Laverne Cox watched a video of Ms. Tempress performing as Grizabella in Cats: The Jellicle Ball, and it wrecked her in the best possible way.
The Orange Is the New Black actress posted a heartfelt tribute on Instagram this week, going into full fan mode over Ms. Tempress’s turn in the stage production. Cox said the clip made her “cry, laugh, stomp my feet, scream Werk! 50/11 hundred times, clack my fan, get the holy ghost.”
That’s not a celebrity endorsement. That’s a spiritual experience with a social media caption.
Cats: The Jellicle Ball is a reimagining of the Andrew Lloyd Webber classic, reframing the beloved musical through a bold new cultural lens. Ms. Tempress is one of the performers at the heart of it. And based on Cox’s reaction, her Grizabella is something special.
Cox credited the video with changing how she hears the show’s music. She wrote that watching Tempress perform helped her “truly understand the brilliance of Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber’s score in a way I never had before.” For someone with Cox’s history in the arts, that’s a real statement.
But Cox wasn’t just raving about a great performance. She was making a point. She connected Tempress’s casting to something she’s long fought for. She wrote: “This is all I’ve ever wanted for us, trans people especially trans people of color, opportunities to both live authentically and to live our dreams. We should be able to do both.”
Cox made clear that the real gift belongs to the audience as much as it does to Tempress. She described what that looks like: “The bigger blessing is for every audience who gets to witness the anointed offering of her singular talent, the raw gut wrenching pain, grief, trauma, resilience and that special something that words do yet exist for.” By the time you finish reading the tribute, it feels less like an Instagram post and more like a standing ovation.
She added: “When talent, beauty and humanity like this gets to live authentically and shine, we bless each and everyone who gets to bear witness.”
The post also included a repost from the official Cats: The Jellicle Ball account. The caption read: “Nothing but love between our Grizabella sisters,” alongside yellow and black heart emojis. It’s a warm nod to the bond between the two women. Cox is widely considered a trailblazer for trans visibility on stage and screen. Seeing her champion a younger performer carries real weight.
Ms. Tempress, who performs under @i_am_tempress on Instagram, is earning serious recognition for her portrayal of one of musical theater’s most demanding roles. Grizabella is the show’s tragic outsider. She sings “Memory.” She’s a character built entirely on loss, longing, and the desperate need to be seen again. The symbolism of a trans woman of color stepping into that part right now is impossible to ignore.
Cox has spent years advocating for trans representation in Hollywood and beyond. She was the first openly trans person nominated for a Primetime Emmy in an acting category, back in 2014. She knows what it means to be a “first.” That’s what makes her endorsement carry extra weight.
Cox signed off with a simple call to action: “Bless yourselves and go see this show. Werk Tempress!!!!”
She tagged the post with #TransIsBeautiful, #ProtectTheDolls, and #ProtectTransKids. Those hashtags say more than any press quote could. They’re a reminder of the stakes that trans performers carry every time they step into the spotlight.
Cats: The Jellicle Ball is building real momentum. Based on Cox’s reaction, Tempress’s Grizabella is the kind of performance you don’t forget.
