Film Cannes

Starring in her first ever feature film, Leyna said  about

a man grappling with his feelings for a transgender woman, [bergelut dengan]
chimed with her personal experience, helping her dive into the role.
Bloom's performance drew praise from critics
after the film made its debut at the Cannes Film Festival

The movie opens with 21-year-old Paul, played by Fionn Whitehead,
arriving at the Port Authority bus terminal in New York, hoping for a fresh start living with his sister –
 a plan that soon unravels.   [terurai]

But his life changes nonetheless when his head is turned by young trans woman Wye.

Wye introduces Paul to the people she lives with and
takes him out to experience the underground LGBTQ Kiki ballroom scene,

although Paul doesn't know to begin with that Wye is transgender.
"I immediately fell in love with the character because
when I was reading it I was seeing myself in it right away

because the things that she was going through,

I see myself dealing with.

"I have experienced it on so many levels

so it was just human nature for me to just dive into this."

it was not just protagonist Wye that she felt a connection to, but also the character of Paul.

She left her home city of Chicago and moved to New York as a teenager, beginning a career in modelling.

Despite never having an acting agent,
she was put in touch with Lessovitz who wanted to cast a talented actress of trans experience who also had connections to the ballroom scene.

He has the courage ... (to) be disruptive and challenge society's norms".
if you love someone and they love you back
why wouldn't you embrace that love and that experience?.