Ruby Rose emotional after being cast as Batwoman

It’s been confirmed that out Australian actress Ruby Rose will play Batwoman in what is anticipated to be the first live action superhero series with a lesbian lead character.

The news was reported by the entertainment media late on Tuesday and then confirmed by the delighted star herself on her Instagram account.

“The Bat is out of the bag and I am beyond thrilled and honored,” Rose wrote. “I’m also an emotional wreck.. because this is a childhood dream.” She added: “This is something I would have died to have seen on TV when I was a young member of the LGBT community who never felt represented on tv and felt alone and different. Thank you everyone. Thank you god.”

Rose came to international fame by starring in the Netflix series Orange Is the New Black. She has appeared in a number of films, including Resident Evil: The Final Chapter, xXx: Return of Xander Cage, John Wick: Chapter 2, and Pitch Perfect 3.

Also a model, DJ, recording artist and television presenter, Rose came out as lesbian at the age of 12. She also identifies as genderfluid, but prefers to continue using feminine pronouns. “I think at this stage I will stay a woman but … who knows. I’m so comfortable right now I feel wonderful about it, but I also fluctuate a lot,” she said in 2014.

The Batwoman series is in development for the CW network, as part of its slate of existing DC superhero shows, including The Flash, Arrow, Legends of Tomorrow, and Supergirl. The Batwoman character will initially appear in these shows in December as part of the network’s annual series crossover event, before (hopefully) featuring in her own standalone series next year.

Batwoman first appeared in DC Comics stories in 1956, beginning with Detective Comics. The character was reintroduced in 2006 as Kate Kane, a lesbian woman. She is the highest-profile gay superhero to appear in the DC Comics universe.

Kane is described by the show’s producers as being “armed with a passion for social justice and a flair for speaking her mind.” She is a “highly trained street fighter primed to snuff out the failing city’s criminal resurgence.” They add: “But don’t call her a hero yet. In a city desperate for a savior, Kate must overcome her own demons before embracing the call to be Gotham’s symbol of hope.”

Caroline Dries (The Vampire Diaries) is set to write and executive produce the TV series for openly gay producer Greg Berlanti’s company, which already produces the other DC shows.

The Bat is out of the bag and I am beyond thrilled and honored. I’m also an emotional wreck.. because this is a childhood dream. This is something I would have died to have seen on TV when I was a young member of the LGBT community who never felt represented on tv and felt alone and different. Thank you everyone. Thank you god.

A post shared by Ruby Rose (@rubyrose) on Aug 7, 2018 at 10:53am PDT