Entertainment Weekly has shared the first image of the Laverne Cox from Fox’s upcoming Rocky Horror Picture Show TV event, and gotten some details from the star herself about the character’s style. While playing a role iconically popularized by Tim Curry (who’ll now be playing the narrator in this version), Cox’s Frank-N-Furter has a spectacular new look with (as it’s alluded to in the EW post) Aladdin Sane-ish hair and Grace Jones-ish makeup that’ll make you “shiver with antici…pation.”
Cox describes how a reporter onset told her she looked exactly like the “love child” of Jones and Bowie, and Cox responded, “That’s exactly right.” According to the actress, director Kenny Ortega – of the High School Musical movies — envisioned the character having repurposed burlesque clothing found in old theatre, parading about the salacious fantasy world of Rocky Horror in them. “It’s way more elaborate and couture” than the 1975 film vision of the character, she says. “I showed my brother pictures of me in character and he was like, ‘You were preparing your whole life for this.’”
Check out the first image:
Cox also spoke to the magazine about the process of getting comfortable with Frank-n-Furter, and figuring out the proper singing voice for the role, saying:
As a trans woman with a low voice, I had been so afraid of those low tones. This is a character where it’s absolutely appropriate that I sing in the base baritone register that I have. What’s also fun is playing with those higher notes in my register too…But it’s been wonderful claiming my chest voice. It’s been really healing.
Rocky Horror Picture Show will air on Fox sometime later this year.