--The L Word DVD was first released in Japan in February (2008) and, as you probably know, Jennifer Beals (Bette) and Katherine Moennig (Shane) each came to Tokyo for promotion. They were absolutely showered with attention. The season that you begin to appear in, the third one, was just released this August. Could you tell us a little bit about your character, Moira/Max, for readers who are just starting to watch Season 3?

Sure. My character is named Moira and she’s from the Midwest. When you first meet her, Jenny has brought her out to LA and she’s beginning to realize a lot of things about herself. One of which is that she, well, she feels like she’s always been a man. So, she kind of goes through a transition. First, she starts asking everyone to call her by the name “Max” and use the male pronoun. Also, she starts taking testosterone and physically becoming a guy. Within the next couple seasons you’ll see a lot of situations that he gets himself into, such as what happens when he goes into the closet so people won’t know that he used to be a woman. Or situations that arise between him and the show’s “lesbian community” where they try to tell him, “You’re not really a part of us”, and he flat out says, “Well, yes I am. I’m part of the spectrum.” It is taking on a lot of the debate going on in the U.S. right now as many women are realizing that they’re not really women. It’s actually a phenomenon.

--Are there any things that you particularly like or dislike about Max?

What I like about Max is that he’s a gentleman - for the most part. And he’s really sweet, and kind of shy, and pretty awkward within himself. I find these things endearing, and I really relate to that kind of awkward, shy feeling. Growing up I often felt a little bit on the outside of...everything. I’m close to him in the sense that I understand how it feels to be an outsider, but I guess it’s hard for me that he’s not very worldly. He hasn’t seen much of anything since he just left the Midwest and then goes to LA, and that’s it. That’s one point where we’re different. Also, I didn’t really like his temper problems in the first year, when he had just come to LA.

--If you could choose, whom would you like Max to date?

Maybe not Jenny... But I think it would be great to date Kit.

--I’ve read that a number of people feel Max is portrayed negatively in The L Word and are less than satisfied with the image of transgendered persons conveyed by the program. What do you think about this?

I haven’t paid much attention to this exchange. My publicist always says not to read the negative aspects because they’ll affect you. But personally, I think The L Word is very much a melodrama. Sometimes I would be frustrated with how he was portrayed, but then I thought the storyline would redeem itself by season four. I thought it was really great that it explored his experiences at work - and the complexities.

It’s hard to tell a story when it’s the only story being told to represent a whole people. For the writers, this is just one story that they do among many. But we are in a situation where our environments are thick with homophobia and transphobia and all this gender oppression. We want to tackle those things, and The L Word is the only show doing as much in the context of a mainstream story. Of course people are going to be frustrated. I’ve heard it many times.

--Do people approach the actors about the program? Has anyone ever approached you?

In March we had a benefit for Eve Ensler, the creator of “The Vagina Monologues”. It was for her organization in San Francisco and Jennifer (Beals), Ilene (Chaiken), Pam (Grier), Rachel (Shelley) and I were there together. This woman came up at one point and said “I’m really upset because my community isn’t represented on The L Word.” I asked her, “What is your community?” and she replied, “The leather community.” So many people approach Ilene or me and say that they’re not represented, and I understand that, but I don’t think it’s possible. Personally, I don’t feel that my community is represented by The L Word, but I wouldn’t assume that it would be. I’ve never turned on the TV and seen myself represented there. The L Word is probably one of the closest images I’ve seen, but I definitely don’t hang out with people you see on the show. You know what I mean? It’s television.

--Incidentally, have you been working out, or including physical training, for your role?

Yes, with Max I have to build up. I wouldn’t say I love to do weights. I mean, I like sports but I don’t like to do weights. But I felt that it was important. My friends who take testosterone have huge arms. It seems so easy for them - they just do a few exercises and suddenly they have huge arms! So, I felt like I had to at least attempt to have something to show when the script is saying, “Oh your muscles have gotten so big.” Also, it does help get me in the mindset, because that’s what Max is doing and I think I should understand.