Lesser-Known Facts About Alex Newell

The following article includes brief references to homophobia and transphobia.

Alex Newell has been marching to their own beat their entire life. The trailblazing actor and powerhouse vocalist is best known for their turn as transitioning teen Wade "Unique" Adams on the Fox musical series "Glee." Since then, Newell has established themselves as a truly unique talent, having appeared on the big screen and topped the dance charts with original music.

They made a splash on Broadway, starring in a revival of "Once on This Island" as a character previously played by women, and later nabbed a historic win at the Tonys for their role in "Shucked." In "Zoey's Extraordinary Playlist," they enjoyed a second groundbreaking performance as Mo, a genderfluid confidant to Jane Levy's musical empath, for which they received a Critics Choice Award nomination. Although they've received accolades for their performances, it may be Newell's off-screen influence that distinguishes them the most.

Openly and proudly gay, Newell also identifies as gender non-conforming and noted on Twitter in 2021, "All pronouns are accepted and preferred here!" Growing up, they say they never saw people like them in anything they watched. "I don't think for myself — who I am — I've ever been represented on any platform, other than me, because I've kind of made this lane for myself in a way," they explained to Playbill. In that lane, Alex Newell has been breaking down barriers for years. There is much more to this inspiring star than meets the eye, and we've got the scoop.

Alex Newell's dad died of cancer when they were six. Their mom worked nights to support them both, and Newell subsequently had to grow up hastily, taking on a lot of household responsibilities to help out. Speaking to Stylecaster, they shared that their mom was supportive when they came out to her at 17. "I screamed it at my mother and she said, 'Go to bed. I just took a Xanax,'" Newell recalled. "The next morning she was like, 'I'm fine. Are you fine?' And I was like, 'I'm great! I love you.'"

As for everyone else in the community, not so much. Newell told Vice in 2018 that they would constantly be taunted by other boys in their neighborhood. Specifically, they suggested that Black boys and men face pressure to adhere to traditional modes of masculinity. "There's this expectation of being a Black man, of being stronger than most; having that rigid, hard back, that almost arrogant feel," they explained. As a result, they'd face questions like, "Why do you talk that way?" "Aren't you Black?" and, "Why is your voice so high? Are you gay?"

As for their gender identity, the actor sees that as more of a private issue. In 2020, they told Gold Derby, "People are always like, 'What are your pronouns, and I'm just like, 'Get to know me first and then we can go to pronouns later."

A musical theater buff, Alex Newell always dreamt about being on Broadway. So when they saw the opportunity to try out for "Glee," they jumped at the chance. In 2011, they were one of 34,000 young performers chosen to compete on Season 1 of "The Glee Project" for a gig on the Fox series. Newell told Collider that working on the reality TV show was a grueling regimen. "It was like musical theater, television Bootcamp," they said. "Every day was a new lesson on how to perform in front of a camera and how to sing in a recording studio and how to act. We were working ungodly hours."

Newell won runner-up in the competition, landing a guest starring role. They then became a series regular on "Glee," as Wade "Unique" Adams, one of the first transgender teen characters on TV. However, the "Zoey's Extraordinary Playlist" star told Flick Direct that while they appreciated the experience, they'd likely never do it again. As an 18-year-old high school student, the demands of the show took their toll on them. As for what they learned on "The Glee Project," that was invaluable. "That show prepared me for everything," they told Collider, adding that it helped them hone their craft. "It really taught me all the lessons that I've used and given me all the tools that I use to this day."

When the 2006 "Dreamgirls" movie starring Beyoncé and Jennifer Hudson came out, Alex Newell discovered the Broadway musical it was based on. In a 2021 interview with The New York Times, they explained how they identified with the story of three female soul singers struggling to make it in the '60s. The musical helped to make them who they are today. "Effie White rang true to who I am," they said about the "Dreamgirls" character. "You see this beautiful Black woman who was passed over because she was not as thin or as commercial as her friend who she grew up with." 

