Bridgerton‘s Adjoa Andoh has opened up about raising her transgender son and becoming a grandmother.
The actress’ son Liam, born the middle daughter of three girls in London, revealed he was ‘a boy trapped in a girl’s body’ while in his early teens.
The 59-year-old, who plays Lady Agatha Danbury on the hit Netflix show, told Red Magazine she wants all her children ‘to thrive’ no matter their gender.
‘I want all my children to thrive’: Bridgerton’s Adjoa Andoh has opened up about raising her transgender son and becoming a grandmother
Adjoa, who is also mother to daughter’s Jesse and Daisy, said: ‘My feeling is hold your peace until you know of what you speak. Self-harm and death among young trans people are disproportionately high. Why on earth are we creating a society that means people feel so reviled and un-allowable that they would rather end their lives?
‘For me, your gig as a parent is to raise your child up, keep them from falling under a bus and teach them to do unto others. I’m a mother and I want all my children to thrive; it’s a no-brainer.’
She touched on how it felt to become a grandmother: ‘I was never the sort of person who felt like my children had to give me grandchildren, but I was absolutely taken aback by just how much I love him.’
Opening up: The 59-year-old, who plays Lady Agatha Danbury on the hit Netflix show, told Red Magazine she wants all her children ‘to thrive’ no matter their gender
Adjoah, who turns 60 in January, spoke about her career drive and ‘appetite’ for life still.
She said: ‘Turning 60 definitely feels like a milestone… What I love is the freedom of having such an appetite for life. My parents are still alive, and I expect to live for quite a long time, so I’m always asking myself, ‘What do you want to do with it?’
The full interview with Adjoah Andoh is available in the January issue of Red, now on sale.
New series: Lady Danbury is set to take in the Sharma family – sisters Kate (Simone Ashley) and Edwina (Charithra Chandran), and their mother Lady Mary (Shelley Conn)
Adjoah previously opened up about loving her androgynous style as it makes her feel ‘comfortable’.
The star appeared on the Amanda Wakeley: Style DNA podcast to discuss her fashion sense as well as her characters.
She said: ‘I love a sort of androgyny – I do like that. For me I feel quite comfortable in gender neutral clothes.’
Androgynous fashion describes mixed-gender clothes and accessories to avoid constructing a visual distinction between masculine and feminine physical characteristics and, therefore, express non-binary gender identity.
Adjoa continued: ‘I’m interested in people being who they are as a person, not conforming to any particular stereotypes we have about what a gendered person should be.’
Speaking about her characters style, she explained: ‘She wears hats like the regency men would. She has the cane, and you can say yes, that’s because she’s an older woman but for me it’s also about stature.
‘I requested that all the cuts for her – she’s very tailored. The jackets fit just so. The collar is up. The sleeves are long, and they’re buttoned and they’re always just above the knuckle. So there’s all these frankly obsessive details that for me have become part of her armour.
Adjoa’s character, Lady Danbury, is a woman of immense wealth and influence who was responsible for picking up the pieces of a shattered young Simon (Regé-Jean Page) in season one and raising him to be the Duke.
Season two was no different as she took in the Sharma family from India – sisters Kate (Simon Ashley), Edwina, (Charithra Chandran) and their mother Lady Mary, (Shelley Conn).
The actress admitted once she’s on the set and reading her lines she instantly becomes Lady Danbury.
Adjoa said: ‘That’s a really good question because I don’t really know anymore. When I’m at work, I’m probably a more Danbury side of Adjoa than I am when I’m walking the dog. She comes to work with me. And once I’m on set and I’m in my own space and I’m with my lines, I’m straight into her.
Speaking about her characters style, she explained: ‘She wears hats like the regency men would. She has the cane, and you can say yes, that’s because she’s an older woman but for me it’s also about stature.’
