Trace Lysette is an American actress, producer, and transgender advocate best known for playing Shea in Amazon’s Transparent and Tracey in Hustlers (2019) — and she’s one of the most important trans voices in Hollywood today.
Quick Stats: Trace Lysette at a Glance
| Detail |
Information |
| Full Name |
Trace Lysette |
| Birth Name |
Trace Lysette Birth Name is not publicly confirmed; she has chosen to keep her pre-transition name private |
| Date of Birth |
October 2, 1987 |
| Birthplace |
Lexington, Kentucky, USA |
| Raised In |
Dayton, Ohio, USA |
| Nationality |
American |
| Occupation |
Actress, Producer, Transgender Advocate, Recording Artist |
| Years Active |
2013 – Present |
| Height |
5 feet 8 inches (1.73 m) |
| High School |
Colonel White High School, Dayton, Ohio |
| Partner / Husband |
Trace Lysette Partner / Trace Lysette Husband – Not publicly disclosed as of 2026 |
| Notable Roles |
Shea (Transparent), Tracey (Hustlers), Monica (Monica) |
| Awards |
GLAAD Award, HRC Trailblazer Award, OUTfest Legacy Award, Independent Spirit Award Nominee (2024) |
| Estimated Net Worth |
~$1 Million+ (2026 estimate) |

Who Is Trace Lysette?
- Trace Lysette is an acclaimed American actress and prominent trans performer.
- Born in Lexington, Kentucky, and raised in Dayton, Ohio, she had a challenging school experience.
- She was a track athlete at Colonel White High School before pursuing acting.
- She began actor training in New York City in 2007.
- Before finding success, she worked as a hairstylist, makeup artist, drag performer, and dancer.
- Her involvement in New York’s ball culture helped shape her artistic journey.
- Today, Trace is recognized as an influential trans actress in American entertainment.
Trace Lysette Birth Name: What’s the Story?
| Question |
Answer |
| What is Trace Lysette Birth Name? |
Not publicly disclosed — she has chosen to keep her pre-transition name private |
| Why doesn’t she share it? |
As is common for many trans individuals, sharing a “deadname” (pre-transition name) can be deeply personal and potentially harmful |
| Is “Trace Lysette” her legal name? |
Yes, Trace Lysette is the name she uses professionally and publicly |
| What does the name “Lysette” mean? |
It is an English feminine name, a variant of Lisette, meaning “Consecrated to God” or “God is My Oath” |
- Trace Lysette has spoken openly about her trans identity but has chosen to keep her Trace Lysette Birth Name private
- This is a deeply personal decision that reflects both her autonomy and the broader trans community’s right to self-definition
Child Trace Lysette: Growing Up in Dayton, Ohio
- Child Trace Lysette — the early years — were shaped by creativity, struggle, and fierce determination
- She was born in Lexington, Kentucky but grew up in and around Dayton, Ohio
- Growing up as a trans youth in a largely conservative Ohio environment was not easy — she faced discrimination and instability at multiple schools
- She was suspended multiple times and changed schools due to a hostile atmosphere
- Despite these obstacles, Trace found creative outlets in performance and drag
- In her late teens, she performed as a drag queen in bars and clubs across Dayton and Columbus, Ohio
- After high school, she packed her bags for New York City and never looked back

