| Angelica Ross | |
| Birth Date: | 28 November 1980 |
| Birth Place: | Kenosha, Wisconsin, U.S. |
| Years Active: | 2005–present |
| Organization: | TransTech Social Enterprises |
| Credits: | , which produces label "Notable credit(s)"; or by |
| Works: | , which produces label "Works" --> |
Angelica Ross (born November 28, 1980)[1] is an American actress, businesswoman, and transgender rights advocate. A self-taught computer programmer, she went on to become founder and CEO of TransTech Social Enterprises, a firm that helps employ transgender people in the tech industry.[2]
Ross began her acting career in the web series Her Story (2016), after which she received further recognition and critical acclaim for her starring roles in the drama series Pose (2018–21) and the anthology horror series American Horror Story (2019–21), both from FX.
Angelica Ross was born on November 28, 1980, in Kenosha, Wisconsin, then raised to the north in nearby Racine.[3] Ross, a trans woman, has said she was perceived as feminine from a young age.[4] In 1998, when she was 17, she came out as gay to her mother, an evangelical Christian. Her mother did not receive the news well; according to Ross, "she told me I should commit suicide or she would, because she couldn't have someone like me as her child."[5] Ross considered ending her own life and overdosed on medication, but survived.[6]
Upon graduating high school at 17, Ross briefly attended the University of Wisconsin–Parkside before dropping out after one semester. Ross decided to join the U.S. Navy (after her parents signed a waiver so that she could join as a minor) in order to qualify for the G.I. Bill. Ross initially moved to Rochester, New York, before being stationed in Yokosuka, Kanagawa. After six months of service, she requested and received an "uncharacterized" discharge under the "Don't Ask Don't Tell" policy (which was then in force) due to being harassed by enlisted men who coerced her into saying she was gay.
Ross moved back home, and made friends with a drag queen named Traci Ross who helped her begin her gender transition at the age of 19. Upon discovering that she was transitioning, her mother threw her out and Ross moved in with her biological father (who was slightly more accepting of her) in Roanoke, Virginia. Although Ross and her parents were estranged for a time, she states that they have since mended their relationship.[5] During the six years that she lived in Roanoke, Ross worked as a waitress at Applebee's so she could earn enough money to pay rent and attend cosmetology school. Ross then moved to Hollywood, Florida and worked as a model and escort, then web manager, until 2003. She started a web development and graphic design business and took acting classes. She later moved to Chicago to become the employment coordinator for the Trans Life Center.
In 2005, Ross made her acting debut in the comedy film Natale a Miami, followed by a role in the short film Bella Maddo (2010). In 2016, Ross received recognition for starring in Her Story, a web series about trans women in Los Angeles.[7] The series was nominated for a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Short Form Comedy or Drama.[8] [9] In 2017, she made guest appearances in the CBS legal drama series Doubt, the TNT crime drama series Claws, and the Amazon Prime Video comedy-drama series Transparent.[10] She also executive produced and starred in the short film Missed Connections, which went on to be an official selection at Outfest 2017, Baltimore International Black Film Festival 2017, La Femme International Film Festival 2017, and Outflix Film Festival 2017 in Memphis, Tennessee. In June 2017, Ross provided voice work for the Amazon Video animated series Danger & Eggs.[11] [12]
Her breakthrough role came in 2018, as Candy Ferocity in Ryan Murphy's FX drama series Pose. For her performance, she earned critical acclaim.[13] She went on to star as psychologist Donna Chambers in the FX anthology horror series , which made her the first transgender actress to secure two series regular roles. The series was also her second collaboration with Murphy.[14] Her performance garnered critical acclaim by fans and critics alike. In 2021 Ross returned as a series regular for the show's tenth season.[15]
In 2020, Ross signed a deal with Pigeon to develop its television projects.[16] She portrays Georgia, a transgender woman, in the 2022 film Framing Agnes.
