transgender Stand-In ever, in the history of Hollywood. If SAG, Disney, or any of the casting companies want to prove otherwise, I’ll retract that statement. Otherwise, I damned well expect one of those “Lifetime Achievement” Oscars.
I got my first stand-in job last month. To get it, I had to take four different casting companies to court for employment discrimination. The New York State Division of Human Rights ruled against me in all four cases. Then the Governor fired the woman in charge of that division, so I don’t consider the NYDHR determinations to be valid (In fact, Governor Hochul has fired TWO Commissioners of the Division of Human Rights since she became governor).
Then I filed charges of “Retaliation” against three of those casting companies. This time with the NY City government. Two years later, I was finally booked as a Stand-In. Yes, by one of the companies that was under investigation for blacklisting me.
While I’d like to be an optimist. I don’t believe that the casting company had a sudden change of heart about casting transwomen as Stand-Ins. I think the TV show forced them to do so (My blacklisting case with the NYC Commission on Human Rights added even more pressure).
This job was for an upcoming show which is produced by a certain person who has done several shows that feature transgender characters (He was doing stories about trans people before it was acceptable - let alone fashionable). And the actress I was standing in for was transgender. I’m pretty sure that this production DEMANDED a transgender Stand-In, and “Waldorf Casting” was stuck with casting me.
They needed to find a 5’9” blonde transgender actress on short notice. And someone my age too.
When I was confirmed for the gig I suddenly realized that I needed to actually learn what a Stand-In does! It’s more than standing there like a mannequin. I’m expected to DO STUFF.
Most of my work in showbiz was as an extra. And, extras are the lowest rung on the showbiz totem pole. We are forbidden to interact with the principle cast or most of the crew. Extras are paid the worst out of everyone on the set. We can’t even eat lunch until the crew and principal cast have been served (It’s even worse for the non-union extras).
The one good thing about being an extra is that you have almost no responsibilities; we just take naps, and eat junk food most of the day.
One rung above the Extra is the Stand-In. When the camera crew is setting up a shot, they don’t use movies stars for that kind of work. They use an actor who is about the same height as the real actors.
The Stand-In is supposed to be near the set, all the time, and watch the real actors rehearse the scene. We take notes about little things like which hand the actors hold their props in, exactly where they stand when saying each line. When to sit down and stand up. It’s an actual job.
There’s new lingo and terminology that I have to learn; Stand-Ins don’t wear “Costumes” we wear “Color Cover.” Just a fancy word for clothing of the same color as the real actor’s costume.
Ironically, me and everyone else who works on this show has to take an online diversity seminar. It’s made by the NYC Commission on Human Rights, which is the same government agency that is currently investigating the casting company that hired me for this job.
On the morning of the big day I was terrified about making any kind of minor mistake. After fighting with this casting company for six years to prove that I can do this work, I got my big chance, and I was worried that the casting company would be looking for any excuse to say transgender people are unreliable.
But, the crew told me I was doing “Great.” One woman on the set team referred to me as “Perfect.” I ended up getting fours days of work as a Stand-In for this actress. One gig only took an hour to do the scene, and I was paid for a full day’s work.
The following week, a small casting company offered me a job as an extra. Now that I was a lofty Stand-In, could I lower myself to being a mere Extra again?
Yes, of course. After a week of actually working for a living, I was happy to just sit in a holding area, eat my free snacks, and fall asleep while not on set. Also, I had only had one other day of extra work this year, so I desperately needed the money. As of this writing in April, I have only had two days of work as an extra in all of 2025, from all the casting companies together. It’s a slow period for the industry but I’m averaging one booking every two months.
The gig as an extra was for an indie movie that filmed in downtown Manhattan. Our holding area was a fancy hotel, and there was no traditional “Craft Services.” Instead we got our coffee from the hotel’s Room Service. Gourmet coffee served in real cups with saucers. After being a Stand-In for a week, I was feeling entitled, and just expected to drink from proper cups, and dine with the crew.
Then I was led to the holding area with the other extras. Forty of them crammed together in one big room. Union and non-union alike. Sharing the space with the hair/makeup/wardrobe teams.
The filthy, hairy savages were wolfing down their free breakfast burritos. Like a pack of starving animals who didn’t know when they’d eat again.
The ones who weren’t gorging themselves on free food were napping in their chairs. The slovenly creatures slumped over, oblivious to what the cast and crew were doing.
If they were Stand-Ins, they’d be paying close attention to the principle cast, and taking notes on “Blocking” while the crew placed tape “Marks” on the floor.
A woman from the wardrobe department asked to see my “Costume.” Can’t she tell that I’m supposed to be a Stand-In? I wear “Color Cover” not “Costumes.” Or at least that’s how it should be!
The wardrobe lady complimented my outfit. I wore a pinstripe pencil skirt that I had custom made so I could play these non-descript “Office Worker” roles.
But I’m above all this now!
I should be showing my “Color Cover” to the Cinemtographer. A Production Assistant should be bringing “Ms. Battersby” her coffee. The Director should be praising me for standing still and turning my head at just the proper angle for the lighting team.
“I don’t belong in here!” I screamed. “I’m a Stand-In! Not an extra!”
I ran to the door and clanged my coffee cup against the bars that kept me caged in the holding area with these animals.
The Director ignored me, but the “Second, Second Assistant Director” cast her eyes towards me. “What’s up, Charli?” she asked.
“Get me out of here!” I pleaded. “I’m not like these people! Some of them aren’t even union!”
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