"Moxie" star Josie Totah is praising the film's depiction of marginalized and disenfranchised groups.. I identify as female, specifically as a transgender female. Josie is Talulah, the smart, brash Generation Z voice of social injustice. From that point on, I did theater, and then I got into acting in film and television. I came to the conclusion - I had to at such a young age - if no one was going to be like me, then I just have to own it. Josie Totah[1][2] (born August 5, 2001), formerly known as J. J. Totah,[3][4] is an American actress. Josie Totah attends the 30th Annual GLAAD Media Awards Los Angeles at The Beverly Hilton Hotel on March 28, 2019 in Beverly Hills, California. The 17-year-old former Disney Channel and Champions star has revealed she identifies as a woman. Official Sites. [18], On August 20, 2018, Totah wrote an article published in Time in which she came out as a transgender woman. If I can't be like everyone else, then I might as well just own who I am. It allows me to gain perspective, to be more accepting of others, because I know what it feels like to know you're not like everyone else. The 19-year-old actor, known from the Saved By The Bell reboot and Disney Channel’s Jessie , is already an old hand in the business. She watched the show with her mother when she was fourteen. Rising star Josie Totah may be a new name to many watching the Peacock reboot of Saved by the Bell, but she’s been working on television since … You have to stand up and do what you know is true, despite what people are going to say.' Totah was recognized by the Human Rights Campaign who honored her with the prestigious Visibility Award in 2018 and the Upstander Award in 2019. by Christina St-Jean 3 years ago in celebrities 'Champions,' 'Jessie' actress says she is "ready to be free." Her father’s name is Suheil and her mother’s name is Christine Totah. It's actually really fun to play a mean boy. I have never worn a sweater vest a day in my life. I am very aware of the boring life of Sacramento. I feel like we need to create more roles that give LGBTQ people the opportunity to be on screen. My sister, brother, and I are 180 degrees different. It's just really awesome to hear from them. [1], "My Name Is Josie Totah — And I'm Ready to Be Free", "Josie Totah Didn't "Come Out" — She's Always Been Here", "J.J. Totah Talks Jessie and Back In the Game! Totah’ Video Video related to josie … I really hope that this show, 'Champions,' gives that to people. She was named by Out Magazine to Out100. - IMDb Mini Biography By: Moxie, stylized as MOXiE! I could wake up at any time of the day and be ready to party. The show ‘I am Jazz’ provisioned Totah’s insight into the transition. It helps me as an actor to always be on top of my stuff. Josie Totah US-amerikanische Schauspielerin, Sängerin und Komikerin – Josie Totah wurde am 05.08.2001 in Sacramento (Hauptstadt des US-Bundesstaats Kalifornien) geboren und ist heute 19 Jahre alt. Totah starred in the Mindy Kaling-produced comedy Champions. Not only was I really, really depressed when I was not out to the world, but I just finished my NBC series, and I didn't think it was right to come out during that when I was playing a male character. I’m so glad you’re able to speak your truth and live as your authentic self. 19-year-old actress Josie Totah spent the first seven years of her remarkable career playing male roles before she decided to take a break from the spotlight before returning, reinvented as her true self. In 2016, Totah appeared in the film Other People, and received critical praise for her role with Variety, making her one of its Sundance Breakout Stars of the year. Josie Totah: We had such incredible conversations and discussions that were really reminiscent and reflective of the conversations that we were having in our movie and onscreen. I think, almost, the film industry thinks that by making gay characters super masculine, it's an attempt at saying being gay is OK if you act like straight people. [6] Beginning in 2013, she began appearing as Stuart Wooten, a boy with a crush on series regular Zuri Ross, in the Disney Channel Original Series Jessie. All that young people have to look up to are older role models, and I think it's important to have people like myself show that it's OK to be who you are when you're young. When I was on 'The View,' I went backstage to Whoopi Goldberg's dressing room, and she told me, 'People are going to love what you do, and people are going to hate what you do, but you have to keep doing it. Not everybody comes out when they're in their twenties, you know? ", "JJ Totah - Talented Newcomer on Disney's TV Series Jessie", "S.F. [9][10][11] In October 2016, Deadline Hollywood reported that Totah would star in a new comedy for NBC that she helped develop where Totah was set to produce alongside executive producers Adam and Naomi Scott. My family is so loving and so encouraging. Transition: Josie Totah family supported throughout her Teen Transgender journey. November 22, 2020 | by Pedro Marrero. Similarly, her father is a Palestinian and his … Josie Totah