Why ‘Orphan Black’ star Tatiana Maslany refuses to wax her mustache

Let’s get a rousing verse of “YASSS QUEEN” going for Tatiana Maslany. Not only does she do a phenomenal job playing FIVE different characters on Orphan Black — and has finally been nominated for an Emmy — but she’s also standing up to beauty standards like a boss. Don’t you dare ask her to wax something she doesn’t want to wax.

In a recent interview with People, Maslany opened up about about the sexism she’s faced in Hollywood. At age 29, she’s already been through enough on-set sexism to last a lifetime. Like, “Being told, ‘Let’s not talk about that, sweetheart,’ if I have an issue with being hit on by a 50-year-old when I was 17 and on set,” she explains, “It’s never ending… it’s just pathetic. It’s so pathetic.”

Oh, you don’t have to tell us that twice.

Maslany’s biggest issues is when she’s asked to change her appearance to fit in with the beauty standards of the day. Shave her armpits? She doesn’t want to. Besides, who decided that wasn’t beautiful, hmm?

“And wax my mustache, which I refused to do!” She continues,  “I’ll do it if the part calls for it and it makes sense.” But if she’s being told to shave and wax and it’s not directly related to the role she’s playing, count her out.

Maslany adds that, “Sometimes it’s not worth being political about it. There’s a point where I have to separate my own political values versus the character I’m playing.” And we love her loads for that, too. She knows when to put up a fight, and then understands when she’s hired to look a certain way for a role.

Even though she continues to deal with sexism and ridiculous beauty standards, Maslany does feel that the tides are slowly shifting, and hopefully this is the beginning of the end for the ridiculous amount of sexism.

“There is a big shift happening, and I think we are at the messy puberty stages of it right now… It’s just about bringing that sensitivity, your emotional life and your understanding of humanity that women have that’s different to men.”

Yes. Yes to all of this. If there’s anyone who’s going to lead a charge against sexism and unfair beauty standards, it’s Maslany. Did I mention she plays FIVE different roles on Orphan Black? The girl is clearly a champion at getting stuff done.

(Image via BBC America.)