Kelly Mantle just made Oscar history — without even being nominated.
The 40-year-old might’ve finished in last place on the sixth season of RuPaul’s Drag Race, but the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences confirmed to EW the openly gender-fluid performer is the first actor in the organization’s 89-year existence to have been submitted — and considered — for a nomination in both the Best Supporting Actor and Best Supporting Actress categories.
Under current academy rules, Mantle can only be nominated in one category for his performance, though he is the only performer to have been actively reviewed for a nod across both gender lines.
First gender-fluid role to ever be considered for a nomination? That doesn't sound accurate...
EDIT: "For her role as the male Chinese-Australian photographer Billy Kwan, Linda Hunt won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress in 1983, becoming the first person to win an Oscar for playing a character of the opposite sex."
Glenn Close was also nominated for an Oscar for playing Albert Nobbs.
First gender-fluid role to ever be considered for a nomination? That doesn't sound accurate...
EDIT: "For her role as the male Chinese-Australian photographer Billy Kwan, Linda Hunt won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress in 1983, becoming the first person to win an Oscar for playing a character of the opposite sex."
Glenn Close was also nominated for an Oscar for playing Albert Nobbs.
Those are women playing men. That doesn't make them gender-fluid because they still identify solely as women. Kelly's gender identity is what makes this special.
Of all Drag Race contestants...
But yay, congrats to her!
She has always been one of the most successful drag queens outside of Drag Race - both before and after her appearance. Her getting some acknowledgment for her acting shouldn't surprise anyone.
