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Trans actress Candis Cayne reveals she walked out of Curb Your Enthusiasm audition over an offensive joke

She declined the role, saying 'I have to honour my community'

Doug Bolton
Thursday 03 September 2015 08:05 BST
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Candis Cayne speaks onstage during Logo's 3rd annual 'NewNowNext Awards'
Candis Cayne speaks onstage during Logo's 3rd annual 'NewNowNext Awards' (Kevin Winter/Getty Images)

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Transgender actress Candis Cayne has revealed that she walked out of an audition for sitcom Curb Your Enthusiasm over a joke about transgender women using men's toilets.

Speaking to the Hollywood Reporter, Cayne said that the show's star and creator, Larry David, was at the audition for the show, which last aired in 2011.

Cayne said: "The part was for a trans woman who had to go to the bathroom really bad and decided she was going to go in the men's line because it was quicker."

After learning what the part was, Cayne said she told the audition panel: "Thank you for writing a trans part, but I can't audition because a trans woman wouldn't do this. I have to honour my community."

Walking out of the audition, she said added: "But I love the show!"

Cayne also said that fellow transgender actress, Alexandra Billings, was waiting for her chance in the audition when she walked out. Billings apparently also had a similar reaction when learning what the role was.

The joke was eventually dropped and never appeared in the show.

Not all transgender actresses have similarly negative experiences, however.

Recently, Boy Meets Girl became the first mainstream British sitcom to cast a transgender actress in a leading role. Rebecca Root will star alongside Harry Hepple in the comedic love story.

And Bethany Black, another transgender actress, is due to appear in Doctor Who, in a first for the show.

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