publicly came out as transgender through TIME Magazine in August 2018 then changed her first name from Joseph to Josie. Having a conversation with them, you have to tread lightly. I'm happy to be a part of this new generation where people don't care where you come from, what your orientation is, or what your identity is. 869.5k Followers, 405 Following, 59 Posts - See Instagram photos and videos from Josie Totah (@josietotah) — josie totah (@josietotah) January 7, 2020 That's one more reason why it's obvious that being transgender isn't a choice — it's only a choice to be open with it and embrace it. I go to a small Catholic school where we have mass every week and say a prayer every morning, but we also are in Los Angeles, where people are so progressive and open. I'm going to gun for those roles, be it a transgender female or a cisgender female. 13-year-old snags role on 'Glee' as it nears end", "Sundance: 19 Biggest Breakthrough Performances", "The Most Inspirational Person at Sundance (So Far) Is a 14-Year-Old", "One To Watch: J.J. Totah, The Breakout Star of 'Other People, "JJ Totah To Topline NBC Comedy Produced By Adam & Naomi Scott", "JJ Totah Cast In Mindy Kaling's NBC Comedy Pilot; Josh Kidd Joins CW's 'Searchers, "Meet Moxie Star Josie Totah –The Actor, Writer And Producer Redefining Trans Representation", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Josie_Totah&oldid=1016063570, Wikipedia indefinitely semi-protected biographies of living people, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, Voice role, 3 episodes, credited as J. J. Totah, Episode: "Dance", credited as J. J. Totah, Episode: "Chase Goes to a High School Dance", credited as J. J. Totah, This page was last edited on 5 April 2021, at 05:40. Born: ( 2001-08-05) August 5, 2001 (age 19) Sacramento, California, U.S. The Saved By the Bell reboot has found one of its stars in Josie Totah!. Josie Totah pictures, articles, and news. The series was created by Emmy winning writer Tracy Wigfleld and will feature several members of the original cast. I don't think we should just have gay characters who are 100 percent femme, either. Josie Totah is an actress known for her role on the Disney Channel show Jessie, the series Back in the Game, and her old in the 2016 film Other People.In August 2018, Totah wrote an article published in Time coming out as a transgender female and changing her first name to Josie. She has one sister and one brother, and is of Palestinian and Lebanese ancestry.[5]. If you see someone being hurt, if you see someone being harmed, and if you see someone that's not in a safe position, you need to definitely say something. [12] In 2017, she appeared in the Netflix detective comedy Handsome: A Netflix Mystery Movie and the Marvel Studios film Spider-Man: Homecoming. In 2018, she starred in the short-lived NBC comedy series Champions. Josie Totah attends Out Magazine's OUT100 Awards Celebration Presented By Lexus at Quixote Studios on November 15, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. The film premiered at the 2016 Sundance Film Festival where Totah received rave reviews for her riveting performance and was included in Variety's 2016 Breakout Stars portfolio, InStyle Magazine's 10 Rising Stars to Watch and a Most Inspirational Person at Sundance.In 2015, Totah starred in the sixth and final season of Fox's hit series GLEE as 'Myron Muskovitz', a strong-armed prodigy and child tyrant in one. Wiki and Bio of Celebs Totah received critical praise for her role in the 2016 film Other People. JJ, Josie Jaye Totah. It only makes sense to include all types of funny people, whether or not they're gay or straight or what have you. If I were to have seen more people that looked like me - because I'm Palestinian and Lebanese - and talked like me and acted like me, I probably would have had a lot more hope knowing that I wasn't alone. Pretty much my dreams came true when I did a duet with Lea Michele. Josie Totah, who starred in the NBC sitcom Champions and will appear in the reboot of Saved By The Bell, came out as transgender in a powerful op-ed for Time. Publicity Listings Jane Lynch is the nicest person I've ever worked with. The film is based on the novel of the same name written by Jennifer Mathieu about girls who start a feminist revolution in high school and will premiere on Netflix in 2021.Josie recently starred in Amazon's half hour pilot, GOOD PEOPLE, created by Whitney Cummings and Lee Daniels. It stars Hadley Robinson, Alycia Pascual-Peña, Lauren Tsai, Patrick Schwarzenegger, Nico Hiraga, Sydney Park, Josephine Langford, Clark Gregg, Ike Barinholtz, Poehler, and Marcia Gay Harden. I was literally so different that I could not hide or be shy. Totah received critical acclaim for the role and was deemed the breakout star of the series, garnering instant affection from fans and critics.Totah can be seen starring alongside Adam Devine in Walt Disney Pictures' MAGIC CAMP. There are funny gay people, and there are funny Indian people, and that's why we watch TV, to laugh. Imprint PR, Other Works Occupation: Actress Years active: 2012–present At the age of 15, she sold her first television pitch to Universal Television/NBC. Totah also appeared in Chris Kelly's debut feature OTHER PEOPLE opposite Jesse Plemons, Molly Shannon, Bradley Whitford and Zach Woods, which was released in September 2016. I just don't like the idea of people looking at each other while they sweat. Totah received critical praise for her role in the 2016 film Other People. [17] Totah was cast in a Saved by the Bell reboot for NBC's streaming service Peacock, where she played the character of Lexi, a socially powerful cheerleader. 