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Nicole Maines

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Nicole Maines
Maines in 2019
Born
Gloversville, New York, U.S.[1]
Occupations
  • Actress
  • activist[2]
Years active
  • 2015–present
Known for

Nicole Amber Maines is an American actress, writer, and transgender rights activist.[3][4][2] Prior to her acting career, she was the anonymous plaintiff in the Maine Supreme Judicial Court case Doe v. Regional School Unit 26, in which she argued her school district could not deny her access to the female bathroom for being transgender.[5] The court ruled in 2014 that barring transgender students from the school bathroom consistent with their gender identity is unlawful, the first such ruling by a state court.

As an actress, Maines played Nia Nal on The CW superhero series Supergirl (2018–2021) in the fourth through sixth seasons. She is the first to portray a transgender superhero on television. She currently plays the recurring role of Lisa in the second season of Yellowjackets (2023–present).

Early life and education

Maines and her brother Jonas were adopted at birth as identical twins by Kelly and Wayne Maines in 1997;[6] one of their biological parents was Kelly's second cousin.[6][7] Though they spent their early years in Gloversville, New York, they grew up in Portland, Maine.[6] Maines was assigned male at birth and started showing signs of gender variance at a young age; when she was two years old, Maines reportedly asked her mother questions like "When do I get to be a girl?" and "When will my penis fall off?"[6] She preferred playing with toys intended for girls and identified with female characters in cartoons and movies.[8] Maines herself said she knew she was not a boy as young as three years old[9] and started explicitly telling her family who she was by the age of four.[10] Her brother, Jonas, accepted her gender identity from a young age. While the two were still in elementary school, Jonas reportedly told their father, "Face it, Dad, you have a son and a daughter."[8]

Maines says she chose the name Nicole (Nikki for short) after the character Nicole Bristow, one of Zoey's sidekicks on the Nickelodeon show Zoey 101.[11] She initially wanted to be called Quinn from the same show, but she kept making spelling errors when writing the name, so she settled on Nicole.[6] She chose her middle name, Amber, just because she liked how it sounded. Maines did not officially change her name until later because of the Maine law that any name change must be announced in the newspaper, and she and her family wanted to keep her identity private for her safety. The judge accepted their petition to the name change law, meaning that Nicole was exempt from having to publish her name change in a newspaper. A few days later, she officially became Nicole Amber Maines.[6]

In July 2015, Maines had gender-affirming surgery in Philadelphia, a month after graduating from high school.[6][8]

Maines attended high school at Portland, Maine's Waynflete School, and attended the University of Maine alongside her brother Jonas.[6] However, according to her father, Maines chose not to return in the fall of 2018 in order to pursue acting.[12]

Maines was popularized by the 2015 book Becoming Nicole: The Transformation of an American Family by Washington Post writer Amy Ellis Nutt which tells the story of her family coming to terms with her gender identity. Many articles about the Maines family were published, many focusing on how one identical twin can be transgender and one can be cisgender.[6]

Doe v. Regional School Unit 26

Main article: Doe v. Regional School Unit 26

Maines used the name Susan Doe in the landmark case Doe v. Regional School Unit 26, which is also referred to as Doe v. Clenchy. In 2007, when Maines was in 5th grade in elementary school at Asa Adams Elementary School in Orono, Maine, the grandfather of a male classmate complained about Maines using the girls' bathroom.[8][9][13] Following that incident, she was barred from using the female bathroom and forced to use the staff bathroom. With the help of the Maine Human Rights Commission, Maines and her family filed a complaint against the Orono school district, which is now called RSU 26, claiming the school was discriminating against her. The school district did not take any action to address the complaint, so the family filed a lawsuit against the district.[8][13] The case eventually made its way up to the state Supreme Court in Bangor,[14] and the Gay and Lesbian Advocates and Defenders of Boston represented Maines and her family.[13] The oral arguments were mainly focused on the tension between a law passed in the 1920s that requires gender-segregated bathrooms and a 2005 provision in the Maine Human Rights Act that prohibits sexual orientation-based discrimination.[13]

In June 2014, the Maine Supreme Judicial Court ruled 5–1 that the school district violated the state's Human Rights Act, and prohibited the district from barring transgender students access to bathrooms consistent with their gender identity. Maines and her family were provided compensation of $75,000 following the discrimination lawsuit.[15][16][17] It was the first time in the nation that a court ruled it unlawful to force a transgender student to use the bathroom associated with the sex they were assigned at birth[13] and the first time Maine's Supreme Court interpreted amendments to the Maine Human Rights Act as prohibiting sexual orientation based discrimination.[13]

