We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Avi Roque a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Avi, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today What’s been the most meaningful project you’ve worked on?

Voicing Raine Whispers in Disney’s The Owl House was a pivotal moment in my career. This opportunity came about when I had been on Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) for about two years. My voice had dropped and settled, and I was living in LA during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. In June of that year, my agent sent me the audition, and I’ll be honest—I hadn’t heard of the show. The character rendering included with the audition side showed Raine with fair skin, clearly white, not resembling me at all. But I decided to give it my best shot, recorded my takes, and sent them off to my agent, who passed them along to the casting director. At the time, I didn’t expect to get the part and genuinely forgot about it.

Then, in November 2020, while I was waiting in line at Trader Joe’s to pay for my groceries, my agent called. I picked up, and she said, “You got it!”

I replied, “Got what?”

“The Owl House!” she exclaimed.

And that’s when I felt a shift—an excitement for my career. This would be my first voice acting job, and for Disney, no less! Up until that point, I had mostly done theatre, a few TV/film projects, and some audiobooks.

Here’s the kicker: Raine Whispers uses They/Them pronouns, just like me. As a Trans Masculine Nonbinary and Queer person, voicing a character whose identity aligned with mine no longer seemed unfathomable. What made it even more special was that the series didn’t make Raine’s storyline or character arc about their gender. Raine simply existed as the head of the Bard Coven, dealing with stage fright, fear of public speaking, having a love interest, and eventually becoming a courageous hero.

This kind of representation isn’t just meaningful to me as an actor—it’s life-changing and life-saving for so many others. The fandom surrounding the show is incredible, and the love, messages, and gratitude I’ve received warms my heart. Even though Disney eventually cancelled the series, its impact and spirit continue to live on, and I’m incredibly honored to have been part of such a groundbreaking animated show.

One last reason this project is so meaningful to me is that the creative team ensured Raine’s skin tone and appearance reflected mine. That level of attention to detail is part of what makes this experience so special and unforgettable.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

My artistic journey in the performing arts began in 6th grade when I auditioned for the school play and landed a lead role. At that time, I was still identifying with the gender I was assigned at birth (female). But even at such a young age, I was grappling with complex and confusing feelings about myself and my place in society. It was theatre and the stage that opened up a new world for me, offering a way to express those feelings while allowing me to escape my real life and be someone else.

I continued my passion for theatre in high school, a pivotal time when I began to discover my sexuality. However, I was still holding onto a lot of fear and shame. I then went on to study theatre in college, but even that experience had its own set of challenges. My college allowed anyone to join the Theatre Program, but required auditions at the end of the Freshman and Sophomore years to continue receiving formal acting training. Unfortunately, I didn’t make the final cut, and that brought about the end of my pursuit of a BFA in Acting.

At this point, I still wasn’t living authentically. I didn’t yet know that there were more ways to exist and identify. I struggled immensely, but I’ve always believed in finding the silver lining and that blessings often come disguised. Like many of my peers, I didn’t drop out of the Theatre School or change my major completely—choosing something like Business or Kinesiology. Instead, I still had a deep desire to act, and I was determined to find any way to keep that dream alive.

In my senior year, as part of the University Honors Program, I was given the opportunity to complete a final thesis project, which involved devising, writing, directing, and performing my own Physical Theatre piece. It was finally a chance for me to speak my truth—about my queerness. The piece was a love letter to myself and to others, a declaration that love is love, no matter who it’s between. I wanted to remind people that love can look so many different ways.

After college, I moved to Chicago to immerse myself in its vibrant theatre scene. I did a lot of theatre and grew tremendously as both an artist and an individual. I also owe Chicago to my unearthing and embracing of my gender identity. In the Windy City, I transitioned socially and medically—changing my name and pronouns, starting HRT, and having top surgery. During this time, I began booking indie short films like To Be With You and Kind Of, which featured trans characters and premiered at film festivals. I even landed a role on NBC’s Chicago Med. For the first time, I felt confident and at peace with who I was.

As my voice deepened through transitioning, an audiobook opportunity came my way. Macmillan Audio was looking for someone to narrate Aiden Thomas’ debut YA novel, Cemetery Boys. I auditioned and was offered the job, signifying my first audiobook. This led to a new career path as an actor and storyteller. Since 2020, I’ve narrated around 60 audiobooks, many of which feature LGBTQIA+/BIPOC representation—stories I wish had been available to me growing up.

Everything started aligning as I stepped into my truth, and I found myself having full-circle moments. A fantastic opportunity came my way when I was cast in the West Coast premiere of The Inheritance at the Geffen Playhouse. And the cherry on top was landing the role of Raine Whispers in Disney’s The Owl House—a role that has given me such a supportive following. I strive to champion and uplift others whilst sharing my successes and joys, both online and in-person.

I know the world can feel dark and overwhelming, but I’m passionate about giving back, inspiring others, and helping people find hope and community. I am proud of the work I do as a Latiné Trans Masculine Nonbinary and Queer human, actor, and artist.

Is there something you think non-creatives will struggle to understand about your journey as a creative?

As much as there are highs in the life of a creative artist in entertainment, there are also lows. As an actor, I lack stability and consistency, which can bring on a lot of stress. Frankly, I’m still figuring out other sources of income to ensure my survival. This isn’t meant to be a ‘poor me’ or ‘victim’ moment, because I have been so grateful for the epic jobs I have received. I simply want to acknowledge the challenges I may face due to the lack of access and privilege, particularly as a Transgender person of color who is in an erratic profession. But granted, this is my choice and I have no regrets. But if anyone reading this has leads on more consistent, stable job opportunities, please reach out! Lastly, I know many of us in the entertainment industry share this experience, and it saddens me that we are often undervalued and under-appreciated. If you’re a creative reading this, I think you’re awesome and brave for doing the work you do!

We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?

I realized I had been tying my self-worth to external validation, and I’m pretty sure that was one of the reasons I was so drawn to acting, feeding off of the praises and accolades. Over the last few years, my relationship with acting has transformed. It’s no longer about escaping reality; now, I care about channeling the fun, heart, and creativity at the core of my work, or the opportunity for meaningful representation. I’ve reframed my relationship with acting, and it serves a new purpose for me now. Another lesson I had to unlearn was the need to be a social justice warrior at all times. I burned myself out trying to be involved in so many Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion conversations. Now, I’ve learned how and when to speak up on my own terms, taking care of myself and stepping back when needed to prioritize my mental health.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.aviroque.com
• Instagram: @avi_roque
• Facebook: Avi Roque
• Linkedin: Avi Roque
• Youtube: @avi_roque