'I wanted character to make my trans as hot as possible'

Supermodel turned actor Rebecca Romijn tells Adam White about playing persecuted women, saying no to ‘arm candy stuff’, and why she’d not reprise her ‘Ugly Betty’ role today

- Adam White

In 2006, the creators of the then fledgling comedy series Ugly Betty proposed a wild plot twist for the show’s first season: the mysterious villain covered in bandages and living in the basement of a fashion magazine publishing house would be revealed as the transgender scion of a media dynasty, who’d faked their death before undergoing gender reassignment surgery. “Alex” would emerge as Alexis Meade, a campy bombshell who’d try to take over the company.

But the creators weren’t stupid. This was 2006, and such a risky storyline required a trojan horse. Enter supermodel turned actor Rebecca Romijn, then best known for being the bluest, nudest mutant in the X-Men franchise.

“The executives at the time didn’t love the idea of the character,” the 50-year-old remembers today. “There was a real boys’ club running the show behind the scenes at that point. So to try and make it palatable to the boys’ club... they pitched me. And I jumped at the chance.” She knew it was a big deal. “I never would be cast in that role today, but I do feel like it helped open doors for the trans community. I’d like to think that, anyway. I don’t want to pat myself on the back too much.”