Model and actress Dominique Jackson can't say a thing about the 3rd and concluding season of one of the most groundbreaking LGBTQ+ serial e'er made. It's mid February when we connect, just weeks before it was announced that vii new episodes of  "Pose," the FX drama about New York's drag brawl subculture during the HIV/AIDS crisis, volition premiere May 7. And so it will end, with a tide-irresolute legacy forever linked to its name.

When it debuted in 2018, the series ready a record for the number of out LGBTQ+ people in its cast, especially trans women of color. At the time of our talk, Jackson said the cast was in the procedure of shooting. Simply when pushed to offer fifty-fifty the slightest tease of what's to come, she remained playfully taciturn about her character: "All I tin can tell y'all is Elektra is going to be Elektra."

Elektra Wintour, of course, is the fiercely resilient house mother, who last season formed her new house, the Firm of Wintour, and went full-on dominatrix. In season two's last episode, in a leather bustier, with a whip in her hand, she ordered a client to heel. And so there's that dead client whose trunk she housed in her apartment.

So no, Jackson's life doesn't completely mirror that of her grapheme. Only their experiences are, to some degree, shared. Like Elektra, who is the fictional protégé of ball-culture icons like Crystal LaBeija, Pepper LaBeija and Paris Dupree, Jackson besides institute refuge in the underground world of ballroom civilisation while in Baltimore and New York in the '90s, after a menses of childhood trauma she experienced while living in the dual-island nation Trinidad and Tobago. She jumped around to several houses primarily populated by Blackness and Latinx trans outsiders, eventually settling into the House of Sinclair in NYC, a prophylactic oasis that helped her survive homelessness and substance abuse.

Aside from her breakout function on "Pose," Jackson is upending gender norms on the third season of the Starz serial "American Gods," a series about the civilisation clashing of Former and New Gods. She embodies the latest incarnation of the shape-shifting "Mr. Globe" as a ferocious, bat-wielding, glam Black woman, now called "Ms. Earth."

Just after giving a keynote address at the National LGBTQ Task Force'southward Creating Change briefing, which was virtual this year, Jackson spoke near how reliving Elektra helped her survive the pandemic and why "Pose" actors other than Baton Porter deserve awards acknowledgement. She also explained how the superhero fantasy world of "X-Men" aided in her survival equally a trans woman, fifty-fifty though she initially hesitated because "anybody, the people, are talking about it" on the internet. In other words, they actually, really desire Dominique Jackson to play Storm.

How're y'all doing? How has lockdown been for you this past year?

Lockdown was kind of a push to revitalize myself, a button to really await back at myself, look back at my life, empathise the things that were happening for me and offset to create what I wanted. Of course, in the beginning, there was a panic, in that location was great fear, there were even times where I just felt similar, you lot know, simply surrender. Because during the pandemic, we were locked down and it was like, "Oh my gosh, I'm blessed with all these amazing opportunities and now I'chiliad gonna lose them." There was that fearfulness.

And and so George Floyd was murdered and that simply pushed everything over the top. And trans women were being murdered back to back every calendar week. I was ready to give up. I didn't surrender, but I was gear up to surrender. I just felt like there's no place for the states in this globe. If they were killing Black men, what are they gonna practice to trans women? And in that location we were being murdered.

What kept you going?

I'yard the type of person that I actually looked into myself get-go. I tried to find out what I could practice to make things better, and in speaking to people and doing piddling Elektra things on TikTok, it gave me hope reliving my character, to really simply do something besides just sit in the firm and worry.

My fiancé and I were doing challenges together. That really helped to brighten me up, pull me out a chip. And I realized that sitting in that location and panicking was non going to help me. It was just gonna brand me sick. Information technology was gonna keep me in that depressive mode, and I had to fight through it. I recall how I fought through not having a green carte du jour and fought through wanting to be on tv set, only fighting all my life, and I was like, "Now is non the time for me to stop."

I read recently that when we're experiencing despair it'southward of import for united states to recollect by moments of resilience in our lives. It tin can get you out of that spiral.

Yeah, information technology did.

You lot famously don't practice many interviews. Based on what I've read, you don't like talking and so much well-nigh your success, because you kind of feel similar it paints a false narrative for the trans community as a whole. Is that right?

Well, yeah. I'm really selective with interviews because I feel similar sometimes information technology's just, "OK, let me go the story." And yous give the story and you keep reliving your traumas. It's just something that is put out there over and over and over again; it becomes exhausting reliving your trauma. I'm reliving trauma by some of the things that we have to do on "Pose." So, for me, I want interviews to be nearly and really for my community. I actually want them to take a message that's going to be sent to my community, and not just an article to say, "Oh, we represented the trans community; we have Dominique Jackson."

So how do you navigate that backside the scenes? How do you know who to talk to and who not to?