High School Trace Lysette: Athlete, Survivor, Performer
| High School Detail |
Information |
| School Name |
Colonel White High School |
| Location |
Dayton, Ohio |
| Activities |
Track Athletics |
| Social Experience |
Challenging; multiple suspensions, hostile environment |
| Post-School Path |
Moved to New York City |
- High School Trace Lysette was a complex chapter — part athlete, part performer, all survivor
- She ran track at Colonel White High School, showing early signs of the discipline and focus that define her later work
- She barely graduated, but she did — and that diploma was the ticket she needed to get out and start fresh
- The High School Trace Lysette years weren’t glamorous, but they built the backbone of one of Hollywood’s most compelling performers
- After graduation, she moved to New York City, eventually becoming part of the ball culture scene that celebrated exactly what her hometown had rejected
Trace Lysette Movies and TV Shows: A Career That Keeps Getting Bigger
Television Career
| Show |
Role |
Network / Platform |
Years |
| Law & Order: Special Victims Unit |
Lila |
NBC |
2013 |
| Transparent |
Shea |
Amazon Prime Video |
2014–2019 |
| Blunt Talk |
Recurring Role |
Starz |
2015–2016 |
| Drunk History |
Guest |
Comedy Central |
2017 |
| Midnight Texas |
Recurring Role |
NBC |
2018 |
| POSE |
Recurring Role |
FX |
2019 |
| I Am Cait |
Herself |
E! |
2015 |
| David Makes Man |
Guest |
OWN/HBO Max |
2019 |
| Quantum Leap (Reboot) |
Recurring Role |
NBC |
2022–2023 |

Film Career
| Film |
Role |
Year |
Notable Fact |
| Hustlers |
Tracey |
2019 |
Starred alongside Jennifer Lopez, Cardi B, Constance Wu |
| Disclosure (Documentary) |
Herself |
2020 |
Netflix documentary on trans representation in media |
| Trans in Trumpland |
Executive Producer |
2020 |
Advocacy documentary project |
| Venus As A Boy |
Lead Role |
2021 |
Art-house indie alongside Olivia Culpo |
| Monica |
Monica (Title Role) |
2023 |
Premiered at Venice Film Festival; 11.5-minute standing ovation |
Key Highlights for Trace Lysette Movies And TV Shows
- Trace Lysette Movies And TV Shows span over a decade and multiple genres — from comedy to drama to critically acclaimed art-house cinema
- Her role as Shea in Transparent across all 5 seasons remains her signature TV performance
- Hustlers (2019) brought Trace Movies And TV Shows to mainstream cinema audiences globally
- Monica (2023) is her crown jewel — a lead role in a film that made history at the Venice Film Festival
- Trace Lysette Movies And TV Shows continue to grow: in 2025, she co-wrote her first original feature film with author Jason Yamas, currently in development
- A pilot titled Tribe was sold to FX in 2020, developed with producer Paul Feig and Powderkeg Media, inspired by her own 20s in New York City
Trace Lysette as a Model: Beauty With a Platform
- Trace Lysette Model career runs parallel to her acting — and she’s been unapologetically herself in every campaign
- She has done paid promotions and modeling work for brands including Fashion Nova, Marco Underwear, FILA, and Timberland
- As a model, she brings something most brand ambassadors don’t — a lived story that resonates with millions of marginalized people
- She challenges traditional beauty norms while being celebrated for her striking looks and confident presence
- Her modeling work has consistently aligned with brands willing to celebrate diversity and inclusivity
- She has appeared in editorial shoots that place her alongside cisgender models without treating her trans identity as a novelty or footnote

Trace Lysette Partner and Personal Life: What We Know in 2026
- Trace Lysette Partner and Trace Lysette Husband status as of 2026 — she has kept her romantic life very private
- She is not publicly known to be married, and no confirmed husband has been identified
- In past interviews, Trace has been candid about past heartbreak — she once fell in love with someone during her early New York years and was devastated when that relationship ended
- That painful breakup, combined with her experiences surviving in New York, fueled a period of deep personal reflection
- She has spoken about her mother as an important support figure, calling her “an amazing and adaptive person” who helped navigate her transition
- Trace Lysette Partner life remains one of the few areas she guards closely — and given how much of herself she gives to her public work, that privacy is entirely earned
Awards, Accolades & Historic Firsts: The Record Book Belongs to Trace
| Award / Achievement |
Year |
| SAG Award Nomination (Ensemble) – Transparent |
2016 |
| HRC Trailblazer Award |
2019 |
| GLAAD Award for Outstanding Film – Monica |
2023 |
| Dorian Award Nomination – Monica |
2023 |
| Independent Spirit Award Nomination – Best Lead Performance – Monica |
2024 |
| Revry TV Icon Award |
2021 |
| Queerties Groundbreaker Award |
2022 |
| OUTfest Legacy Award (alongside Shirley MacLaine) |
2023 |
| HRC Greater New York Dinner Honoree |
2024 |
| First trans actress to headline a competition film at Venice Film Festival |
2022 |
- Trace has more historic firsts to her name than most actors collect in a lifetime
- She was one of the first trans people to appear in a non-trans speaking role on primetime television
- She became the first trans actress to headline a competition film at the Venice Film Festival with Monica in 2022
- She received an extraordinary 11.5-minute standing ovation at Venice — a moment that had the entire film industry paying attention
- Her work on Transparent earned her an SAG Award Ensemble nomination — a testament to the quality of her craft

