Daniela Vega: the transgender star lighting up the film industry

Following her breakthrough role in Oscar-nominated Chilean film A Fantastic Woman, the actor talks about finding her voice, her diva grandmother, and winding up conservativesYou have to be one hell of a performer to take the title role in a film called A Fantastic Woman and convince the world that, yes, your character truly is a fantastic woman and you are too.

And if you’re a largely unknown actor in only your second movie, it takes some quite remarkable self-assurance.

But, a decade after transitioning as female, and a year after her breakthrough role dazzled the Berlin film festival, Chilean newcomer Daniela Vega is fully enjoying the rewards of being fantastic and on her own terms.

She didn’t model her character in the film on any screen stars, she says, and the same goes for discovering her own identity as a woman.

“Soy muy yo,” she says – “I’m very much me.

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