It’s the day after Indya Moore’s 26th birthday and they are sitting on a sofa in their New York apartment, in a grey t-shirt and a pair of tartan pyjama bottoms, talking about how their work is going. “It’s heavy but beautiful,” they say with a smile. “Just like my heart.”
For many, the Bronx-born actor will be known for their portrayal – heavy, beautiful – of Angel Evangelista in POSE, Ryan Murphy’s hit drama series about Harlem’s underground ball culture in the 1980s and early 1990s. Two series in with a third on the way, the show spotlights the legends, icons and house mothers of this movement, but also the lived experience of Black and Latinx LGBTQ+ communities as they navigate the white patriarchy of the world they live in – a world, put simply, that has not been designed for them.
Moore’s portrayal of Angel is marked by its astonishing grace, resilience and empathy. The character’s experience has parallels with the actor’s own – they, too, are trans and grew up with gender dysphoria which eventually forced them to leave home, at just 14. And they, too, discovered ‘chosen family’ – it was in fact a foster parent, a trans woman, who first provided them with hormones. Because, for all that POSE is about the grit and glamour of underground ball culture, ultimately it’s about just this: family. Community. Things that are as important to the character on your screen as to Moore themselves in the world outside it.
Alongside their acting and modelling (they are a brand ambassador for Louis Vuitton), Moore is known for the way in which they consistently and resolutely wield their celebrity for the betterment of their community. From interviews to Instagram posts, they tirelessly use their platform to bring about change – freedom and liberation – for BIPOC, queer and trans people, and especially trans people of colour.
This interview is no exception. Below, friends and fans including Talia Ryder, Tourmaline, Toyin Ojih Odutola and Munroe Bergdorf put their questions to Moore. Their answers – which are marked by their honesty, depth, vulnerability and wisdom – reveal an intimate portrait of the actor. In the pages that follow, you’ll discover the world according to Indya Moore – and believe me, it’s a significant improvement on this one.
TOURMALINE:
What are your freedom dreams for