Trace Lysette the Advocate: Beyond the Screen
- Trace doesn’t just play characters fighting for dignity — she lives that fight every day off-screen
- She is a vocal champion for transgender rights and LGBTQ+ representation in film and television
- She was the executive producer of Trans in Trumpland, a documentary produced during a particularly difficult political era for trans rights in the United States
- She has spoken at major events including the Women’s March Las Vegas and Out & Equal in Philadelphia
- In November 2017, Trace publicly accused fellow Transparent cast member Jeffrey Tambor of sexual misconduct — a move that took enormous courage and ultimately led to Tambor’s departure from the show
- Her advocacy has earned her recognition from the Human Rights Campaign, GLAAD, OUTfest, and numerous other organizations
Trace Lysette in 2025–2026: What’s She Up To Now?
- Trace is not slowing down — if anything, she’s just getting started on her next chapter
- In 2025, she co-wrote her first original feature film with author Jason Yamas — the project is currently in active development as of 2026
- The FX pilot Tribe, which she sold in 2020 with producer Paul Feig, remains a project connected to her name in the industry
- Her speaking engagement fee in 2026 is estimated at $20,000 – $30,000 per appearance — a figure that reflects her influence and reputation
- She continues to model, act, advocate, and produce — remaining one of the most multi-dimensional figures in contemporary American entertainment

Conclusion: The Trace Lysette Story Is Still Being Written
- Trace started from scratch — no family connections, no safety net, no blueprint for what a trans actress could achieve in Hollywood
- Trace Lysette Movies And TV Shows range from Law & Order: SVU to Hustlers to the acclaimed Monica — a filmography that spans genres and generations
- As a Trace Lysette Model, she brings authenticity and purpose to every brand partnership
- Her Trace Lysette Birth Name remains private — a choice that deserves respect and understanding
- Trace Lysette Partner and personal life remain her own — she gives the world so much of herself through her art and advocacy that keeping some things private is not a mystery, it’s a boundary
- In 2026, Trace has a feature film in development, a legacy already cemented, and an industry that owes her more than it will ever fully admit
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Frequently Asked Questions
Q1. What is Trace Lysette best known for?
Trace is best known for playing Shea in Transparent, Tracey in Hustlers (2019), and the lead role in Monica (2023).
Q2. What is Trace Lysette’s birth name?
Trace Lysette Birth Name has not been publicly disclosed, as she has chosen to keep her pre-transition name private.
Q3. Is Trace Lysette married or does she have a partner in 2026?
As of 2026, Trace Lysette Partner and Trace Lysette Husband details have not been publicly confirmed, as she keeps her romantic life private.
Q4. Where did Trace Lysette go to high school?
High School Trace Lysette was Colonel White High School in Dayton, Ohio, where she was also a track athlete.
Q5. What are the most important Trace Lysette Movies And TV Shows?
Major Trace Lysette Movies And TV Shows include Transparent, Hustlers, Monica, Disclosure, and Quantum Leap.
Q6. What historic first did Trace Lysette achieve at Venice Film Festival?
Trace became the first trans actress to headline a competition film at the Venice Film Festival with Monica.
Q7. Has Trace Lysette done any modeling work?
Yes. her model work has included brands such as Fashion Nova, Marco Underwear, FILA, and Timberland.