KARLA MOSLEY (MAYA AVANT)

Ex-con-turned-actress Maya is the first transgender bride to get married on a soap – and no one could be prouder to play her than Karla (35), who joined the show in 2013.

We sit down with her at a restaurant in The Grove, a mall behind CBS Television City where The Bold is shot. What’s it like to play such a groundbreaking character? It’s opened my mind to things I hadn’t thought of before. For instance, I fly a lot and once when I booked a flight after the reveal they asked, “Are you a man or a woman?”

And I thought, “Whoa, if I were someone who either didn’t identify as a man or a woman or who’s presented as a male but felt inside they were truly a woman, how hard would it be to answer that question all the time?” Something like this had never been on my radar. What traits do you and Maya share? We both have a tenacity for creating the life we want. We work hard and love hard and we’re loyal. But I think – I hope – Maya’s a bit more selfish than I am. I don’t think I could have done some of the things she’s done to get to the top!

She’s selfish and I’m the opposite. I try hard to avoid conflict so I find myself wanting to hide away from her nastiness sometimes. The things that come out of her mouth! I have to remember she’s not me and her brain works differently. What do you love about the show? The people! I love how they take pride in their work and how in love they are with telling stories.

I’m also grateful for the fact my storylines have been really groundbreaking – to tie in social justice and activism with my art is all I’ve ever wanted to do. It’s been a total gift.