Career

Maines at the 2024 WonderCon

In 2015, Maines and her family were the subject of Becoming Nicole: The Transformation of an American Family, a book by Washington Post writer Amy Ellis Nutt. It chronicles the family coming to terms with Maines' being transgender.[18] In June 2015, Maines appeared on the USA Network show Royal Pains as a transgender teen whose hormones might be endangering her health.[19] In 2016, Maines was one of 11 individuals featured in an HBO documentary titled The Trans List. In the documentary, Maines and several other people relate their personal stories of being transgender.[20]

In July 2018, it was announced that Maines would appear as a series regular in the fourth season of The CW series Supergirl.[21] She appeared as Nia Nal, a distant relative of Legion member Dream Girl, and played the first transgender superhero on television.[5] Her character is described as a "soulful woman with a fierce drive to protect others". The character is a reporter whom Kara takes under her wing.[22] She would remain on the series until its end in November 2021, and reprise the role in a final season episode of The Flash in 2023.

In 2019, Maines starred in Bit, a horror movie about queer female vampires, winning the top acting prize at the Outfest Los Angeles LGBTQ Film Festival.[23]

Maines penned the comic book debut of her character from Supergirl, Nia Nal/Dreamer, for DC Pride #1 in 2021. It was announced that she would also pen a solo series on Dreamer in 2022.[24] She co-wrote the script for Dreamer's debut in the comic Superman: Son of Kal-El as well, which was released on July 12, 2022.[25]

In 2023, Maines was cast as Lisa in a recurring role in season two of the Showtime series Yellowjackets.[26] Her character is an associate of adult Lottie who is trying to recover from past traumas.

Filmography

Film

Year Title Role Notes
2016 The Trans List Herself Documentary
2017 Not Your Skin
2019 Bit Laurel
2022 Darby and the Dead Piper [27]

Television

Year Title Role Notes
2015 Royal Pains Anna Episode: "The Prince of Nucleotides"
2018–2021 Supergirl Nia Nal / Dreamer Main cast (Season 4 - Season 6) 61 episodes
2020 Legends of Tomorrow Nia Nal / Dreamer Episode: "Crisis on Infinite Earths: Part Five"
2022 Good Trouble Liza Davis 4 episodes
2023 Yellowjackets Lisa Recurring role
The Flash Nia Nal / Dreamer Episode: "Wildest Dreams"[28]
The Freedom to Exist with Elliot Page - A Soul of a Nation Presentation Herself Documentary series[29]

Video Games

Year Title Role Notes
2021 Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six Siege Osa Voice, Crystal Guard expansion[30]

Bibliography

DC Comics

  • DC Pride
    • "Date Night" short story (June 8, 2021)[31]
    • Foreword (June 14, 2022)[32]
    • "Bad Dream" preview (May 30, 2023)
  • Superman: Son of Kal-El #13 co-written with Tom Taylor (July 12, 2022)[33]
  • Lazarus Planet: Assault on Krypton #1 ("Gone Dark" story) (January 17, 2023)[34]
  • Harley Quinn #30 (back-up story only) (May 23, 2023)[35]
  • Titans: Beast World Tour - Metropolis #1 ("Primal Pain" story) co-written with Steve Orlando (December 5, 2023)[36]
  • Action Comics #1060 ("Squad Dreams" story) co-written with Steve Orlando (December 12, 2023)[37]
  • Suicide Squad: Dream Team #1- (March 12, 2024-)[38]
  • Bad Dream: A Dreamer Story (April 2, 2024)[39]

Awards

Year Award Awarding Organization Source
2011 Roger Baldwin American Civil Liberties Union of Maine [40][10]
2012 P.E. Pentlarge EqualityMaine
2014 Community Organizing Hardy Girls Healthy Women [41][42]
Samantha Smith Maine Women's Fund [43][44]
Woman of the Year Glamour Magazine [45][46]
2015 Spirit of Matthew Award Matthew Shepard Foundation [43]
Young Women's Social Justice Award Maryann Hartman Awards [47][48]
2016 Outstanding Individual Episode for a series without a regular LGBT character 27th GLAAD Media Awards [49]
2018 Visibility Award Human Rights Campaign of Chicago [50][51]
2019 Andy Cray Award for Health & Youth Advocacy Trans Equality Now [52][53]
Grand Jury Prize for Best Performance Outfest [54][55]
Outstanding Supporting or Guest Actor Playing an LGBTQ+ Character in a Sci-Fi Series Autostraddle's Second Annual Gay Emmys [56]
2020 Upstander Award Human Rights Campaign [57]
2023 GLAAD Media Award for Outstanding Comic Book (Superman: Son of Kal-El) GLAAD Media Awards [58]

