Glee's Alex Newell — Television’s First Ever Trans Teen

Alex Newell reveals what's next for Wade Unique Adams

Written by Andrea Piamonte

Photography Courtesy of Ricky Middlesworth Photography

Published in Vital VOICE Magazine, March 2014 Issue

Gleeks – Alex Newell and the Glee cast are back and even more fabulous than before.

With the fifth installment of FOX’s Glee kicking off this past February, we talked to Alex who plays fan favorite Wade “Unique” Adams. He has gone from first runner-up on Oxygen’s The Glee Project to becoming a season regular on Glee and playing the groundbreaking role of a transgender teen.

As one of McKinley High’s freshest faces, we talked to Alex more on playing a transgender character, the upcoming 100 episode that finally addresses Finn Hudson’s death and an in-depth look at the man behind Unique.

The Start of Stardom

Alex had been perfecting his vocals at the age toddlers start talking. As just a regular high school student, Alex got his first big break on the first season of Oxygen’s reality competition show, The Glee Project. He belted the soulful “I Will Always Love You” by Whitney Houston. He even dressed the part for his performance Jennifer Hudson’s “And I Am Telling You,” complete with a dress and wig.

With his powerful and impressive vocal range, he tied as runner-up with Lindsay Pearce. His prize? He was granted a guest appearance on two episodes of Glee. However, his stardom didn’t end there, Alex was quickly signed on to be a season regular.

Can you tell me a little bit about how you started your singing career?

“I started singing in church a long time ago, probably when I was two years old, and it just kind of formed in different way from influences — being that of musical theater, classical music and jazz and everything under the spectrum really.

Can you tell me about the Glee Project?

That was like once-in-a-lifetime competition. It was the first season of The Glee Project, so they were figuring everything out while we were figuring everything out too. And you got to learn so much about what goes into Glee and learn everything that should be expected when we are on the set. It was just an amazing experience.

How was it being in that competition?

It was a really great experience meeting some of the The Glee Project cast. They’re some of the best friends that I’ll have for the rest of my life — they’re like family members. The show was basically this summer camp where we were outdoors and all that so we got to experience nature at the same time.

Why do you think Glee decided to make you a season regular?

There are so many reasons that go through your mind when you think that you are going to be a season regular on the show. At the end of the day, you are so happy they saw something in you that they really liked and that they want to keep you around for.

First Trans Teen on TV

Alex’s role of Unique is the first transgender teen character on mainstream television. Unique stole the spotlight in a dress and heels. Although Alex is not a transgender person outside of the Glee realm, he surely has his own gender-bending antics with his fashion.

What’s it like playing the first transgender teen on American TV?

It’s a learning experience, but it is just an amazing thing to be a transgender character that is representative on primetime TV because you don’t get to see it too often. You don’t really get to see that hands on. You have Laverne [Cox, a transgender character on Orange is the New Black], but that’s on Netflix, and then you have Adam [Torres, a transgender character] on Degrassi, but that is on cable, which is something that not everyone has access to and not everyone can see.

And with your role and International Transgender Day of Visibility coming up on March 31, what does that mean to you?

It’s a topic that people don’t know a lot about. You have that platform to show everyone, something that’s not shown often. You have a platform to represent people who don’t have representation all the time, so that’s great.

Because you’re not transgender outside of Glee, how do you handle the misconception that you are?

It’s a compliment that it’s a misconception because it means that you are doing your job correctly and that you are believable. If people can see past who I am and just see the character, and the good the character does, it is just great. It’s happened my whole entire life. When I was a kid and I answered the phone, people right off the bat they would think I was my mother answering the phone. If I go to a restaurant and if I am with a group of girls, they will just say, “Hi ladies, how are you?” It’s just one of those things you can’t get upset about.

How do you relate to your character?

Oh my goodness. We’re the same but we are so different at the same time. I think it’s that confidence that she exudes all the time. No matter what, she’s just very strong and very positive. In her mind, there’s no changing her and she’s going to be herself and go with that. And I think that’s basically what I am. Once I say something, that’s the end of it. There’s no changing my mind on it.

I love how you play with gender in your fashion. Where do you get your inspiration for your different looks?

I love everything about clothes. So some of my inspirations are Beyoncé, and NeNe Leaks is someone that dresses down and Marlo Hampton — like they are always on foot with everything they do. Those are my some of my really big inspirations.

I hear you’re a big shoe fan. What is your favorite pair right now?

Christian Louboutin — that should be everyone’s favorite kind of shoe. Another big favorite is Jefferey Campbell. They are so comfortable, so edgy and different. I love shoes. I could talk about shoes for hours.

Well, in that case… Have you ever broken a heel?

Yes! While performing mind you. I was in Jersey Pride last summer and I had just walked off the stage. I was singing and then all of the sudden the heel just broke. The heel broke clean off my foot. Luckily, I had a pair of spare heels in my suitcase back in the hotel room, so I had my manager run all the way back to grab these spare pair of heels and run back. You always have to come prepared.

The 100th Episode

Alex and the rest of the original Glee cast have returned for another season and questions will finally be answered. With the show’s reunion, the cast will be starting the season without one important voice. After a combined overdose of heroin and alcohol, Glee’s quarterback and star Cory Monteith passed away in July 2013.

The Glee cast honored the loss of the actor in the tribute episode “The Quarterback,” but never fully explained the cause of death in the storylines. After a slight hiatus, the character’s passing will finally be acknowledged and dealt with in the 100th episode as a two-part special on March 25 and 28.

Word on the street is that the 100th Episode will deal with Cory Monteith, Finn Hudson’s death. Can you give us a little sneak peak?

“You know, he’s such a giant part of the show and he’ll always be,” Alex says. “We’re honoring him, but at the same time, we’re looking back at the past and reflecting on it all. And I think that’s such an important thing and something we should do.”

Big Voice, Big Dreams

In addition to the new season, Alex has plenty in store for this year after recently signing a record deal with Atlantic Records. Continuing alongside Glee executive music producer Adam Anders, Alex has teamed up with Deep Well Records to release his debut album.

I heard that you signed a deal with Atlantic Records. What can you tell us about that? What is most exciting to you?

My album is something that we’re still trying to find the right sound. It has been an amazing experience so far. Singing is my passion and music is everything that I know. I’m just trying to fine tune everything, find an amazing producer and amazing songwriters and just sit down and make something that I can call my own.