Actress Brigette Lundy-Paine has opened up about her sexuality, speaking to The Advocate following the success of her Netflix series, Atypical, which has just released its second season.
Originally from Texas, Lundy-Paine shared that the role of Sam, her character Casey's younger brother, had helped her acknowledge and celebrate her queer identity.
"Sam feels like a deep part of myself that I am only now beginning to let out: the insecurities and the complete confusion with the system and the rules that have been laid out for him," Lundy-Paine said.
The 25-year-old actress continued: "I think this show is actually really queer even though it hasn’t yet explicitly been so."
While viewers with family members on the autism spectrum have been vocal of their love for Atypical (the character of Sam has autism), members of the LGBTIQ+ community have also loved the show.
"I can’t quite tell if it’s my presence as Brigette or the show," she said.
"But I’ve gotten some really, really lovely messages [from the LGBTQ community]."
"I literally think I got a message from someone that said, 'Your performance as Casey made me come out as trans.' I don’t know why, but I love that so much."
For Lundy-Paine, however, the coming out process was smooth.
"I come from a very queer family," she said.
She added: "I feel grateful to be part of such an expanding queer community."
"And there’s something about Atypical that feels part of that."
