Ruby Rose Makes History as Lesbian Batwoman

'Orange Is the New Black' star's role for the CW will be first openly gay superhero lead on a TV series
By Newser Editors and Wire Services
Posted Aug 8, 2018 6:03 AM CDT
OITNB Star Nabs Historic Superhero Role
Ruby Rose attends the LA premiere of "The Meg" at TCL Chinese Theatre on Monday in Los Angeles.   (Photo by Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP)

Ruby Rose is making history with her latest role as Batwoman, the first openly gay superhero to headline a TV series. Batwoman will be introduced in a December crossover event between the CW network's other DC Comics shows, Arrow, The Flash, and Supergirl, the AP reports. A stand-alone series about Batwoman, whose real name is Kate Kane, is in development for the 2019-20 TV season. Kane is described as a highly trained street fighter with a passion for social justice and a flair for speaking her mind.

Rose, a native of Australia who gained stardom when she was cast in the third season of Netflix's Orange Is the New Black, per Variety, wrote Tuesday on Instagram that she's "thrilled and honored" and "an emotional wreck" over the news. She added that as a young, gay person, she never felt represented on TV. Deadline reports that Rose came out as a lesbian when she was 12 and identifies as gender fluid.

(More Ruby Rose stories.)

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