Kitana Kiki Rodriguez is an American actress.[1][2] She is best known for her role as Sin-Dee Rella in Sean Baker's 2015 film Tangerine.[3][4] The first Academy Award campaigns for openly transgender actresses supported by a film producer were launched for Rodriguez and Mya Taylor for Tangerine.[5]
Kitana Kiki Rodriguez | |
|---|---|
| Born | |
| Occupation | Actress |
| Years active | 2015 |
Life and career
Rodriguez, an openly transgender woman, had been sharing an apartment with her eventual Tangerine co-star Mya Taylor at the time that she was discovered by filmmaker Sean Baker at a local Los Angeles LGBT Center. She had no acting experience prior to being cast in the role.[6]
Though she had been nominated for a Best Actress category at the Independent Spirit Awards, Rodriguez was notably absent from the Awards Ceremony, among others. Her co-star Taylor commented on this, saying that Rodriguez both, had personal problems to tend to, and is a very private person who prefers to avoid the spotlight. Though Tangerine was her breakthrough hit, Rodriguez did not pursue acting after the film.[7]
Filmography
Film
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | Tangerine | Sin-Dee Rella | Nominated – Independent Spirit Award for Best Female Lead[8] Nominated—Gotham Independent Film Award for Breakthrough Actor |
Television
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | Made in Hollywood | Herself | Episode: "10.37" |