I'g a person that believes in doing enquiry, and I have a keen management squad. And so they know exactly what I'm looking for. And the other thing is, I'm about my work, and I'm about putting that onto the screen. And I put everything that I accept (into it), considering I want people to understand that being trans is just a part of my journey. That doesn't mean that I can't be a slap-up histrion. It doesn't mean I can't be the best md there is, it doesn't mean that I tin't mow the lawn or lay concrete. Information technology doesn't limit me. And I desire my customs to know that difficult work does pay off.

I'g curious to know what some of the questions are nearly existence a trans woman that yous don't want to answer anymore. And do you experience similar it's a catchy situation that you're in given the fact that you've get this  accidental activist?

Well, yeah, and you see that'south why I'yard selective with my interviews. Because I am, kind of, and that's what I've been accounted. It was not what I was trying to do. Information technology just happened. I realized I was getting so many responses on Instagram of how I inspire people, and I was looking at myself going, "Who, me?" For me, it's non about, "Oh, wait at me, I'm an activist." Information technology'due south simply that I know that I want what I want, and I know that I'm going to have to work hard to go to it.

And questions — it depends. If I'm speaking at a higher or I'one thousand speaking to my customs, it'southward a unlike story. Simply when it comes to my surgeries, some people ask some really stupid questions like, "What made yous want to do that?" And I as well have a volume. Then I experience like, you know, sometimes people tin can just read the book. I mean, it's as raw as possible. And y'all know, you tin can go that information.

I'd similar to shift gears to "American Gods." From what I understand, you didn't even take to audience for the testify; the role was offered to you. Earlier, you had to really fight for roles. So what did information technology mean to y'all to but be offered a office like this?

It was beyond phenomenal. It was just a matter of similar, I'k validated, I'chiliad seen, they see me equally an actor. And that'southward what this is all nigh: It's almost the visibilities, about being seen, information technology's about being acknowledged, and being acknowledged and so that people don't fear you. This is not almost acknowledgement and validity to say, "Oh, look, I'm a queen."

This is about: I am hither, I am a human beingness just like you lot, so see me, allow me the condolement and let me the ability to fail, if that'southward how you see it. Only don't approximate me but based on my journey as a adult female.

Do yous discover that you are now being offered more roles in general?

(Laughs.) Well, I've only really been offered two. (The other was in the movie) "Chick Fight," and even so, of course, I did a piffling reading for them. It feels great. It'due south just a phenomenal feeling, and to know that at times I felt ashamed that I didn't go to school for this. Merely it only goes to show that sometimes, some things are just in you.

Working at (Bronx LGBTQ Community Center) Destination Tomorrow and raising kids in the past, I always say, "You have to guide kids," because if someone was there to say to me, "Await, I see you similar to build characters and act, I see yous love the phase" instead of limiting me from the phase past maxim to me, "Look, just girls do that" or making information technology virtually gender — information technology was limiting to me. Then, when I danced and I did ballet, I was laughed at, and I was like, "Heed, I wasn't even doing this for annihilation but for the art, for the love of being able to escape normality for a second and bring something else to life and see people enjoy it." I loved when I danced and people just sat in awe. Information technology made me feel like I had purpose.

Is that the same feeling you get when people watch you equally Elektra and they tell you how much they love you in that role?

Sometimes that tin can be a fleck overwhelming, because, again, I wasn't receiving dear like that before. And so information technology's like, "Wow." Information technology's comforting to the heart, it makes me feel like I'thousand a part of the human race. It makes me feel like I vest.

In honor of Women's History Month, who's a trans woman you'd similar to highlight who has been influential in your life?

Wow. I could not merely highlight one. That would accept to be Brenda Milan, information technology would have to exist Jessica Fob, it would have to be the incomparable Tommie Ross, my mother, from the Continental Pageantry Organization. Gosh. I don't want to leave anyone out. Another ane of my mothers, Aura St. Claire.

It's simply these trans women are the ones who have been leading this charge for then long: protecting us; being our aunts, our mothers. When I went to (the Miss Continental pageant) in 2002, I was so lost. I had no idea what was happening. I just knew that there was some place that I fit in, and (Tommie Ross) saw me.

I walked through the doors and she opened her heart to me, and I, for the first time in years, in well-nigh a decade, felt like I had a mother. I felt like I had dearest. She didn't even know me and sent me clothes. All she saw was a picture, and she would always send me these postcards that said, "My girl for life."

Regarding your role every bit Ms. World on "American Gods," what practise y'all recall that we tin learn from her?

Well… (laughs), that'south a really, um, kind of difficult question to answer since this lady is walking around busting heads open up with bats. Then, I don't recommend that you walk around, bashing people in the caput with bats for having an opinion. Only Ms. Earth, again, information technology's most a adult female, and people don't understand, when you are marginalized, anything that you get makes you feel like you are coming out of that when you lot accept faced oppression.

