[My show is] a revival of the original— and so it's a mother of the earth [character] and I get the question: 'Well, you don't know what it's like to be a mother, you don't know what sits like to do this,' and I'm like, 'I also don't know what it's like to be a god. I didn’t have the time to just think about your career and how I can take you further, and vice versa. I grew up fortunate and blessed. His father died of cancer when he was six years old, at which point his mother raised him as a single parent. This is my time to sit down, rest and not fly around the world! Growing up gender non-conforming, his own mother supported him unconditionally, and inspired his artistry as a result. Newell, who is gay, gender-nonconforming and uses the pronouns “he” and “him,” had a lot of real-life experience to draw from when it came to playing Mo. It is that boost of confidence when people are open about how the character has inspired them, or how I’ve inspired them, to live their true lives or to accept someone that isn’t like them and to know that they’re normal. He’s best known for portraying the first openly transgender high school student on American television: Unique Adams, who appeared on Glee in 2012 after Newell was first runner-up on The Glee Project. 4 on the Billboard Top Dance/Electronic Album chart, earning Newell more than 400,000 monthly listeners on Spotify. I don’t. As a singer and performer, people forget that we’re not robots. He points to problems that exist within (and well beyond) the Black community, where the lightness of your skin can play a role in how you are perceived by one another. It’s been eight years since you appeared on Glee – how do you think the landscape of TV has changed since?I think a lot of people are more accepting of sexuality and gender and even musical theatre. Work comes or it doesn’t come. We need to get to a place of indifference, which is not like or hate but understanding that we’re all different and that we all have a walk of life. When I teach kids musical theatre, they ask questions about how to prepare for this and this and what tips I have for the future. Like his character, the actor and singer had to reconcile his religious faith and his gender identity growing up, and he’s been vocal about how that dichotomy informed his work as an artist. It’s very strange. “While I'm not 1,000 percent masculine and not 1,000 percent feminine, I know that I am heavy on the feminine,” Newell told me. A newer pastor at the church refused to let Newell sing, despite the fact he was central to the spiritual service. Tell me about the decision to disregard gender constraints when casting your gods, specifically Alex Newell as Asaka, Mother of the Earth. What has the response been like from the gender nonconforming community?I think everybody wants a Mo in their life now, and it speaks volumes to what the network was willing to put on their screens. I don’t need you to buy things of that sort for me. Hell, all I wanna do is be a stay-at-home mom and just make cookies and drink martinis. Millions fell in love with Newell’s voice as he brought Wade “Unique” Adams to life on Glee over the course of four seasons, offering a groundbreaking and influential depiction of one of network television’s very first transgender characters (Newell himself identifies as a gender non-conforming male). How are you keeping motivated and inspired during lockdown? “We’re always [dealing with that]… We were in our own country, our own continent, where we were all the same, and then we were stripped from that, brought over, and then forced to have intercourse, and then have this child that we didn’t know what it was gonna look like. 8,184 Likes, 88 Comments - Alex Newell (@thealexnewell) on Instagram: “We're living in a tumultuous time, and conversations about race, gender, and sexuality are at the…” I don't get it.’”. Newell was accepted into the Berklee College of Music for fall 2012, but he decided instead to move to Los Angeles t… There’s fashion and hair, all of the good things a San Francisco diva would be! He is an actor, known for Geography Club (2013), … “I’m me, and I have to look out for myself. Whether you’re tall, short, gay, straight, black or white, we all go through different facets of life; heartbreak, sadness, death, loss. “I don't know what it's like to own up to being a man. Congratulations are also in order for your role on Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist – for those who haven’t seen the show, how would you describe your character?My character is the best friend that you never knew that you needed, but wanted. Newell had few models for that. He played the character Unique Adams, a transgender student. I just wanted to make it as normal as it can, let’s not talk about it and just have it be what it is. As he came of age in a Black church, Newell said he was “the only boy in the soprano section,” and described how the singers were physically arranged in the sanctuary: “Girls, girls, girls, boys—Alex.”. So, Boy, You Can Keep It came out of that in a way. Right now, it’s about re-introducing and putting things out there. It is his difference from the norm that has made him a star. Is it a post-apocalyptic wasteland?I’m in a neighbourhood, so there’s a lot of people out, doing their airings, going to the grocery store and such. We’re still fighting racism in America and in the world in general, so the world quite literally always needs to be done. Everyone has seen me in my day-to-day drag, but not the side of me that warrants why the drag has to be put on and being vulnerable. "I don't know what it's like to own up to being a man. “Maybe I should just be trans.”, "Great, I’m in a zoot suit, living my best fashion life.". No one is sitting here handing you a career that you can take and go forth for everything. From there on, I was filming Zoey in Canada. I think Glee was really good at showing all of those things and doing them in a manner where you didn’t care what the person looked like or what the person dressed as or what their sexual orientation was or what their gender was. That no matter how confident one is, there are still facets if your life that you aren’t comfortable with. Alex Newell, the actor who plays the groundbreaking transgender character Wade “Unique” Adams on “Glee,” sat down with Fusion’s Alicia Menendez this week to discuss his role on the hit show, Corey Montieth’s death and Bill O’Reilly’s recent transphobic comments about his character. The show has received praise, especially from the LGBTQ community, for providing audiences with an authentic queer character whose main story arc doesn’t revolve around their sexuality or gender identity. “And so it’s like, when I get married and have kids, I know that I'm going to be the mother figure. Actor has anything planned – there are still facets if your life that you can take further! Hips and a half of my favourite anthems of 2020 – where did that stem from? you. Knows what it 's like to own up to being a man music!! 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