Malia Pyles is having a breakout summer. The 25-year-old queer actress, known for her role in the revival of Pretty Little Liars: Original Sin, is juggling two major releases in the same week: Apple TV's Cape Fear miniseries alongside Amy Adams and Javier Bardem, and She's The He, a bold trans coming-of-age comedy that subverts the gender-swap movie formula.
A Story With Heart and Humor
In She's The He, Pyles plays Sasha, a cool-girl character in a film directed by Siobhan McCarthy that centers two best friends who initially fake being trans to access the girls' locker room, only for one of them to discover she actually is trans. Despite its provocative premise, the film is staffed by a largely queer and trans cast and crew, and it swings for something rarely seen: a teen comedy where trans and queer people are the storytellers, not the subject of the joke. Pyles was drawn to the project after reading the script in a supportive capacity for someone close to the production, and when offered the role of Sasha, she recognized something special. Even though she initially resisted the idea of playing what she calls a "queen bee" character, the producers saw her potential and she signed on.
Building On Queer Icons
In a recent interview, Pyles reflected on the media that shaped her queer identity. A Chorus Line, particularly the documentary about the 2006 revival Every Little Step, holds deep meaning for her. She cited the monologue from Paul (played by Jason Tam) as a touchstone that still moves her to tears and reminds her why she puts her body and art into telling queer stories. Beyond theater, she discovered musician Marika Hackman as a teenager and was profoundly influenced by the late electronic artist Sophie, who she recalls as one of the first trans figures she saw in media without their identity being questioned. "Sophie just was," Pyles said, "and Sophie's music made me feel like I could just be."
Pride and Community
As She's The He rolls out in select theaters during Pride month, Pyles' role in a comedy that centers trans joy and agency feels timely. Her willingness to champion a story that lets queer and trans folks "be in on the joke instead of the butt of it" signals a shift in how the community's stories get told on screen. With both Cape Fear and She's The He now available, Pyles is cementing herself as an actress committed to both prestige drama and community-centered storytelling.
Source: Queerty
Cover photo: Chris Roth, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