So, every bit a Caribbean area woman, as an immigrant, as a Black woman, as a trans woman — as all these women combined to make my whole — I encounter strings, I see power, I see at present we're non looking to those that are in power. When we create Loki, it'due south usually this male thing. So therefore when we see Ms. World, we see that a God can transform, a God can change, and Mr. World now is of the world. And existence of the globe, you lot should be inclusive of everyone.

How have superhuman fantasy roles been helpful to yous in navigating your ain identity?

Well, OK, I don't want to actually say this, but I take to. Considering I actually don't wanna talk about information technology, considering everyone, the people, are talking about it. For me, I'1000 just honored by them talking about this: But growing up the 10-Men was very dear to my heart. Because, at that time, I was basically homeless, and burrow-surfing at times. A group of us were staying at one of our friend's grandmother's houses; she was in the hospital at the time. And then we were all gathered there because that was our place to stay for the moment. I didn't have to pay for a hotel for the night; it meant that I didn't have to go to the street. So when we institute comfort and warmth, we kind of gathered there. And there was the "X-Men" saga, "The Night Phoenix Saga," that was playing at that fourth dimension, and we were simply and then enthralled.

And while growing up, of course, I watched the "X-Men" and I loved them. I loved them, but information technology was in that moment, and over again in meeting my children'southward family in Baltimore, and then coming to New York, nosotros all watched the "X-Men" considering the "Ten-Men" represented us. We would go to the grocery store and help someone carry groceries. We would do everything for someone, and they would nonetheless plow around and talk downward to u.s. and curse at us and throw things at us. Imagine you helped someone to their auto with their groceries and they turn on the light and they realize that you're different then they take their fruit and throw information technology at y'all and tell you lot to go away from them. You lot just helped them.

For me, Storm had an emphasis; I'one thousand Caribbean area. So Storm was just my girl, my go-to. I honey her graphic symbol. I love everything near her. And it was the resilience, the beauty of her, the resilience of where she came from as Ororo Munroe, from her origin stories of being in her hamlet, of even having a nephew and going dorsum wanting to assistance her village merely even so she protects her village fifty-fifty when they called her the Weather condition Witch. Simply she still protects them. And I run across that in a lot of the trans customs.

West e are and then pushed to the side, just still we're there to be mothers, nosotros're there to be fathers. We're there to protect people. We have kids of our own. So the superhero fantasy, for me, was always her, because it non only helped us escape, but it let me know that people saw and would realize that at some point in time, that being different or foreign from what society deemed to be the norm didn't make us bad people.

You have no idea, if you sit back and listen to the things that people would say nigh us, I would even be afraid of myself. Before I even understood who I was, I would hear people speak, and the way in which they spoke about people like myself, I was like, "Oh my god, I need to kill myself because I know I'm different."

I feel like every young person needs a part model like that, because ofttimes we don't have ones in real life to look to, so we have to look to imaginary characters.

She-Ra: Princess of Power was another i. I dearest She-Ra.

Billy Porter, Dominique Jackson, Mj Rodriguez and Indya Moore at the PaleyFest — "Pose" Consequence at the Dolby Theater on March 23, 2019 in Los Angeles.

Regarding "Pose," what are your thoughts on the response from people in the LGBTQ+ community who think it's fourth dimension for other actors from the series to be recognized for their roles and their accomplishments on the show?

Well, yeah, I practice believe that my castmates should be recognized for their work, especially Angelica Ross and Mj Rodriguez. Baton has been given his flowers, and I am extremely ecstatic for him for that. As far as Indya (Moore) and the rest of the girls, I do believe that they should have been nominated at least for some of the awards. Considering we're not just telling a truthful story or doing enquiry to tell a true story — nosotros're telling our ain lives.

We are reliving our trauma, we are being triggered constantly by things that we overcame in life, and constantly giving it back and giving all our energy just to be able to evidence people what nosotros go through and those that are going through it that they're non lone. So, I believe that recognition should exist there for my castmates. For myself, I really, actually desire to be undeniably everything. I actually want to go into fantasy roles. I believe that there'southward a lot more I accept to learn and I have to give earlier I starting time receiving awards. (Laughs.) I'm so serious because  I just feel like, you know, Elektra is me. She's dear to my heart. She is the adult female that I said I would never become, but the adult female that I was surrounded by all my life. I desire the opportunity to show that I can play outside myself, like with "American Gods." Requite me a vampire role and I am there.

When it comes to trans representation, what is the next frontier? Where do nosotros go from "Pose"? It's been so groundbreaking, obviously.

Aye, "Pose" has been extremely groundbreaking, but nosotros have other things that have come most. We have "Legendary" on HBO Max. Hollywood is opening their eyes and realizing that this is not merely a greenbacks cow. These stories demand to be told, and especially in this time. I feel like we are gathering all these stories, telling the truth of everything, removing the blinders from people's faces, and so that nosotros tin move frontward and really, really become to equality.