'Black Mirror' is definitely my favorite show. She is currently working on new scripts and original projects, all while attending Chapman University's Dodge College of Film and Media.Totah is also an LGBTQ activist who regularly appears on panels discussing LBGTQ rights and inclusion of LGBTQ characters in film and television. Nick Name. And my name is Josie Totah. I had a carrara marble phone case. I was obsessed with carrara marble. If you identify as a boy, you put on some makeup, and you work that stage! In 2015, she was cast in 4 episodes of the sixth season Glee as the youngest member ever of the New Directions.[8]. (She asked that a … I definitely stuck out like a sore thumb. She is known for her recurring role on the Disney Channel series Jessie and supporting role on the 2013 ABC comedy series Back in the Game. I just think it's about that mix and creating more diverse gay characters. Also in 2013, Totah was cast in a supporting role in the ABC comedy Back in the Game. She also appeared in the last season of Glee, playing the role of “Myron Muskovitz,” and voiced the role of “Prince Jin” on the Disney Channel animated series Sofia the First. Josie Totah Came Out as Transgender in 2018 — What to Know about the Young Actress . Her father is of Palestinian descent (from Ramallah). When I was five, long before I understood what the word 'gender' meant, I would always tell my mother that I wished I were a girl. While speaking with TooFab at the … She is known for her recurring role on the Disney Channel series Jessie and supporting role on the 2013 ABC comedy series Back in the Game. Just showing people like them on TV. Totah began her career playing male roles but publicly came out as a trans woman in August 2018, changing her first name to Josie. Josie Totah Announces She Is Transgender. Totah began her acting career in 2012 when she was cast as the "Lil' Dictator" in the first production for AwesomenessTV. Totah began her career playing male roles but publicly came out as transgender in TIME Magazine in August 2018 and changed her first name from Joseph to Josie. All of the children need to know, all of the little kiddies and fetuses out there. Ever since I was little, it was implanted in my head - and my sister's and my brother's - that we could do anything our heart desired to do, and to not be afraid. Over the interview, Josie Totah shared that she preferred the pronouns: she, her, and hers. The Champions actress has recently said that she doesn't want to be labeled a 'gay boy' anymore. The series focuses on a charismatic 15-year-old, 'Michael' (Totah), who is sent to live with his estranged father 'Vince' (Anders Holm) who is living the bachelor dream in New York City. Joseph Jacob Totah. Totah will also serve as a Producer of the series.Josie can also be seen in the upcoming feature film MOXIE directed by Amy Poehler. This follows her performance in Disney Channel's Kids' Choice nominated series JESSIE, for which Totah received a 2014 Young Artist nomination for Best Performance in a TV Series-Recurring Young Actor 10 & Under.She starred in several notable television series including: Comedy Central's The Other Two, CBS' Primetime Emmy nominated series 2 BROKE GIRLS, Fox's Golden Globe nominated comedy NEW GIRL, TV Land's Primetime Emmy nominated comedy THE EXES, Disney's Primetime Emmy nominated animation series SOFIA THE FIRST, as well as recurring in the Netflix series, No Good Nick. I want to tell everyone that no matter what's keeping them from being their authentic self to hold on to the hope that there will be an end to that road. I've always liked musical theater, and getting to do stuff like that where I can just dance around and just be crazy is just super fun. If you're a girl - girl, you get on the football team, okay? I like to think of myself as a confidently outgoing person. The single camera sitcom with the working title AUNT NANCY, based on her real life aunt, had Totah set to produce alongside Adam and Naomi Scott, as well as star in it. As Totah came out to her mother, she immediately gave a green signal for hormone replacement therapy. She Acted On Shows Like ‘Jessie’ & ‘Glee’ Under the Name ‘J.J. I definitely pride myself on suffering through a real high school. I get reached out to by a lot of people who just thank me for representing them and their friends. As she fearlessly evolves her body of work with each new project, Totah is fast proving to be one of Hollywood's most engaging and sought after young talents.