Exclusive: Alexandra Grey On Joining CBS Series ‘MacGyver’ As Its First-Ever Transgender Character

Making her debut tonight (March 26) on CBS’ MacGyver as its first-ever Transgender character is Alexandra Grey. Grey recently appeared on the cover of OUT Magazine and other credits include Greg Berlanti’s HBO Max docuseries Equal and recurring roles in Empire, Chicago Med and Transparent.

MACGYVER, a reimagining of the classic series, is an action-adventure drama about 20-something Angus “Mac” MacGyver, who is part of a clandestine organization within the U.S. government, where he uses his extraordinary talent for unconventional problem-solving and vast scientific knowledge to save lives.

Joining his team on high-risk missions around the globe are Riley Davis, an unpredictable computer hacker with a chip on her shoulder; Wilt Bozer, Mac’s roommate and an agent on the team; Matty Weber, a legend in Covert Ops and the director of operations at the Phoenix Foundation; Desi Nguyen, whose job is to protect MacGyver and his team on their global missions; and Russ Taylor, quick-witted, Oxford-educated, ex-military skilled in propaganda and lie detection, who shakes things up by challenging the way MacGyver and the team are used to doing things.

Alexandra plays Parker, a transgender female Phoenix engineer who has been tapped by director Matty Webber (Meredith Eaton) to provide critical assistance to MacGyver and the Phoenix team. Whether it be cracking cyphers to solve a case or lending a supportive ear when needed, Parker has their back.

In tonight’s episode - "C8H7CIO + Nano-Trackers + Resistance + Maldives + Mind Games" -- Mac and Riley head overseas together to prevent a governmental collapse and inadvertently inhale new deadly microscopic technology,

BlackFilmandTV.com spoke with Grey on her role and working with the cast.

How did the role come about for you?

Alexandra Grey: It's a very, very exciting role. I'm really excited about it. It just came through the usual way. You get the audition, and it came up probably at the end of last year. There was this huge waiting period where I didn't know if I was going to get it. So that was agonizing. It was over Christmas break. When it finally did happen, it was so exciting. I love it because it's such a different role. I usually do drama, and so to do something that's action adventure, this has been really, really fun.

How would you describe Parker?

Alexandra Grey: Well, I can only tell you a little bit about my character. She's a engineer with a bunch of degrees. So she's super smart. She's coming in and she's going to be helping MacGyver and his team at the Phoenix Foundation crack some codes and solves some cases. I love it. With some of the terminology, I had to look up a few words. So it's been really, really fun and exciting.

From the clip below, it wasn't identified that you are transgender. Will that be discussed on the show, as opposed to just playing a role?

Alexandra Grey: I don't know that I can say what's going to happen with with the storyline in that in that regard. It's just who she is. A lot of times on shows, I've had a specific trans storyline off to the side of the story. With this is, I'm a part of the main team. I'm in the foundation. I'm really just working. The transmis is who I am, but it doesn't define who I am specifically on this show just yet. Once everyone watches it, I think they'll be really quite surprised to see and say ‘Wow.’

You’ve done other series. What goes into saying yes to the projects you take?

Alexandra Grey: Well, I say yes to everything because I need to work. I’m just kidding.  Usually, we don't get projects that are great projects, and all the stuff I've done is in mostly television. There's some great stuff, but what I do love about the roles, and especially with Parker, is that they allow me to bring a lot of myself and who I thought this character would be. Sometimes you get specific notes and they want the hair to be this way and the makeup in this. But for this they really gave me the freedom to help build this character. I think she's like a young Olivia Pope (from Scandal). She walks around with her pad and her fancy outfits on while everybody else is like ready for action. I really love that. I get to bring a lot of who I am and how I want the world to see this trans character.

How’s working with the cast so far?

Alexandra Grey: This is the first time I actually had cast members follow me on Instagram before I even met them. Meredith Eaton who plays Maddie, and I became close friends before I ever got to meet her. It's been so much love and excitement. For the first time I also got to make personal connections with the main cast, because I actually am in scenes with them. So it's been so exciting. Everybody’s been so wonderful to work with. It's been quite a joy.

Because you have worked on other shows and had other roles, including some as a transgender, you are an inspiration to many. Have you have people reach out to you for advice in regards to work and being in the business?

Alexandra Grey: Yes, I do get a lot of messages and questions about advice for people. I just tell people that I just don't believe there's a roadmap. I think there are certain things that you should do, like working on your craft, and really studying whatever it is that you want to do in this life. But I just tell people there's really no map. People are creating their own roles and their own projects. You just have to do the work I believe. You have to really believe that you are talented, and that you can do whatever it is you want to do. That's the first part. That's the really important part. I do get a lot of questions about that. I just try to help be encouraging and tell people, "this is what I did." I just stuck it out. I didn't give up in the dark times that I wanted to when there were no opportunities. I stuck it out and the world is changing. 

How have you've coped with the pandemic, in terms of working?

Alexandra Grey: I take it each day at a time It's a challenging business. There’s a lot of competition. I just try to stay in the moment and be positive. As long as you can take care of yourself, and you can pay your bills, I say. Don’t worry about when it's going to come. It's been such a dark time for people and I lost so many friends. I lost my stepdad to COVID. It is a real thing and it’s unfortunate, but  I'm just trying to stay positive and hopeful that we're going to make it out and that people will be able to go back to some sort of normal existence very soon.

For those who haven't watched MacGyver, because there's a lot of shows on TV right now, what's a good reason for people to start catching up?

Alexandra Grey: I think people should watch it because I think it is a show that is very representative of the world. There's so much diversity on this show, especially now with this character Parker. There are people of color on the show, and I know this coming episode, we're going to be dealing with some racial stuff in there. I think it's a show that's very woke, and also very exciting and thrilling. I think everybody should be watching it on Friday nights.