For those who have seen Ms. Cayne in performance and thought her voice sounded different in the promo pieces for DSM, you're right--it was digitally altered to sound lower, at least for the pilot.

Interview with HX August 2nd confirms it. Warning: contains possible spoilers.

Oh, and don't miss the exclusive interview on TWOP in which she mentions that she's a transsexual playing a transsexual, probably the first time that's been done for a major character on network television (on Ugly Betty, there is a transsexual character, but she's played by an XX woman).

Finally, since I see the confusion continuing to come up in various press reports, this, originally from another thread:



I should also say that, just as Ms. Cayne mentions in her interview on TWOP, many transgendered women first go through a phase where they identify as a gay male, which is one reason they are often associated with the gay community. But many, like Ms. Cayne, ultimately find themselves uncomfortable in that role--they just don't feel male.

If you have any questions about the life of a typical transgendered woman, the Lynn Conway site should answer most questions.

Oh, and it is entirely possible for a post-operative ("post op") transgendered woman to keep the secret of her birth if she wishes. Birth certificates in most states can be reissued to say "female." With today's surgery, even most lovers would not notice anything unusual. As was described on Ugly Betty, current methods include a "feminisation" of everything from jaw line to speaking voice.

Whether the secret could be kept under the close scrutiny of a political campaign is a different question, of course.

Judging from some interviews I saw they have Candis 'butching' up (or down) her voice to sound more masculine.

The main question is (and I know the actress has 'fully' transitioned): For the character, bits or no bits?

If all the man parts are gone, I don't think most people really care too much.

Ms. Cayne didn't change her voice--they digitally altered it to make it lower, that's been confirmed (see the interview linked to above). You can actually hear the slight echo in her voice (from the editing) in some scenes.

Personally, I think it's a mistake (by TPTB) on several counts. She clearly has breasts at this point. So even if the character is still pre-op, she's undoubtedly been taking hormones. Using her natural (unedited) voice would make more sense.

As for whether people care in real life--yes, many unfortunately do. Just check some of the blog responses at TMZ to the reveal that Candis was born a man. It would unquestionably be an issue in a political life.

The voice manipulation was completely un-necessary, and frankly, kind of uncool. We find out very specifically not soon after her introduction ("she's not a hooker !") that she is a transsexual (they say "trannie", and I know some people think that means "transvestite", but I think they would have called her a "queen" if that was the case), so lowering the voice only serves to make us think she isn't done with her transition yet (which I believe Candis Cayne has been, for quite a while, from what I read.

The only thing I can figure is that maybe the voice issue is part of the plot... maybe she (the character) is indeed not 100% done with her procedures/medications yet, and she is looking to get money for it from Patrick. If that's *not* the case... this detail is the one little thing that bugged me about what was otherwise an AWESOME pilot/premiere episode.

I'm going to cut the producers a teeny, tiny break, because Cayne is a remarkably good-looking woman, and I think they were worried that people wouldn't "get" or believe that she's a transgendered person. That's the only explanation that makes sense, and I hope they just drop it now that it's established that that's her background and the crux of Patrick's worries, and we can just enjoy her performance, unenhanced.

I can also give them a break cause while I could tell she used to be a he. She is gorgeous and a lot of people would not get it in the first viewing.

MSNBC interview with Candis and Billy. Includes video of Candis where you can hear her natural voice. Billy gives some very thoughtful answers as well:

I love that they are using a real transexual to play a transexual role. (I also like when a transwoman is played by a non-trans woman like on Ugly Betty. What irks me is when a transexual character is played as a Drag role, a la Boys don't Cry)

I hope that they don't continue to make the character as much of a pathetic victim as they do in the Pilot episode.

She definitely seemed to have a higher-pitched, less masculine voice last night. I'm glad, because the deep voice was kind of distracting.

I noticed that as well. I think they made the voice deeper in the pilot just so you'd know straight off that this wasn't a gorgeous woman but, in fact, a gorgeous guy who is somewhere in transition. Once they established that, they let the alteration go... I don't know if it was completely natural or if it's still altered somewhat but it clearly wasn't as obvious as it was in the pilot.

However, they also had Tripp discuss Patrick's proclivities so that the part of the audience that may have missed the pilot is still aware of what the deal is.

They do seem to really care about each other. Carmelita seems to have a pretty good handle on Patrick but I think I'll need to see more of how they relate to each other out of bed to really believe that it's LOVE.

I'm enjoying Candis as Carmelita, but nothing tops her performance as God Warrior. Brilliant!

I love the casting choice for Carmelita (as well as Patrick's wife) because she has more chemistry with Billy than wifey -- which is probably the point. Hee.

I don't get it. If she has completely transitioned to a woman, who cares? I do realize that some people would have a problem with that and it might cause trouble in an election campaign (as would having a mistress, period). But why would the show treat it like a kinky fetish? How would anyone even know?

And... judging by postings on Craig's List or ads at the back of the local entertainment rag, there's a market out there for hookers with breasts and penises. Or am I missing something, that there is a market for all-women hookers who used to have penises? Then why advertise the "trans" part? I read that the actress' husband went through the transition with her. Does he just switch his sexual orientation?

I am so confused.

