Hollyoaks announces gender identity storyline for Rose Lomax, 12, in soap first
Hollyoaks' Rose Lomax will be at the centre of a new trans storyline.
The Channel 4 soap is known for pushing boundaries by tackling powerful and relevant storylines, with the future of Hollyoaks looking no different. Fans of the soap will know Rose, played by Ava Webster, has been struggling in recent months and newcomer Kitty (Iz Hesketh) will become a close confident after moving into the flat above The Dog.
As their friendship grows, Rose will begin to question their gender identity. In upcoming scenes, Dee Dee quizzes Kitty when she finds an ID in her bag with a different name on it.
Rose steps in and tells Dee Dee that it's normal for people transitioning to experiment with different names. The 12-year-old then asks Kitty if she would be willing to share her transitioning story.
Kitty provides support to Rose Lomax after opening up on her transition (Lime Pictures)Kitty opens up to the youngster and reveals her father walked out on her when she was just 14. Rose is silenced by the admission but Kitty is convinced they are holding something back.
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Later, Rose turns to Kitty for advice as they reveal that they're questioning their identity. Kitty provides a pillar of support for the 12-year-old, leading them to be honest and tell Diane (Alex Fletcher) how they really feel.
Diane struggles with the revelation and is inadvertently distracted when the 12-year-old decides to open up. Meanwhile, Dee Dee later agrees to cut Rose's hair but Diane and Tony (Nick Pickard) struggle with their child's new look.
Kitty star Iz hit the headlines last year after making theatre history for being the first trans non-binary actor to be cast in the West End's open-air production of Legally Blonde. Iz took on the character of Margot and were highly praised for their performance.
They also featured on the live cast recording of the Olivier award nominated autobiographical play My Son’s A Queer (But What Can You Do?) and participated in West End Live.
Soaps have come a long way since Coronation Street introduced Hayley Cropper as Weatherfield's first transgender character in 1998. Hayley, who was played by cisgender actress Julie Hesmondhalgh arrived on the cobbles as a love interest for Roy Cropper (David Neilson).
In 2015, Hollyoaks introduced Sally St Claire played by Annie Wallace, who became the first transgender actor to play a trans character in a soap. She had previously been instrumental in Hayley Cropper's story in Coronation Street.
EastEnders later cast the first transgender man to play a trans character in 2015 with Stacey Slater (Lacey Turner) being introduced to her brother Kyle, played by transgender actor Riley Carter Millington. The new arrival explained he had been assigned female at birth but had since transitioned.
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