HBO Max on Thursday launched its eight-episode original series, Veneno, which is the story of ‘90s transgender icon Christina Ortiz—aka La Veneno—to commemorate Transgender Awareness Week Nov. 13-19 as well as Transgender Day of Remembrance on Nov. 20.
Based on the memoir by Valeria Vegas “Not A Whore, Not A Saint: The Memories of La Veneno,” Spanish creators and directors Javier Calvo and Javier Ambrosi bring La Veneno to 2020 in her full glory.
The role of La Veneno is played by three trans performers: Jedet is a young, pre-transition Veneno, Daniela Santiago plays her as her star rises and Isabel Torres is the older Veneno. The real Christina Ortiz died four years ago at the age of 52.
The series follows Valeria, a young journalism student who discovers she has more in common with La Veneno than she thought. The two women were born in very different times, but their stories become intertwined when Valeria writes a book about La Veneno. Through learning more about her, Valeria discovers her chosen family, how to love herself, and the impact of mass media in the life of an enigmatic entertainer.
Veneno is a co-production between Atresmedia Studios, Suma Latina and HBO Max. The show stars Isabel Torres, Daniela Santiago, Lola Rodriguez, Paca la Piraña, Goya Toledo, Ester Exposito, Jedet and Lola Dueñas.
READ MORE: Variety
[Images courtesy of HBO Max/Atresmedia]

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