References

  1. ^ Nutt, Amy Ellis (2016). Becoming Nicole: The Transformation of an American Family. USA: Random House. p. 14. ISBN 9780812995435.
  2. ^ a b "#Pride50: Nicole Maines — TV's first transgender superhero". NBC News. June 3, 2019.
  3. ^ "Nicole Maines Shares Her Story About Coming Out As Transgender". Shape.
  4. ^ Kerr, Alec (October 3, 2019). "Being Nicole: Transgender activist, 'Supergirl' star subject of One Book One Valley community read". The Conway Daily Sun.
  5. ^ a b Lopez, Julyssa. "Actress and Activist Nicole Maines Will Be TV's First Transgender Superhero". Glamour. Retrieved July 22, 2018.
  6. ^ a b c d e f g h i Ellis Nutt, Amy (October 19, 2015). "They were born identical twin boys, but one always felt he was a girl". The Washington Post. Retrieved July 23, 2018.
  7. ^ Miller, Lisa (November 6, 2015). "'Becoming Nicole,' by Amy Ellis Nutt". The New York Times. Retrieved July 23, 2018.
  8. ^ a b c d e "Nicole & Jonas Maines | Americans Who Tell The Truth". www.americanswhotellthetruth.org. Retrieved November 28, 2021.
  9. ^ a b Ellen, 9 October 2018.
  10. ^ a b "Nicole Maines". aeispeakers.com. Retrieved September 16, 2018.
  11. ^ "How identical twin boys became brother and sister". ABC News. October 19, 2015. Retrieved July 23, 2018.
  12. ^ Routhier, Ray (July 12, 2018). "Nicole Maines, who played big role in fight for transgender rights, will star in vampire flick". Press Herald. Retrieved July 23, 2018.
  13. ^ a b c d e f Harrison, Judy (January 30, 2014). "Maine Supreme Court rules in favor of transgender girl in Orono school bathroom case". Bangor Daily News. Retrieved November 28, 2021.
  14. ^ "Rotten Tomatoes: Movies | TV Shows | Movie Trailers | Reviews - Rotten Tomatoes". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved November 28, 2021.
  15. ^ JOHN DOE et al. v. REGIONAL SCHOOL UNIT 26 (Maine Supreme Judicial Court January 30, 2014), Text.
  16. ^ Stout, David (December 3, 2014). "Transgender Teen Awarded $75,000 in Lawsuit". Time. Retrieved July 23, 2018.
  17. ^ Russell, Eric (October 15, 2015). "With release of new book, transgender Maine teen finds her voice". Press Herald.
  18. ^ "Pulitzer-winning writer discusses book about transgender Maine teen Nicole Maines". Bangor Daily News. Retrieved July 23, 2018.
  19. ^ "Royal Pains Books Nicole Maines for Transgender Episode". E! Online. June 17, 2015. Retrieved July 23, 2018.
  20. ^ "UMaine student Nicole Maines shares her story in HBO's 'The Trans List'". Kennebec Journal and Morning Sentinel. December 5, 2016. Retrieved July 23, 2018.
  21. ^ "Supergirl star reveals why she struggled to play Dreamer at first". Digital Spy. June 5, 2020. Retrieved March 10, 2022.
  22. ^ Hoey, Dennis (July 22, 2018). "Nicole Maines lands transgender superhero role on network TV series". Press Herald. Retrieved July 23, 2018.
  23. ^ "Nicole Maines's Outfest Award Is a Win for Trans and Horror Films". www.advocate.com. July 29, 2019. Retrieved August 10, 2020.
  24. ^ Anderson, Jenna (June 2, 2022). "DC Announces New Dreamer Graphic Novel From Supergirl Star Nicole Maines". ComicBook.com. Retrieved December 2, 2022.
  25. ^ Marston, George (July 8, 2022). "Dreamer makes her mainstream DC Universe debut in Superman: Son of Kal-El #13". Gamesradar.com. Retrieved December 2, 2022.
  26. ^ Wratten, Marcus (April 24, 2023). "Yellowjackets star Nicole Maines explains why trans visibility is so 'radical'". PinkNews. Retrieved April 25, 2023.
  27. ^ Grobar, Matt (March 3, 2022). "20th Century Studios' Darby Harper Wants You To Know Adds Wayne Knight & Nicole Maines". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved March 10, 2022.
  28. ^ "Nicole Maines Brings Supergirl 's Dreamer to The Flash". MSN. Retrieved December 13, 2022.
  29. ^ "SOUL OF A NATION: THE FREEDOM TO EXIST WITH ELLIOT PAGE". TV Insider. June 6, 2023. Retrieved June 7, 2023.
