This week on GLAAD’s video series, GLAAD: All Access, host Claire Pires interviewed Tatiana Maslany, the star of BBC America’s hit show, Orphan Black.
In this interview, Maslany talks candidly about the show’s LGBT representations, and specifically focuses on the bisexual representation between Cosima and Delphine on the show – saying that she is not on display for the “male gaze”.
Maslany portrays a number of different characters in the sci-fi clone drama, including scientist Cosima – who is engaged in an on-off relationship with Delphine (Évelyne Brochu).
Also read: ‘Orphan Black’ Has LGBT Characters: So What Says the People Behind the Show
Speaking to GLAAD, the Orphan Black star said:
We offer good representation in terms of complex characters that aren’t defined just in terms of their sexuality, but by every facet of what it is to be a person.
One of my favourite things that has ever been written on the show is when [Cosima] said ‘my sexuality is not the most interesting thing about me’. They’re not ‘on show’, they’re not on display for the male gaze. They’re not sexualised in that way, but they are sexual with each other, and they are intimate.
Whether Delphine identifies as bisexual, however she identifies herself, she’s open to loving Cosima, and there’s no question.
It’s about the love between them, not about the fact that they’re two women.”
In a surprise twist last year, the show introduced its first male transgender clone Tony, after the idea was championed by Maslany.
The show’s creators Graeme Manson and John Fawcett said at the time:
Maslany had already come up with the idea sort of on her own. There was never a moment where we were trying to convince her. We were all immediately on the same page.
We definitely felt the responsibility of portraying this. We did a lot of work and Tatiana did a lot of work to portray this character in a way that we felt was respectful of that community but also worked within the context of our show.”
Watch the interview below:
