Supergirl star Chyler Leigh is thanking fans for their overwhelming support after she came out as a member of the LGBTQA community.
The 38-year-old actress came out in a blog post on the Creating Change website in late May, just days after the Season 5 finale of Supergirl aired on The CW.
Leigh thanked her fans for showing their support in a heartfelt Instagram post on Monday, in the midst of Pride Month, though she still hasn’t put a specific label on her LGBTQA identity quite yet, though she did say the process has been ‘tough’ on her and her husband of 18 years, Nathan West.
Thanks: Supergirl star Chyler Leigh is thanking fans for their overwhelming support after she came out as a member of the LGBTQA community
Tough: Leigh thanked her fans for showing their support in a heartfelt Instagram post on Monday, in the midst of Pride Month, though she still hasn’t put a specific label on her LGBTQA identity quite yet, though she did say the process has been ‘tough’ on her and her husband of 18 years, Nathan West
‘Hi friends. Today I’ve received an outpouring of love and support for acknowledging and loving myself as the person I truly am,’ Leigh began in her Instagram post.
‘Once we face our own true selves, we can better see the world around us, as well as how we can make a positive and lasting change for the sake of equality and love,’ she added.
‘I’m grateful to see more clearly, breathe a little easier, and I’m proud to contribute to all that I believe in with an honest, open heart. Sending love to you all,’ she concluded.
Friends: ‘Hi friends. Today I’ve received an outpouring of love and support for acknowledging and loving myself as the person I truly am,’ Leigh began in her Instagram post
Leigh’s character Alex Danvers came out as gay in Season 2 of Supergirl, during a February 2017 episode where she admitted she fell in love with Detective Maggie Sawyer (Floriana Lima).
The actress explained in her Creating Change blog post that, when she was told her character was going to come out, ‘flurry of thoughts and emotions flew through and around me because of the responsibility I personally felt to authentically represent Alex’s journey.’
She added that, what she didn’t realize was the scene would, ‘leap off the pages of the script and genuinely become a variation of my own. IRL.’
Coming out: Leigh’s character Alex Danvers came out as gay in Season 2 of Supergirl, during a February 2017 episode where she admitted she fell in love with Detective Maggie Sawyer (Floriana Lima)
Emotions: The actress explained in her Creating Change blog post that, when she was told her character was going to come out, ‘flurry of thoughts and emotions flew through and around me because of the responsibility I personally felt to authentically represent Alex’s journey’
IRL: She added that, what she didn’t realize was the scene would, ‘leap off the pages of the script and genuinely become a variation of my own. IRL’
Leigh added that during each take, ‘My heart felt like it was going to beat out of my chest, every time presenting another opportunity to get those honest words out of my mouth.’
The actress said that the episode’s director, along with the press and fans of the show had called it, ‘the most realistic coming out scene they’d ever witnessed.’
Sadly, the actress admitted that, following the episode, she was told by ‘dear friends’ and Supergirl fans that they would not watch the show because Alex came out.
Heart: Leigh added that during each take, ‘My heart felt like it was going to beat out of my chest, every time presenting another opportunity to get those honest words out of my mouth’
Realistic: The actress said that the episode’s director, along with the press and fans of the show had called it, ‘the most realistic coming out scene they’d ever witnessed’
She added that those dear friends then started to ‘distance themselves’ from her and her family was ‘outcast’ though she doesn’t hold any ill will against them.
‘However, after the initial sting, I don’t hold a grudge towards the negative response, because, as I’ve said, we’ve all had a hard time in one way or another with acceptance.’
Leigh has been married to actor and musician Nathan West since 2002, and they have three kids together, Noah, 16, Taelyn, 13 and Anniston, 11.
Outcast: She added that those dear friends then started to ‘distance themselves’ from her and her family was ‘outcast’ though she doesn’t hold any ill will against them
Kids: Leigh has been married to actor and musician Nathan West since 2002, and they have three kids together, Noah, 16 (above), Taelyn, 13 and Anniston, 11
The actress mentioned her husband of 18 years at the end of her post, adding, ‘it’s been a long and lonely road for both of them.
‘But I can whole-heartedly say that, after all these years, he and I are still discovering the depths of ourselves and each other, but throughout the journey, we’ve learned to be proud of who we are, no matter the cost,’ she concluded.
Leigh first came into prominence on Grey’s Anatomy, playing Dr. Lexie Grey from the end of Season 3 in 2007 until the Season 8 finale in 2012.
She has starred on Supergirl since its inception in 2015 as Alex Danvers, the big sister of Kara Danvers (Melissa Benoist), also appearing on Arrow, The Flash and DC’s Legends of Tomorrow.
Supergirl was renewed for a sixth season in January, though the network revealed its entire lineup will return in January 2021, likely due to production delays because of COVID-19.
Grey’s: Leigh first came into prominence on Grey’s Anatomy, playing Dr. Lexie Grey from the end of Season 3 in 2007 until the Season 8 finale in 2012
Lonely road: The actress mentioned her husband of 18 years at the end of her post, adding, ‘it’s been a long and lonely road for both of them
Renewed: Supergirl was renewed for a sixth season in January, though the network revealed its entire lineup will return in January 2021, likely due to production delays because of COVID-19