Daniela Vega Will Be First Out Trans Person to Present Oscar

The Oscars are making history. For the first time, a trans person will be one of the night’s award presenters. Daniela Vega, star of the Chilean film A Fantastic Woman, will be the very first out trans performer to open the envelope and hand a winner their Academy Award.

A Fantastic Woman is nominated for Best Foreign Language Film, though Vega did not clinch a nomination for her much-heralded performance. And while it is great that a trans person will be on stage presenting, it’s not as good as hearing that a trans person is on stage winning, especially since the Academy does love to give cis actors awards for playing trans parts.

The 28-year-old actress told the Guardian that, while she doesn’t mind when cis actors play trans roles, she does wish that trans actors were given more opportunities in general.

“I have two different takes. As an actress, I don’t mind if a cisgender actor plays trans. But as a trans woman, I feel that many times we weren’t allowed to show what we can do, and we can do many things,” she said.

Vega will join some megawatt stars like Oscar winners Mahershala Ali, Viola Davis, and Emma Stone, as well as Tiffany Haddish, Laura Dern, Chadwick Boseman, and more as presenters.

The ceremony is set for March 4, with Jimmy Kimmel hosting.