It makes sense that director Lee Daniels would come to Atlanta when to work on a new TV pilot. Call us biased, but our fair city has everything that the “Empire” creator and Oscar-winning “Precious” director needs. We have a few suggestions for its trans lead.
Production begins in Atlanta in December on “Star,” the saga of a racially diverse girl band. Reeling in “Empire” love, Fox has already commissioned the pilot to run sometime in 2016. The story follows a four-girl group trying to make it in the ATL. The role of the titular Star, as well as her bandmates Alexandra, Simone, and Cotton, are up for grabs, according to Deadline.
The casting breakdown announced that the character of Cotton “is a half African-American and half Latina transgender woman with a stunning look,” and “an especially keen eye for fashion.”
See? Atlanta is perfect, not only for the series, but also maybe for finding the exact right talent for the high profile and still-groundbreaking LGBT role. We ran down our picks for local performers when HBO was looking, and transgender talents were on that list. Now let’s take a look at local lovelies who might be perfect as Cotton, including Alissah Brooks (top photo), who also brings the singing voice and girl-group experience that the role may require.
Angelica D’Paige
The self-annointed Tranny Supermodel is easily one of the most beautiful queens on the circuit. The gorgeous Burkhart’s hostess, Jungle Fantasy Girl and Heretic Memorial Day swimwear diva might be just the cream for Daniels' coffee.
Destiny Brooks
Show Director at LeBuzz, Honey Boo Boo gal pal, one of the Fantasy Girls at Jungle, and a cast regular at Blake’s and Burkhart’s, could this beauty who goes by Black Barbie and loves to bare everything but the tuck also be the face of “Star's” future?
Alissah Brooks
An actual singer with pipes, Brooks (photo, left) may be just the person for Daniels and “Star.” Often seen with her bestie, “Vampire Diaries” own Kat Graham (right), Brooks is also working on the world's first transgender pop band – Secret Girls, who dropped their first cover earlier this month. (Listen below) Both make her perfect to play “Cotton” in our opinion.
[Deadline | Billboard | Variety]
