"Orange is the New Black" star Lea DeLaria recently revealed how difficult it was to make a name in the industry because of the fact that she's gay.
In an interview with Belleville News-Democrat, the 57-year-old actress said that she was previously made fun of for the simple fact that she's gay. There reportedly have been instances wherein people would call her "dyke" and wouldn't take her seriously.
However, after he snagged a role on "Orange is the New Black," fans reportedly started taking pictures with her and applauding her for her great performance.
In one episode of the Netflix series, DeLaria's character Carrie "Big Boo" Black was featured in a flashback scene. At that time, Big Boo was talking to her father about being gay.
"It was about growing up butch. I've had to fight for this all my entire life, Dad. All my life, strangers, girlfriends... even my own parents - all asking me to be something I'm not. Do you have any idea what that feels like? Like your whole... existence is being denied. It'd be better off if you were invisible. I refuse to be invisible, Daddy. Not for you, not for Mom, not for anybody. So I'm sorry," her character said on the show.
That time, DeLaria said that the episode felt emotionally draining for her because it tugged straight at her heartstrings. The actress even said that she felt that the episode writer felt how difficult it was also for her to come out to her parents back in the day.
"The difference is that my parents never disowned me or threw me out of the house. They came around. They listened. I learned a lot about them," she said.
"Oranges is the New Black" Season 4 will continue to feature Big Boo's struggles as an inmate at Litchfield prison, according to SF Gate. The Netflix series will premiere in June 2016.
