‘Bold and the Beautiful’ Star Karla Mosley on Transgender Shocker: I Asked, ‘Why Me?’ (Video)
Karla Mosley — whose “The Bold and the Beautiful” character Maya Avant sent shock waves through the internet on Wednesday when it was revealed that the character is transgendered — opened up about her reaction to the storyline on Thursday, saying that, when she was told of the plot twist, she initially asked, “Why me?”
“One of the first questions I asked [“B&B” executive producer] Brad [Bell] and also Patrick, who’s one of the writers, is, ‘Why me, as a cisgendered woman, playing this role, instead of a transgender woman?” Mosley said in a video with Bell released by CBS on Thursday. “And Brad informed me that we would be hiring transgender actors, which is incredibly important.”
Mosley also said, “As a good writer, [Bell] really set it up … he said, ‘Maya’s a transgender woman.’ At first I was surprised, and then I said, ‘Thank you.'”
Also Read: ‘Bold and the Beautiful’ Transgender Storyline Shocker Is ‘About Tolerance,’ EP Says
Bell, also the head writer on the CBS soap, offered his own thoughts on the storyline, noting that it will be interesting to see how Maya’s love interest, Rick Forrester, reacts to the news.
“First and foremost, this is a love story. A love story of the characters Rick and Maya. And they go on an incredible journey together. They fall in love, Rick not knowing that Maya is transgender,” Bell offered. “And then there is the moment of disclosure, which is always a very significant moment. How is he going to react and how will it end up?”
Also Read: ‘Bold and the Beautiful’ Transgender Twist Sparks Social Media Frenzy (Video)
Bell also touted the social importance of the storyline, noting, “It’s about people respecting other people’s differences and their uniqueness.”
Added Bell, “I think it’s time that we become more colorblind, gender-blind, religious-blind.”
Mosley likewise held up the storyline as an opportunity to spread understanding, noting the long-running soap’s reach to 35 million viewers in more than 100 countries.
Also Read: Victoria Rowell’s ‘Young and the Restless’ Lawsuit Is Unconstitutional, CBS and Sony TV Argue
“The awareness that this brings to those places is pretty unprecedented, and I am proud to be a part of it,” Mosley noted.
Watch Mosley and Bell discuss the shocking turn in the video.
Related stories from TheWrap:
Victoria Rowell's 'Young and the Restless' Lawsuit Is Unconstitutional, CBS and Sony TV Argue
'Bold and the Beautiful' Transgender Storyline Shocker Is 'About Tolerance,' EP Says
'Bold and the Beautiful' Transgender Twist Sparks Social Media Frenzy (Video)
