It's Sunday afternoon at Outfest 2007 and I'm here at the DGA Theatre between screenings. I have about 20 minutes of spare time so thought I'd start my posting in Alexis Arquette whose documentary "Alexis Arquette: She's Our Brother" screened yesterday. Alexis, of the famed Arquette clan (Patricia, Rosanna, David, among others) starred in many films including gay faves "I Think I Do" and "Grief," among others, and had a recurring role in one of my all-time favortie shows, Showtime's late, great "Beggars and Choosers." Her film follows her journey transitioning from life as a man to living as a transgender woman.
The original plan was for Alexis to document everything right through a sex-change operation. Things turned out differently and she is now living life on her own terms.
We chatted after the screening:
Greg: What about your fans who fell in love with you as a male in your movies?
Alexis: "With people, there's a little bit of a lament for the old Alexis, there is a bit of a death and kind of a passing on of that person. That person's still here, but that person was, in a way, just like any other role I've ever played. I had to be honest with myself and the world. Anyone can get anyone to believe anything about who they are but the fact is, in the long run you just have to be comfortable with who you are and it doesn't matter what the world thinks."