Chaz Bono’s dreams of theatrically playing a man have come true, gracing the stage as the president of the United States in a musical.
Bono, 44, made headlines in 2009 when he transitioned from being a woman to a man. Child of Cher and the late Sonny Bono, Bono received many roles and opportunities to appear on television as an advocate for the transgendered in America. Most recently, Bono was able to show off his acting skills in Thirty Minute Musicals: Independence Day in West Hollywood, playing the role of his dreams.
"I started acting in high school. It was the career that I wanted but I stopped because I couldn't really do a good job playing female characters and I didn't know why," Bono told People , who explained that his first time playing a male opened his eyes to the root of his gender identity.
"My senior year of high school I got cast as a male character and for the first time I really excelled," Bono elaborated. "But I told myself, 'This will never happen as a professional so I need to find another career.'"
Due to his doubts about being cast in male roles, Bono was entirely absent from the spotlight, until competing on Dancing with the Stars in 2011. Since then, Bono has guest starred on Degrassi: The Next Generation and ABC’s The Secret Life of the American Teenager .
Despite successfully being cast in television and theatre roles, Bono says that his physique limits him from being cast, and has become determined to slim down.
"Physically, my body feels just so much better," Bono said of his recent 65 pounds weight loss, as reported by The Huffington Post . "I'm in a lot less discomfort when I exercise and am doing physical stuff. All of my numbers are all normal now, which is great -– my blood pressure, my cholesterol. I just have a lot more confidence, and that feels really cool."
Bono’s newfound confidence will hopefully lead to bigger and better roles, but for now, he says he feels content and blessed.
"I've decided that hopefully it is never too late to do what you want to do," Bono says.
Image: Twitter