Ross made her Broadway debut as Roxie Hart in the musical Chicago in a limited engagement from September 12 to November 6, 2022. With this role, she became the first trans woman to play a leading role on Broadway.[17] [18]
On September 21, 2023, Ross posted on Twitter that she is "leaving Hollywood", having experienced what she perceived as a pattern of mistreatment in the industry.[19] In an interview published the following day, she related more details about her experiences on the set of American Horror Story, and stated that she is moving back to Georgia and preparing to run for public office.[20]
Ross taught herself coding,[21] [22] and started her journey in the technology industry in web management.[23] She also learned graphic design and photography using videos online, taking photos for rappers and designing backstage passes.[24] Ross later was hired by the Chicago House's TransLife Center which caters to trans individuals seeking employment, housing and other aid.[24] Her role focused on employment coordination program development.[24]
In 2014, Ross founded the company TransTech Social Enterprises, acting as CEO.[25] The nonprofit creative design firm trains and contracts transgender and other workers.[26] Melissa Harris-Perry brought more attention to the firm in 2015, choosing Ross as her show's first "Foot Soldier" of the year.[27] Educating others on the mission of the firm included MSNBC airing a documentary about it.[23]
Ross is also the president of Miss Ross, Inc. and founded the TransTech Summit.[28] Ross described the goals of TransTech as including to foster skills in the technology industry, especially for trans people. As the world became more digitized, Ross saw the opportunity for expanding remote working via telecommunication as there can be flexible solutions to workplace issues.[29]
Ross was a featured speaker at the 2015 White House LGBTQ Tech and Innovation Summit.[30]
In January 2024, Ross announced the launch of a new weekly podcast, N.O.W.: No Opportunity Wasted, featuring "deep discussion on everything from politics to pop culture with world leaders, celebrities and everyday people".[31] [32]
Ross was a celebrity ambassador to the 50th Anniversary Stonewall celebration that took place in June 2019 during Pride.[33] On September 20, 2019, Ross hosted the 2020 Presidential Candidate Forum on LGBTQ Issues.[34] [35] This made her the first openly transgender person to host an American presidential forum.[36] On September 28, 2019, Ross was a featured speaker at the National Trans Visibility March in Washington D.C.[37] [38]
Ross was once engaged, but called off the engagement as her fiancé did not want others to know that Ross was transgender.[39] She is a practicing Buddhist.[40]
| Year | Title | Role | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | Natale a Miami | Sharon | ||
| 2010 | Bella Maddo | Party Guest | Short film | |
| 2017 | Missed Connections | Jennifer | Short film | |
| The Heart of a Woman | Terri | Short film | ||
| 2020 | Herself | Documentary film | ||
| 2021 | Music | Urgent Care Doctor | ||
| 2022 | Framing Agnes | Georgia | Documentary film |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | I Am Cait | Herself | 2 episodes | |
| 2016 | Her Story | Paige | 5 episodes; webseries | |
| 2017 | Doubt | Valentina | Episode: "Clean Burn" | |
| Danger & Eggs | Mayor (voice) | 3 episodes | ||
| Claws | Relevance | 3 episodes | ||
| Transparent | Diana Ross Diva | Episode: "Born Again" | ||
| 2018–2021 | Pose | Candy Ferocity | 15 episodes | |
| 2019 | King Ester | Denise | Episode: "Insurance" | |
| Donna Chambers | 9 episodes | |||
| 2021 | The Chemist | 3 episodes | ||
| Theta | 3 episodes | |||
| 2022 | Margie | Episode: "Wait Time: 22 Minutes" | ||
| 2023 | The Freedom to Exist with Elliot Page - A Soul of a Nation Presentation | Herself | Documentary series[41] | |
| 2023 | Sort Of | Dr. C | Episode: "The Sort Of Truth" |
| Year | Association | Category | Nominated work | Result | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | Transgender National Alliance | Be Amazing Award | Angelica Ross | [42] | |
| 2016 | Black Trans Advocacy Awards | Trailblazer Award | [43] | ||
| 2016 | Human Rights Campaign | Visibility Award | [44] | ||
| 2017 | GLAAD Media Awards | Outstanding Talk Show Episode | The Daily Show with Trevor Noah | [45] | |
| Special Recognition Award | Angelica Ross | [46] | |||
| 2018 | Financial Times | Top 10 LGBT+ Executives | [47] | ||
| 2021 | Queer 50 | [48] |