Transgender actress and activist Jen Richards will join the cast of Nashville in a recurring role for season five. Richards will play Allyson Del Lago, a tough but understanding physical therapist who helps a main character through one of their most difficult challenges. She will be the first transgender character to appear on the show, and the first transgender actor to be featured on a CMT series.

Richards is known for her role as Violet on the web series Her Story, which was nominated in the Outstanding Short-Format Live-Action Entertainment Program category for the 2016 Emmys. Richards also co-wrote and co-executive produced the show. Richards will also be appearing in CBS’s Doubt alongside Laverne Cox, and has appeared on I Am Cait, Beautiful As I Want To Be, and True Trans with Laura Jane Grace.

Richards recently spoke out about Matt Bomer being cast as a transgender sex worker in the forthcoming film Anythingon Twitter and YouTube, saying, "Having trans people play trans people allows for more informed, subtle, authentic performance. It makes for BETTER ART, which is the point."

Nashville’s fifth season premieres Thursday, January 5 at 9 p.m. ET/PT on CMT. While you’re waiting to watch Richards on the country music drama, you can watch the Emmy-nominated series Her Story online.
 

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