- Joined
- Apr 4, 2021
Huge thanks to Olly for posting the DIVA article himself:

Transcribed*:

Transcribed*:
During my philosophy A-level, it quickly became very clear that almost the entire reading list was made up of white cishet men. So you can imagine my joy when I discovered Abigail Thorn's Youtube show, Philosophy Tube. As well as theatrical masterpieces showing Abigail's strengths as an actor, she nurtures an intersectional space by citing great thinkers who happen to be marginalized and rarely receive the credit they deserve. Videos such as Violence And Protest, Food, Beauty, Mind and Ignorance And Censorship don't tell viewers how to think. Like any good philosopher, they instead compel us to think for ourselves.
Just over a year ago, Abigail came out publicly via her channel which has amassed over one million subscribers. This instantly threw her into the spotlight as a hugely well-known trans woman. When we speak, I ask how she navigates this new status and the pressure to represent an entire community. "It's not easy being any kind of woman in the public eye, never mind a trans lesbian!" she says. "I feel a lot of pressure to be a perfect princess so as not to upset anyone, which I know is futile. It's a bit like marrying into the royal family: everyone else sees it as a big deal but I'm just following my heart."
In previous interviews, Abigail has talked about how her trans subscribers have "clocked her" before she came out. But I'm curious to find out what the response has been like from her cisgender fans. She smiles. "Overwhelmingly positive, I'm delighted to say! The change in my appearance, especially my voice, was so striking that some more casual viewers thought the show had hired a new presenter!"
Abigail admits that, like many trans people, she worried that coming out would be the end of her career. But she's proven herself as a woman who can do it all. From audiobook narrations to onscreen roles, and the upcoming play which she wrote and produced. She also co-hosts the podcast Kill James Bond, which just happens to be one of the biggest shows in the UK.
Last year it was announced that Abigail will be joining the cast of Django, a Western TV series set to release this year. Whilst she remains tight lipped on what she can tell me about her role, I can sense her excitement. Abigail shares that she couldn't stop thinking about the part after the audition: "I heard nothing for months, then suddenly they said, 'See you in Romania in two weeks!"
I'm curious what it was like for Abigail to be openly trans on set, and how that compared to any expectations that she may have had beforehand. "Django was one of the nicest working environments I've ever been in. Everyone, from the crew to the lead actors, treated me like family. The producers and writers were happy to listen to my suggestions for the character." She reveals, "I was nervous when I arrived. I was the only trans actor and quite junior compared to most of the cast." Abigail shares that, to deal with her insecurities and attempt to break the ice, she kept making jokes about being trans. "Eventually Nicholas [Pinnock, her co-star] said, 'Hey, you gotta stop putting yourself down like that!' He's a saint. I learned so much from him and other actors."
We've come a long way with onscreen trans representation in our lifetimes alone, but what does Abigail think we could do better? "There are more trans characters now, but they're often written by cis writers, so sometimes there are opportunities for interesting story beats or character motivations that get missed. Trans folks have a unique perspective on the world and much to contribute! I'm sure that'll get better in time. That said, I'm conscious of the fact that representation isn't everything - you can't pay your rent or get healthcare with it!"
I leave my conversation with Abigail feeling inspired by her passion for her craft and how it fills her mind, body and spirit. It's been a joy to witness her queering the status quo within the realms of Youtube, philosophy and beyond. I for one can't wait to see her bringing more much-needed representation to the acting world. One thing is for sure there's certainly lots more in store for Abigail Thorn.
*To the best of my ability, a few words were hard for me to make out so it may not be 100% accurate but I believe it's pretty close.
Just over a year ago, Abigail came out publicly via her channel which has amassed over one million subscribers. This instantly threw her into the spotlight as a hugely well-known trans woman. When we speak, I ask how she navigates this new status and the pressure to represent an entire community. "It's not easy being any kind of woman in the public eye, never mind a trans lesbian!" she says. "I feel a lot of pressure to be a perfect princess so as not to upset anyone, which I know is futile. It's a bit like marrying into the royal family: everyone else sees it as a big deal but I'm just following my heart."
In previous interviews, Abigail has talked about how her trans subscribers have "clocked her" before she came out. But I'm curious to find out what the response has been like from her cisgender fans. She smiles. "Overwhelmingly positive, I'm delighted to say! The change in my appearance, especially my voice, was so striking that some more casual viewers thought the show had hired a new presenter!"
Abigail admits that, like many trans people, she worried that coming out would be the end of her career. But she's proven herself as a woman who can do it all. From audiobook narrations to onscreen roles, and the upcoming play which she wrote and produced. She also co-hosts the podcast Kill James Bond, which just happens to be one of the biggest shows in the UK.
Last year it was announced that Abigail will be joining the cast of Django, a Western TV series set to release this year. Whilst she remains tight lipped on what she can tell me about her role, I can sense her excitement. Abigail shares that she couldn't stop thinking about the part after the audition: "I heard nothing for months, then suddenly they said, 'See you in Romania in two weeks!"
I'm curious what it was like for Abigail to be openly trans on set, and how that compared to any expectations that she may have had beforehand. "Django was one of the nicest working environments I've ever been in. Everyone, from the crew to the lead actors, treated me like family. The producers and writers were happy to listen to my suggestions for the character." She reveals, "I was nervous when I arrived. I was the only trans actor and quite junior compared to most of the cast." Abigail shares that, to deal with her insecurities and attempt to break the ice, she kept making jokes about being trans. "Eventually Nicholas [Pinnock, her co-star] said, 'Hey, you gotta stop putting yourself down like that!' He's a saint. I learned so much from him and other actors."
We've come a long way with onscreen trans representation in our lifetimes alone, but what does Abigail think we could do better? "There are more trans characters now, but they're often written by cis writers, so sometimes there are opportunities for interesting story beats or character motivations that get missed. Trans folks have a unique perspective on the world and much to contribute! I'm sure that'll get better in time. That said, I'm conscious of the fact that representation isn't everything - you can't pay your rent or get healthcare with it!"
I leave my conversation with Abigail feeling inspired by her passion for her craft and how it fills her mind, body and spirit. It's been a joy to witness her queering the status quo within the realms of Youtube, philosophy and beyond. I for one can't wait to see her bringing more much-needed representation to the acting world. One thing is for sure there's certainly lots more in store for Abigail Thorn.
*To the best of my ability, a few words were hard for me to make out so it may not be 100% accurate but I believe it's pretty close.