Long before she became the internet’s favorite trans TikTok queen, Dylan Mulvaney was just another theater kid trying to land a part on Glee. And not just any part. Try both “young Kurt” – the flashback version of Chris Colfer’s famously fabulous character – and Jake Puckerman, the abs-and-attitude bad boy role that eventually went to Jacob Artist.
“I might be the only one that auditioned for both young Kurt and Jake,” Mulvaney quipped on a recent episode of That’s What You Really Missed, a Glee-themed podcast hosted by former cast members Kevin McHale and Jenna Ushkowitz. “But what I definitely confirm is I’m the only trans woman that auditioned for both young Kurt and Jake.”
Yes, you read that right. Before Dylan was the icon she is today, she was being sent for roles that couldn’t be more different – or more symbolic of the journey she’s taken since.
@thatswhatyoureallymissed Our guest this week is our friend and #Glee superfan @Dylan Mulvaney ✨ we had the best time chatting all things Glee and her best-selling book “Paper Doll” – listen to the full conversation at the link in bio 🎙️ #gleeks #fyp ♬ original sound – thatswhatyoureallymissed
From Guitar Strings to Gender Things
When talking about the Jake audition, Dylan didn’t hold back: “I remember his whole thing was like he had to play guitar, and liked sports,” she said. “And I just remember being asked if I played guitar and being like, ‘No.’ And them saying, ‘Any sports background?’ and me going, ‘Not really.’”
Needless to say, casting didn’t circle back.
It’s the kind of hilariously awkward miscasting that only Hollywood can deliver, but in hindsight, it’s a snapshot of Mulvaney’s early hustle — a young actor trying to break through, pre-transition, while being put in rooms for roles that didn’t fit her spirit, her skills, or her identity.
A Trans Trailblazer Laughs Through the Chaos
Now, years later, Mulvaney can laugh about it, but there’s a clear throughline in her story: the absurdity of a system that didn’t yet know what to do with a performer like her. “It was very obvious that the casting directors were not like, ‘Remember that kid we saw for young Kurt? We gotta get that one in here!’” she joked. And yet, here she is – thriving, booked, beloved, and definitely not playing second fiddle to anyone.
Mulvaney’s rise to stardom isn’t just a trans success story – it’s a joyful, chaotic, self-aware rewrite of the Hollywood rulebook. Her revelation is a reminder that the industry’s inability to imagine trans talent in diverse roles isn’t just about missed opportunities — it’s about its own narrow lens.
Why This Matters to the LGBTQ Community
Let’s be real: Glee had moments, but it was often allergic to putting actual queer and trans talent in meaningful roles, instead relying on cis actors to perform queerness as costume. Mulvaney’s near-misses point to what could have been — and what still can be — if trans performers are given the same stage, the same range, and the same respect.
Dylan Mulvaney didn’t get her Glee moment. But we’re honestly glad she didn’t — because the world got Dylan instead. And let’s be honest: she’s the better show.