CW's 'Supergirl' Casts Nicole Maines As First Transgender Superhero On Television
23 July 2018, 15:12 | Updated: 23 July 2018, 21:23
This is a big freaking deal.
San Diego Comic Con's Supergirl panel brought news that activist and actor Nicole Maines will join the show in its fourth season, making history as the first transgender superhero on TV.
Maines will play Dreamer, aka Nia Nal a new reporter at CatCo who learns the ways of super heroism under the tutelage of Kara.
"She's so pure. She has this ferocious drive to protect people and to fight against discrimination and hatred. She's the superhero we need right now," Maines said of her groundbreaking character during Saturday's panel.
Maines, who is transgender herself, told Variety that she is "very very hopeful, very excited," and "nervous because I want to do it right". This will be the 20-year-old actress' first time as a main cast member on a television show.
Previously, Maines appeared in USA's Royal Pains as well as The Trans List , a 2016 HBO documentary that featured conversations with transgender activists, performers and leading voices.
The CW's Supergirl seems like the perfect place for a socially conscious and dedicated hero like Dreamer to land and the fan response has been largely positive.
Oh my god... Trans girl superhero. On network television. Played by a trans girl!
— Crystal Frasier (@AmazonChique) July 22, 2018
When I was a kid, I honestly never thought I would see this in my lifetime.
There's a lot of shit in the world, but maybe we're actually clawing our way forward, too.https://t.co/BpRCIfIdH7
Supergirl returns for season 4 on the CW October 14.