Hey Capilano, don't worry, this topic is really confusing. From what I heard so far, the actress' husband probably got to know her when she was partially in transition, i.e. at least dressing as a female, possibly with breasts as well. So he is a heterosexual who had fallen in love with a woman and who had the patience to wait until the rest of his partner's body fit to the "dress up".
As for the hookers, there is indeed a demand for partially transformed people, mainly "chicks with dicks". Completely transformed humans are usually regarded as members of the respecting gender so usually they don't count as a "kinky fetish".

From what I've heard and read about some guys who like women like Carmelita, is that they identify as straight. Whether or not there is a penis involved. I even heard of guys being aroused by pre-op transexuals but have a hard time getting hard with guys -- because in their mind, despite having a dick (and being fucked by them -- which is a big turn-on), they are women.

Hypertwink, that's what I thought Pat's big secret was. That Carmelita had her own built-in strap-on. Whatever floats your boat. Maybe I'm confusing the actress with the character, because we don't know what kind of equipment Carmelita has.

Yeah, hypertwink, I tend to agree. I have watched the episode right now and I believe they want to show Patrick Darling as someone who is turned on by "chicks with dicks", i.e. men who have only partially transitioned. Since the director choose to alter Carmelita's voice, I suppose they wanted to make it clear that she has not become completely female and thus the "kinky" vibe.

eta: capilano, I love the phrase "Whatever floats your boat".

There were hints in 1.2., although it wasn't made completely clear, that Patrick may have a fetish for transsexuals, because they indicated he may have had affairs with one after another. There are indeed men like that. Sometimes they are repressed gays, sometimes they are specifically attracted to that particular conformation. It is fetishistic if they don't care about the personality of the person, just the physique. But perhaps this time Patrick has, indeed, fallen in love...

One more thing I haven't seen mentioned. Many men, gay or straight, find oral sex from a person who was born a man physically more pleasurable. Some people argue that a man knows better what a man will like, and that's possible. But from a practical standpoint, a person with a more typically adult male skeletal structure has a larger mouth and jawline. My own belief is that this is why many sex workers who are XY, whether transsexual (identifying to themselves as female) or just passing as part of work are successful in providing oral sex services, including to straight men. They just have a reputation as being skilled, but in fact they are providing a slightly different experience.

I think this is one of the most common reasons why otherwise straight men may patronise XY prostitutes for oral sex, whether they know they are XY or not. (Indeed, it may spoil the experience for them if they do know.) It really is, as Patrick would say, "different." They are still primarily attracted to women, so the breasts are important, but the specific oral experience they receive is rated "exceptional" even if they believe the person is born female.

These days part of the transition process for MTF transgendered persons is often cosmetic surgery to "feminise" the jawline. I don't know how much that changes any of this.

Anyway...we haven't been told yet whether Patrick specifically prefers transsexuals or whether he specifically prefers preop transsexuals, or whether he prefers genital or oral sex with them. If he specifically enjoys the oral sex and is otherwise attracted to women it could indeed be usually just an "add on" to his marriage, he might in fact not be gay, but now, perhaps, everything is complicated by that fact that he has genuine feelings for Carmelita.

We'll see.

In the first episode, didn't Patrick tell Nick that Nick's father had bailed him out of "six or seven" previous, similar liaisons? That's what Tripp was referring to about Patrick's proclivities.

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Seven extramarital liasons, but not necessarily seven extramarital liasons with transsexuals.

In 1.2, Tripps says Patrick "has affairs with transsexuals," but some exasperated parents speak that way, like "And now she's hanging around with drug dealers!" when they're only speaking of one person.

That shit never stops being funny every time I see it.

Access Hollywood video interview with Candis Cayne and DJ Marco. Shows a little of their home, some family photos, discussion of how they met.

Damn, Marco's hot! I now envy and hate her. =)

I guess ABC has the market cornered on the "transsexual" characters. There is also one in Big Shots - although there is no problem guessing that is a man playing a woman. With Candice I had to really think about it... or is it a man?? I am confused.

According to my relative who works on the show, Candis is a transgender (man became woman) in real life.

Candis is a fully transitioned post-operative transgendered woman. That is, she was born anatomically male and had hormone treatments and sexual reassignment surgery to complete her transition so that she is now anatomically female. So she is legally and physically female, but genetically XY. She completed her transition about 10 years ago, I believe. See the links upthread for more information if interested.

Love Candis Cayne, love Carmelita, love the way Cayne and Baldwin work together... I hope there's eventually a scene with Carmelita and the elder Darlings. I honestly think the 'tranny hooker' could hold her own with those two worthies.

GMA Profiles Candis Cayne from AfterElton.

I was watching the first episode of the latest Project Runway and when they introduced contestant Jack Macenroth, they showed two still photos of his designs, being modeled by none other than Ms. Cayne. One of the photos used in the show, along with a few others of Candis modeling his designs can be found in his submission video.

I watched the Access Hollywood interview and they seem to have a nice relationship. But Marco hot? Not in my world.

It's so great that her family has always been so supportive of her.

I had the fortune of running into Candis on the street Sunday night. I rather dorkily told her that I think she's fantastic, and she was as sweet as can be. As she continued walking, I said that I love her "on TV," and she yelled out, "I know, I've made it!" It made my week.