TV - Movies
Tommy Dorfman
Reveals How She
Was Tapped For
Her 13 Reasons
Why Role
By PAULI POISUO
"13 Reasons Why" is a controversial teen drama that revolves around the suicide of a high school student, Hannah Baker (Katherine Langford), and the tapes she leaves behind to detail her reasons. The tapes name several of her schoolmates, including Ryan Shaver (Tommy Dorfman), the subject of Hannah's eighth tape.
Tommy Dorfman — who had fairly little experience on the acting front at the time — revealed that she had initially auditioned for the role of Clay after an actor friend of hers recommended the project. While the role of Clay ultimately went to Dylan Minnette, Dorfman was impressive enough to eventually land the role of Ryan Shaver.
Unfortunately, playing the character caused trouble for Dorfman behind the scenes. "I think if I hadn't booked that job, I would've started transitioning a lot sooner," she explained. "I think because my work being so tied to my body and like face and like identity, and whatever I'd been identified as, it delayed some of my growth and maturation in my mid-20s."