Candis Cayne on "Dirty Sexy Money"
It's pretty "ballsy" (pun intended) for a major network to give a tranny substance, as opposed to being just eye candy, no?
Every decade or so there comes a role, or a theme that hasn't been touched, that is pivotal in our pop culture. I don't think that ABC realized how historically significant it would be to have a real transgendered person...play a transgendered part. I think I'm the first. I'm hoping that society will be able to see us as real people and not as a joke or some sort of fictional mystery.
Would you rather play a role simply as a woman?
Well at this point, I'll take anything I can get! [Laughs] But seriously, it would be nice to have the option of playing a more traditional female role, but I'm not sure how possible that's going to be, because I'll already be known for this.
With so many labels to define sexual identity, what are men who like transsexuals considered to be?
Basically open-minded straight men. If they like pre-op transsexuals, then they are into transsexuals, period. Even then, it's not usually anything "male" that they are attracted to, except for the private area. A man can be straight, and still be into that. Men who like [post-operatives] are also considered straight.
So men who identify as hetero and lead heterosexual lifestyles are "straight," even if they're having sex with men on the side?
Men are just sexual beings. When it comes down to it, a hole is a hole! [Laughs]
What about your man, DJ Marco?
He's wonderful! We own a house together in the New Jersey suburbs with our two dogs, and we were just up in Connecticut taking his six-year-old daughter trick or treating. It reminded me of my childhood.
I can see you now, in a tight white cashmere sweater going door to door through posh Connecticut suburbs-priceless!
You got that picture right, except it was an orange cashmere throw.
How did you get started as a performer?
All my life I felt it was my calling. I originally moved to New York to be a dancer. One time I was auditioning for Madonna's Girlie Show, and made it to the finals. She kept calling me Liza. She'd say, "Do it again Liza!" and toy with me like a cat with a mouse. I was up against super muscled boys, and ultra feminine girls, and I was somewhere in between. I was a boy, who danced like a girl... It was a little frustrating, so I started doing drag because it made me feel free.
Is that how you became Ms. Cayne?
That, and the next 12 years of New York City nightlife. It's been such a crazy ride!
Does this new success justify all the quality make-up mirror time?
This is a dream come true. It's everything I've always wanted, and it's happening!
Dirty Sexy Money airs on Weds at 10pm on ABC.