Michaela Jaé Rodriguez (born January 7, 1991 in Newark, New Jersey), formally credited as Mj Rodriguez, is an American actor and singer. Initially starting out performing in an off-Broadway production of RENT as Angel, she took a hiatus to start medically transitioning. From there, she was a fixture in theatre as well gaining some TV/film roles (including a non-speaking role on Luke Cage, marking the first time a transgender actress and character appeared in the Marvel Cinematic Universe). Her Star-Making Role, however, was Blanca on Pose, a show that made history by having 5 transgender actresses in leading roles. In 2022, she won the Golden Globe for Best Actress – Television Series Drama, becoming the first transgender person to win a Golden Globe acting award.
She is also a self-described comics geek and took her original stage name from one Mary Jane Watson. In 2021, she released her single "Something to Say" under the name Michaela Jaé, which would become her new professional name.
Partial Filmography
Film
- Saturday Church (2017) - Ebony
- The Big Take (2018) - Robyn
- Adam (2019) - Emma
- tick, tick... BOOM! (2021) - Carolyn
- Transformers: Rise of the Beasts (2023) - Nightbird (voice)
Television
- Nurse Jackie (2012) - Lonna, 1 episode
- The Carrie Diaries (2013) - Fabulous Clubgoer #2, 1 episode
- The Whitlock Academy (2015) - Acting student, 2 episodes
- Blank My Life (2015) - Kerry, 1 episode
- Luke Cage (2016) - Sister Boy
- Pose (2018-2021), Blanca Rodriguez, main role
- A Black Lady Sketch Show (2022) - Beauty Store Cashier, 1 episode
- Loot (2022) - Sofia, main role
- Dead End: Paranormal Park (2022) - Zagan, 3 episodes (voice role)
- American Horror Story: Delicate (2023) - Nicolette
Theatre
- RENT as Angel (off-Broadway) - 2011
- Little Shop of Horrors as Audrey (Pasadena Playhouse) - 2019