  30. ^ Park, Morgan (August 16, 2021). "Rainbow Six Siege's first trans operator can reshape maps with powerful bulletproof shields". PC Gamer. Retrieved June 18, 2023.
  31. ^ Rude, May (May 7, 2021). "DC Comics Previews 'DC Pride #1" Art, Includes 'Be Gay, Do Crimes' Story". Out. Archived from the original on May 8, 2021. Retrieved May 11, 2021.
  32. ^ "DC Comics' 2022 Pride Anthology Gets a Boost From the Best Batman Ever". Gizmodo. April 13, 2022. Retrieved April 19, 2022.
  33. ^ Aguilar, Matthew (April 14, 2022). "Dreamer Makes DC Comics Universe Debut". ComicBook.com. Retrieved April 14, 2022.
  34. ^ Doran, Michael (October 21, 2022). "All of DC's January 2023 comics and covers revealed". GamesRadar+. Retrieved October 21, 2022.
  35. ^ "Harley Quinn #30 Reviews". League of Comic Geeks. Retrieved January 7, 2024.
  36. ^ "Titans: Beast World Tour - Metropolis #1 Reviews". League of Comic Geeks. Retrieved January 7, 2024.
  37. ^ "Action Comics #1060 Reviews". League of Comic Geeks. Retrieved January 7, 2024.
  38. ^ Schedeen, Jesse (December 13, 2023). "Supergirl's Nicole Maines to Write Suicide Squad: Dream Team at DC". IGN. Retrieved January 7, 2024.
  39. ^ Schedeen, Jesse (March 14, 2023). "Supergirl's Nicole Maines Reveals Dreamer's Secret Origin in New Graphic Novel". IGN. Retrieved January 7, 2024.
  40. ^ "Wayne Maines speaks about "Becoming Nicole: The Transformation of an American Family"". portlandlibrary.com. Archived from the original on September 17, 2018. Retrieved September 16, 2018.
  41. ^ "Girls Rock Awards 2014 Community Organizing Award Winner: Nicole Maines". es-news.com. Archived from the original on September 17, 2018. Retrieved September 16, 2018.
  42. ^ "Hassan, Abdi win Girls Rock! Awards". twincitytimes.com. Retrieved September 16, 2018.
  43. ^ a b Collins, Kayla (November 20, 2015). "Rising Star: The Activist – The face and voice of a minority". mainewomenmagazine.com. Archived from the original on September 17, 2018. Retrieved September 16, 2018.
  44. ^ "2015 Samantha Smith Awardee". mainewomensfund.org. Retrieved September 16, 2018.
  45. ^ Hofflich, Jessica (June 23, 2015). "Transgender teenager Nicole Maines to guest star in "Royal Pains" episode". glaad.org. Retrieved September 16, 2018.
  46. ^ Jeltsen, Melissa (November 14, 2014). "Nicole Maines, History-Making Transgender Teen, Honored By Glamour Magazine". huffingtonpost.co.uk. Retrieved September 16, 2018.
  47. ^ "2015 Maryann Hartman Award Recipients Announced". umaine.edu. March 4, 2015. Retrieved March 4, 2015.
  48. ^ "Nominations welcome for Women of Achievement, Young Women's Social Justice Awards". themaineedge.com. June 23, 2015. Retrieved March 24, 2019.
  49. ^ "Royal Pains Wins a GLAAD Award for Transgender Teen Storyline". usanetwork.com. May 16, 2016. Retrieved May 8, 2020.
  50. ^ "Nicole Maines to be honored with HRC Chicago Visibility Award". windycitymediagroup.com. October 22, 2018. Retrieved March 23, 2019.
  51. ^ "Nicole Maines Honored with HRC Visibility Award in Chicago". hrc.org. October 22, 2018. Retrieved March 23, 2019.
  52. ^ "TEN awards spotlight Nicole Maines". transequality.org. May 22, 2019. Retrieved June 12, 2019.
  53. ^ "Gratitude in glass Skaneateles area artist makes national transgender awards". auburnpub.com. Retrieved June 12, 2019.
  54. ^ "And the Winners of Outfest 2019 Are..." advocate.com. July 29, 2019. Retrieved June 12, 2019.
  55. ^ "Nicole Maines's Outfest Award Is a Win for Trans and Horror Films". advocate.com. July 29, 2019. Retrieved August 24, 2019.
  56. ^ "Presenting the Winners of Autostraddle's Second Annual Gay Emmys!". autostraddle.com. September 18, 2019. Retrieved November 14, 2019.
  57. ^ "HRC Foundation's 2020 Time to THRIVE Conference Comes to a Close". hrc.com. February 16, 2020. Retrieved May 8, 2020.
  58. ^ Complex, Valerie (January 18, 2023). "GLAAD Announces Nominees For The 34th Annual GLAAD Media Awards". Deadline Hollywood.
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