Alexis Arquette (born Robert Arquette, July 28, 1969) is an American trans woman, actress, musician, and cabaret performer.
Arquette was born in Los Angeles, California to Brenda "Mardi" Olivia (née Nowak), an actor, poet, theater operator, activist, acting teacher and therapist, and Lewis Arquette, an actor and director.[1] Her paternal grandfather was comedian Cliff Arquette. Her mother was Jewish, the daughter of a Holocaust refugee from Poland,[2] and her father was a convert to Islam and a descendant of explorer Meriwether Lewis.[3][4][5][6] Arquette's siblings are actors Rosanna, Patricia, Richmond and David.
In 1982, at the age of twelve, Arquette's first job was as "this little kid who's on a ride with all these women and whatnot" in the music video "She's a Beauty" by The Tubes.[7] Four years later, Arquette debuted on the big screen with an uncredited bit part as Alexis, the white-faced friend and bandmate of the sexually ambivalent, angst-filled teenager Max Whiteman (Evan Richards)[8] in the comedy film Down and Out in Beverly Hills.[9]At twenty-two, Arquette landed her first significant acting role, playing a transvestite Georgette in Last Exit to Brooklyn. Sixteen years later, she went through her own transition from male to female, an experience that was documented in the film, Alexis Arquette: She's My Brother, which debuted at the 2007 Tribeca Film Festival.[10]
Lesser known than her siblings, the majority of her film work has been limited to low-budget or independent films. She also appeared in I Think I Do, Children of the Corn V: Fields of Terror, Sometimes They Come Back... Again, and Killer Drag Queens on Dope,[11] among 40 other independent pictures.
Arquette has appeared in supporting roles in Pulp Fiction as well as mainstream films, including Threesome, Bride of Chucky and a memorable appearance as a Boy George fanatic in The Wedding Singer, singing "Do You Really Want to Hurt Me?" over and over. In 2001, Arquette played the Roman emperor Caligula in two episodes of the cult television show Xena: Warrior Princess. Also in 2001, Arquette guest starred in the Friends episode "The One with Chandler's Dad" as a waiter in drag, in the show's seventh season. She had a cameo appearance in Son of the Beach and in September 2005, VH1 announced her casting in an upcoming season of the reality show The Surreal Life.
On January 31, 2007, Arquette was a featured celebrity client and guest judge on the premiere episode of Bravo's television show Top Design, where she was described by one of the contestants as "Iggy Pop in drag". Arquette also made a cameo appearance in Robbie Williams' "She's Madonna" video. On February 26, 2007, Arquette was promoting the DVD Release of Killer Drag Queens on Dope[11] on The Adam Carolla Show. Danny Bonaduce, a co-host, asked Arquette if she still had a penis. The question, and her refusal to answer, sparked an argument among Carolla, Bonaduce, and Arquette, ending in Arquette storming out of the studio.[12]Arquette posed as the Hindu god Krishna for a controversial cover for Genre Magazine (a gay men's publication)feel it is important to recognize the that Alexis Arquette is a woman. When referring to women it is appropriate to use terms such as she and her among other appropriate pronouns. She is an exciting women and I respect her decision to not enlighten us in every aspect of her life. What matter are these facts to us? This surgery is not paramount in life to many trans people, I included. The first year is the most difficult story to tell and I think we are privileged to have someone share their story with us. The transgender story is a risky one to share as there are so few opportunities for the audience to have a frame of reference to recognize the subtleties that incarnate the drama. I am not surprised or disappointed that many do not "get it." This movie is a needed platform to provide tools other than our imagination to recognizing just another human condition."Is me feeling female the same as J.Lo feeling black? I don't know." So said Alexis Arquette as she pondered her gender during the press conference for Alexis Arquette: She's My Brother in Chelsea Thursday afternoon. The movie premieres at the Tribeca Film Festival Monday night.
