Trace Lysette

Trace Lysette made her notable television debut in 2013 with a guest appearance as Lila in an episode of ‘Law & Order: Special Victims Unit,’ marking one of the first instances of a transgender person appearing in a cisgender speaking role on primetime U.S. television. She continued her early career in non-transgender roles before a significant turning point in 2014, publicly coming out as transgender through her recurring role as Shea in the Golden Globe-winning Amazon series ‘Transparent.’ In this role, she portrayed a transgender yoga teacher, earning an ensemble SAG Award nomination. Her season three arc opposite Jay Duplass garnered particular critical praise for its nuanced portrayal.

Beyond her acclaimed acting career, Lysette has expanded into writing. In 2020, she wrote and successfully sold a pilot titled ‘Tribe’ to FX, a project based on her experiences in New York City during her twenties. She continued to develop her storytelling craft, and in 2025, she wrote her first feature film with author Jason Yamas, which is currently in development.