Trailblazing doesn’t even begin to scratch the surface of Laverne Cox’s acting career.

The actress recently earned her third nomination for Outstanding Guest Actress for her portrayal of Sophia Burset on the long-running Netflix prison drama Orange Is The New Black. However, in an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, the multiple Emmy nominee revealed that she almost quit acting before her breakthrough role.

Before her breakthrough role as Sophia on Orange Is The New Black, Cox had spent 20 years in New York City as a performer. Cox, who made history as the first openly transgender person to be nominated for a Primetime Emmy Award in any acting category, recalled a conversation she had with a fellow co-worker about her acting career.

“When I moved to New York City in 1993, I thought I would be a superstar in two, three years tops. That didn’t quite happen.”

Cox also revealed that she almost closed the curtain on her acting career.

“It was a devastating realization. It’s like, OK, you’re 40 years old. Maybe that’s all God wanted for me in this business. Maybe this is all I’m supposed to do,” she continued. “Now I should just listen to what the universe seems to be telling me about this acting thing and try something else. Then I got this audition. It turns out that God had a different plan.”

Aside from Orange is the New Black, Cox has also appeared on  The Mindy Project, Dear White People, Doubt and The Rocky Horror Picture Show.

 

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