"Are you ready for me?" Alexis Arquette had demurred to the cluster of male photographers who started snapping her picture when she arrived. Alexis, once a brother named Robert and now sister to actors Patricia, David and Rosanna Arquette was born male and documented aspects of her transition over the course of a year and half, resulting in this film. Also an actor, she may be best remembered best as Adam Sandler's sidekick in The Wedding Singers who kept singing Culture Club's "Do You Really Want To Hurt Me", and she has a new crowd of fans from a recent season of VH1's "The Surreal Life".
Dressed in a low cut, sleeveless, animal prinwrap and a long black skirt, she clutched a black patent purse and bottle of water as she preened for the photographers, tossing her long blonde hair and chatting like a valley girl, frequently interrupting sentences with the word "like".
Once seated for the Q&A, she reapplied her lip gloss and demurely crossed her legs at the knee. And for those wondering exactly what's happening underneath, you'll never know. Alexis isn't answering now and she never confessed to the camera. "It got to the point when I wasn't willing to answer the questions about hormones, surgeries, or genitalia because it felt like backstepping," she told the handful of reporters, adding, "It wasn't a subject that needs any more exploitation; it needs clarification."Alexis spoke about growing up in a liberal, bohemian family and how it gave her a different, more open outlook on sexuality. When asked about her sibling's reaction to the film, in which they all reportedly make appearances, Alexis tread lightly. "They don't want to offend; they don't want to mess up and call me 'he'. My family saw the piece [meaning the film,] and if anything they're more concerned about my safety and having my feelings hurt." And she candidly admitted of the film, "The interest lies because of my brothers and sisters and I know that."
As mentioned, she admits she still doesn't understand why she is transgendered and if it was learned, was something she was born with, or something else. "I don't know why I feel this way. Is me feeling female the same as J.Lo feeling black? I don't know. I don't know why she feels that way."
And she was self-deprecating about her now defunct friendship with Us Weekly reporter Ian Drew, who at one point wanted to produce a reality show about her transformation. "Eventually I started to realize his work as a tabloid reporter might have SOMETHING to do with our friendship."
She claimed she has not seen Felicity Huffman's portrayal of a male-to-female transgendered woman in Transamerica, but joked she wanted the part. As she put it, if she had played Felicity's part, no one would see it as acting. But she continues to be offered roles, claiming mysteriously, "I've turned down three really big movies" in the past year. But sorry if you're wondering just which three, because she wouldn't answer that question, either.
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surgery complications and the dynamics of how it affects his life and world.Alexis Arquette
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In 1982, at the age of twelve, Arquette's first job was as "this little kid who's on a ride with all these women and whatnot" in the music video "She's a Beauty" by The Tubes.[7] Four years later, Arquette debuted on the big screen with an uncredited bit part as Alexis, the white-faced friend and bandmate of the sexually ambivalent, angst-filled teenager Max Whiteman (Evan Richards)[8] in the comedy film Down and Out in Beverly Hills.[9]At twenty-two, Arquette landed her first significant acting role, playing a transvestite Georgette in Last Exit to Brooklyn. Sixteen years later, she went through her own transition from male to female, an experience that was documented in the film, Alexis Arquette: She's My Brother, which debuted at the 2007 Tribeca Film Festival.[10]
Lesser known than her siblings, the majority of her film work has been limited to low-budget or independent films. She also appeared in I Think I Do, Children of the Corn V: Fields of Terror, Sometimes They Come Back... Again, and Killer Drag Queens on Dope,[11] among 40 other independent pictures.
Arquette has appeared in supporting roles in Pulp Fiction as well as mainstream films, including Threesome, Bride of Chucky and a memorable appearance as a Boy George fanatic in The Wedding Singer, singing "Do You Really Want to Hurt Me?" over and over. In 2001, Arquette played the Roman emperor Caligula in two episodes of the cult television show Xena: Warrior Princess. Also in 2001, Arquette guest starred in the Friends episode "The One with Chandler's Dad" as a waiter in drag, in the show's seventh season. She had a cameo appearance in Son of the Beach and in September 2005, VH1 announced her casting in an upcoming season of the reality show The Surreal Life.
