VIDEO: Matrix director stuns gala crowd with transgender coming out tale

Director Lana Wachowski speaks at a panel discussion following the 'Cloud Atlas' US premiere on October 6, 2012 in New York City (Getty Images)

You may know Lana Wachowski as one half of the sibling directorial team behind The Matrix trilogy and the upcoming Cloud Atlas starring Tom Hanks and Halle Berry. What you might not know, is that Wachowski is also well-regarded for her bravery in speaking openly about her experiences growing up transgender.

Wachowski, 47 was awarded the Visibility Award by at the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) fundraising dinner in San Francisco on October 20th. In a speech which The Hollywood Reporter described as "funny, honest and deeply moving" she discussed how she once suffered a physical beating at the hands of a Catholic school nun after she failed to join a line of boys and nearly committed suicide as a young adult.

The HRC has raised funds for LGBT-friendly causes for 28 years and previous honourees include Milk screenwriter Dustin Lance Black and Precious director Lee Daniels.