Newell can relate to that, after being told they were "too big" to star in "Kinky Boots" back in 2015. Additionally, they told the outlet, "I've been cut out of scenes in musicals because I didn't fit the costume plot." All of it was a bitter pill to swallow, but the performer drew strength from the musical. "It's one of those things that I watched in Effie — how you have to jump over the mental hurdle of that and find solace in yourself and the beauty in life," they explained.

In 2013, Newell told Ebony that the character was their dream role. So much so that they'd be willing to fight former "Glee" co-star Amber Riley to the death for it. Hopefully, someday they'll get the chance to belt out the coveted torch song, "And I Am Telling You I'm Not Going."

Having started their career as a teenager themselves, Alex Newell has gone on to help LGBTQ+ youth. Per Metro Weekly, on top of offering their voice at benefit concerts in Los Angeles and elsewhere, they also support The Trevor Project, an organization providing 24/7 crisis support services to LGBTQ+ young people. "It's an astounding organization helping those in need — one of the best things that anyone can do," they said.

In 2013, Newell had another opportunity to represent the LGBTQ+ community on-screen, per The Advocate. Playing Ike in the film "Geography Club," the actor portrayed a gay youth grappling with his sexual orientation. "Everything Ike goes through I had to go through for a brief moment as well," they said. "Testing the waters of coming out. Understanding your choices and the consequences of coming out," they added, explaining that they drew some of their knowledge about coming out from characters they saw on TV. That included the sitcom "Will & Grace," which helped them to feel comfortable with their sexual identity. 

Of course, a coming-out story for a teen is very different from one for an adult. "I think a film like 'Geography Club' would've been helpful for someone like me and my mother to watch when I was younger," they said. In the meantime, Newell will continue to push for visibility and to inspire people to proudly be themselves.

Alex Newell left the West Coast for the East Coast in their early twenties. As they told The New York Times, they were disillusioned that their future in Tinseltown would revolve around their appearance. In New York, they hoped things would be different, and as it turns out, they were. In 2018, a lifelong dream came true when they were cast in the leading role in the Broadway revival of the Tony-winning musical, "Once on This Island," per Rolling Stone.

Newell played Asaka, Mother of the Earth, one of the gods who run an island called the Jewel of the Antilles. Critics and theatergoers were blown away by the star, who brought the audience to their feet after their powerful solo, "Mama Will Provide." "Newell's gender-bending portrayal has been one of the showstoppers that wow audiences," wrote Rolling Stone's Brittany Spanos. Newell told her, "It rarely ever happens that anyone gets a mid-show standing ovation ever on Broadway."

Still, the star struggled with the show's demanding schedule, particularly on top of other challenges like food poisoning and a bout of the flu. But after getting that standing ovation, they added, "It reminds me that there's a reason that I'm doing it." As for those who said the actor couldn't grasp what it's like to be a mother, they told Vice, "'I also don't know what it's like to be a god. No one knows what it's like to be a god — except for maybe Beyoncé."

As evidenced by their sartorially jubilant Instagram profile, Alex Newell really enjoys dressing up. Speaking to Fashionista, the "Glee" star confessed to having sacrificed their guest room for the good of their clothes, explaining, "It's a full-fledged Carrie Bradshaw closet." While one side is for everyday apparel, the other is dedicated to their gowns. All of them represent memories of landmark moments in their career, like their first performance at the Tonys or when they took the stage at Carnegie Hall. "They're my keepsakes," they said. "To me, it's just like someone keeping their wedding gown."

Rocking an eclectic style, Newell stated that their various looks nonetheless all reflect their identity, telling the outlet, "Fashion is just an expression of who you are." An avid TV viewer, they find some inspiration from their favorite shows, such as how fashion defined Blake Lively and Leighton Meester's characters on "Gossip Girl." For Newell, shopping is often challenging, especially in retail stores. They told InStyle, "Sometimes they just literally say, 'Oh well you're plus size, here's a muumuu."

That's why they relished working with "Zoey's Extraordinary Playlist" costume designer Heidi Higginbotham to create Mo's diverse looks on the show. Newell said the pair took cues from the script and had fun with it. "If it calls for Mo to be the building super and be doing work around the building, it's more, 'Let's find a fun way of showing how Mo would express being the super.'"