Doubt premiered last week, and the series marks the first time a transgender character is featured as a series regular. Laverne Cox appears as Cameron, and the real-life couple behind the series shared their inspiration for the character in a recent interview with Yahoo TV.
Joan Rater shared the following about that inspiration for the character on the CBS series:
“We have a son, Tom Phelan, who is transgender and is an actor. When he was coming out as transgender it was sort of around the time we were writing the show, and it became really important to us to have this character of Cameron, who is transgender, but this isn’t a coming out story. It isn’t a transition story. She’s already transitioned. It’s a little bit like, it’s a part of her, it’s an important part of her, but it’s not the central focus of who she is. Because we find that with our son, we don’t sit around talking about gender a lot. We sit around talking about how college is. He’s a person. We wanted to really show that, as well as feeling that an attorney who is transgender… it would make sense that they would go into defense work, because they might have a real empathy for people who are struggling, or the down trodden, so that just made sense. Then, the icing on the cake was getting Laverne, who happened to be available. We didn’t know she was. She has that strength and that passion and she just knocks it out of the park. And she’s funny.”
Tom Phelan also revealed that fans will see a love story develop for the character during the season. If the series returns for a second season, fans could see Tom Phelan appear. He was last seen on The Fosters, but he is now a freshman in college.
Are you a fan of Doubt and Laverne Cox’s performance so far? Tell us what you think.
I love that this show treats Cam & her transition as a virtual non-issue because it is. The “issue” is handled sensitively & Laverne is a super actress!
I WANT THIS GREAT SHOW TO COME BACK!
“Doubt” No doubt it’s a Great Show, with Great Cast. Well written. Top Shelf in TV entertainment.
Loved it….loved her….great story…..obviously the Trumpettes were against it…..so sad
this is a great show. I loved the first two episodes. love the characters. Transgender is a good subject so parents and children can talk to each other instead of hiding behind pain/fear
We like the show, but the wig on Kathryn Heigel is atrocious. Plus, what is with her clothes? Can’t you find something better for her to wear?
Show not bad , but the background music is very annoying
I like the show and will not be cynical critique snob. As for the part of Cameron – she doesn’t make me feel uncomfortable. She plays her part as a female lawyer with conviction and a realness. It is not contrived.
I hope the show is renewed for a second season.
Didn’t like it. Not comfortable with trangender thing
Transgender character was handled very well, artistically, and matter-of-fact. No fuss, no big deal, just another background fact of one of the characters. Great writing and acting. Love the show.
The first five minutes of this show TURNED ME OFF! What woman bikes to work, changes her clothes on the sidewalk while a black man holds her dirty laundry in a bag?!!!! This is so wrong on so many levels. First, to change your clothes on the sidewalk when you could go inside and use the company restroom, is insulting to everyone. Second, to have a black man stand there and hold her dirty clothes reeks of racism. Lastly, she probably smells for exercising, but she goes to work and is around other people. If this show doesn’t get better,… Read more »
this is not wrong. I have seen many women go to work in unconventional ways. He is her peer/friend, he is helping her. She has to be ready for the press and dressed in shorts and sneakers doesn’t cut it. Who’s to say she didn’t go to the bathroom to change the rest. She was not exercising, she bycicled to work fast