YouTubeYou can call them the Wachowski siblings from now on.
Larry Wachowski, who shot to fame directing The Matrix trilogy with brother Andy, has come out as transgender and will now officially be known as Lana, confirming rumors that have been floating around Hollywood for years.
Lana unveiled her new female identity (and stylish pink 'do) as part of a video promoting the Wachowskis' next highly anticipated film, Cloud Atlas. In a series of quick cuts, she Andy, and cohelmer Tom Tykwer (Run Lola Run) explain the genesis of the fantasy epic, which they describe as an interweaving story of various people whose lives impact one another across time. It stars Tom Hanks, Halle Berry, Susan Sarandon, Hugh Grant and Jim Broadbent.
But beneath the film commentary, there's nary a mention of Larry's transition except for her nonchalant introduction—which, in an era when gay marriage has garnered support from a majority of Americans, is no doubt a sign as to society's increasing acceptance of transgender individuals.
"Hi, I'm Lana," says Wachowski nonchalantly at the video's open.
Reports of Larry's gender reassignment first surfaced back in 2003, a year following the filmmaker's divorce of wife Thea Bloom, when movie columnist Dave Poland wrote that Wachowski was an avid cross-dresser and taking hormones to become a woman.
Wachowski is one of a number of celebrities who have undergone a sex change in recent years, the most notable being Chaz (formerly Chastity) Bono. Tom Gabel, lead singer for the punk-rock band Against Me!, also told Rolling Stone back in May that he'd begun living life as Laura Jane Grace.