On January 31, 2007, Arquette was a featured celebrity client and guest judge on the premiere episode of Bravo's television show Top Design, where she was described by one of the contestants as "Iggy Pop in drag". Arquette also made a cameo appearance in Robbie Williams' "She's Madonna" video. On February 26, 2007, Arquette was promoting the DVD Release of Killer Drag Queens on Dope[11] on The Adam Carolla Show. Danny Bonaduce, a co-host, asked Arquette if she still had a penis. The question, and her refusal to answer, sparked an argument among Carolla, Bonaduce, and Arquette, ending in Arquette storming out of the studio.[12]Arquette posed as the Hindu god Krishna for a controversial cover for Genre Magazine (a gay men's publication)feel it is important to recognize the that Alexis Arquette is a woman. When referring to women it is appropriate to use terms such as she and her among other appropriate pronouns. She is an exciting women and I respect her decision to not enlighten us in every aspect of her life. What matter are these facts to us? This surgery is not paramount in life to many trans people, I included. The first year is the most difficult story to tell and I think we are privileged to have someone share their story with us. The transgender story is a risky one to share as there are so few opportunities for the audience to have a frame of reference to recognize the subtleties that incarnate the drama. I am not surprised or disappointed that many do not "get it." This movie is a needed platform to provide tools other than our imagination to recognizing just another human condition."Is me feeling female the same as J.Lo feeling black? I don't know." So said Alexis Arquette as she pondered her gender during the press conference for Alexis Arquette: She's My Brother in Chelsea Thursday afternoon. The movie premieres at the Tribeca Film Festival Monday night.
"Are you ready for me?" Alexis Arquette had demurred to the cluster of male photographers who started snapping her picture when she arrived. Alexis, once a brother named Robert and now sister to actors Patricia, David and Rosanna Arquette was born male and documented aspects of her transition over the course of a year and half, resulting in this film. Also an actor, she may be best remembered best as Adam Sandler's sidekick in The Wedding Singers who kept singing Culture Club's "Do You Really Want To Hurt Me", and she has a new crowd of fans from a recent season of VH1's "The Surreal Life".
Dressed in a low cut, sleeveless, animal prinwrap and a long black skirt, she clutched a black patent purse and bottle of water as she preened for the photographers, tossing her long blonde hair and chatting like a valley girl, frequently interrupting sentences with the word "like".
Once seated for the Q&A, she reapplied her lip gloss and demurely crossed her legs at the knee. And for those wondering exactly what's happening underneath, you'll never know. Alexis isn't answering now and she never confessed to the camera. "It got to the point when I wasn't willing to answer the questions about hormones, surgeries, or genitalia because it felt like backstepping," she told the handful of reporters, adding, "It wasn't a subject that needs any more exploitation; it needs clarification."Alexis spoke about growing up in a liberal, bohemian family and how it gave her a different, more open outlook on sexuality. When asked about her sibling's reaction to the film, in which they all reportedly make appearances, Alexis tread lightly. "They don't want to offend; they don't want to mess up and call me 'he'. My family saw the piece [meaning the film,] and if anything they're more concerned about my safety and having my feelings hurt." And she candidly admitted of the film, "The interest lies because of my brothers and sisters and I know that."
As mentioned, she admits she still doesn't understand why she is transgendered and if it was learned, was something she was born with, or something else. "I don't know why I feel this way. Is me feeling female the same as J.Lo feeling black? I don't know. I don't know why she feels that way."
And she was self-deprecating about her now defunct friendship with Us Weekly reporter Ian Drew, who at one point wanted to produce a reality show about her transformation. "Eventually I started to realize his work as a tabloid reporter might have SOMETHING to do with our friendship."
She claimed she has not seen Felicity Huffman's portrayal of a male-to-female transgendered woman in Transamerica, but joked she wanted the part. As she put it, if she had played Felicity's part, no one would see it as acting. But she continues to be offered roles, claiming mysteriously, "I've turned down three really big movies" in the past year. But sorry if you're wondering just which three, because she wouldn't answer that question, either.
Alexis Arquette
