‘I want all my children to thrive’: Bridgerton’s Adjoa Andoh discusses raising her transgender son
Bridgerton’s Adjoa Andoh has opened up about raising her transgender son and becoming a grandmother.
The actress’s son, Liam, born the middle child of three girls in London, revealed he was “a boy trapped in a girl’s body” as a teenager.
The 59-year-old, who plays Lady Agatha Danbury on the hit Netflix show, told Red Magazine that she wants all of her children to “thrive” regardless of their gender.
‘I want all my children to thrive’: Bridgerton’s Adjoa Andoh has opened up about raising her transgender son and becoming a grandmother
Adjoa, who is also mother to daughter Jesse and Daisy, said: ‘My feeling is to keep quiet until you know what you’re talking about. Self-harm and deaths among trans youth are disproportionately high. Why the hell are we creating a society that means people feel so vilified and unacceptable that they’d rather end their lives?
“To me, your job as a parent is to raise your child, keep him from falling under a bus, and teach him to do something for others. I am a mother and I want all my children to prosper; it’s a no-brainer.
She touched on how it felt to become a grandmother: “I was never the type of person who felt like their children had to give me grandchildren, but I was absolutely amazed at how much I love them.”
Opening: The 59-year-old, who plays Lady Agatha Danbury on the hit Netflix show, told Red Magazine that she wants all of her children to “thrive” regardless of their gender.
Adjoah, who turns 60 in January, spoke about his career momentum and his “appetite” for still life.
She said: ‘Turnting 60 definitely feels like a milestone… What I love is the freedom of having such an appetite for life. My parents are still alive and I expect to live a long time, so I always ask myself, ‘What do you want to do with it?’
The full interview with Adjoah Andoh is available in the January issue of Red, on sale now.
New series: Lady Danbury will welcome the Sharma family: sisters Kate (Simone Ashley) and Edwina (Charithra Chandran), and their mother Lady Mary (Shelley Conn)
Adjoah previously spoke about loving her androgynous style, as it makes her feel “comfortable.”
The star appeared on the Amanda Wakeley: Style DNA podcast to discuss her fashion sense and characters.
She said: ‘I love a kind of androgyny, I like that. For me, I feel quite comfortable in gender-neutral clothing.’
Androgynous fashion describes mixed-gender clothing and accessories to avoid constructing a visual distinction between male and female physical characteristics and thus expressing a non-binary gender identity.
Adjoa continued: “I’m interested in people being who they are as people, not conforming to any particular stereotype we have of what a gendered person should be.”
Speaking about the style of his characters, he explained, “He wears hats like Regency men would.” She has the cane, and you can say yes, that’s because she’s an older woman, but for me she’s also a matter of height.
‘I asked that all the cuts be for her, she is very fitted. Her jackets fit like this. Her neck is up. Her sleeves are long, buttoned, and always just above the knuckles. So there are all these frankly obsessive details that have become part of her armor for me.
Adjoa’s character, Lady Danbury, is a woman of immense wealth and influence who was responsible for picking up the pieces of a broken young Simon (Regé-Jean Page) in season one and raising him to be the duke.
The second season was no different as it welcomed the Sharma family from India: sisters Kate (Simon Ashley), Edwina (Charithra Chandran) and their mother Lady Mary (Shelley Conn).
The actress admitted that once she’s on set and reads her lines, she instantly turns into Lady Danbury.
Adjoa said: ‘That’s a very good question because I really don’t know anymore. When I’m at work, I’m probably a more Danbury side of Adjoa than when I’m walking the dog. She comes to work with me. And once I’m on set and I’m in my own space and I’m with my lines, I’m directly with her.
Speaking about the style of his characters, he explained, “He wears hats like Regency men would.” She has the cane, and you can say yes, that’s because she’s an older woman, but for me it’s also about height.