Riley-Carter Millington Joins 'EastEnders' as First Transgender Actor Playing Continuing Trans Role in a British Soap

Riley-Carter Millington

EastEnders has cast newcomer Riley-Carter Millington to play the part of Kyle, his casting being the first time a British television soap opera has ever had a transgender actor playing a transgender character in a continuing role.

The BBC1 soap's executive producer Dominic Treadwell-Collins announced earlier this year that he was creating a transgender character and expressed a determination to have a transponder actor in the role. A number of transgender actors submitted themselves for the role and, working alongside groups within the transgender community, EastEnders began workshops to find an actor.

Millington's debut scenes will air later this month, but little will be revealed until Riley's permanent return at the end of 2015.

"I am extremely excited to be joining EastEnders," the 21-year-old actor said. "I can honestly say that I have now fulfilled my two biggest dreams – to be living my life as a man and to be an actor. I cannot wait to really get stuck in with filming and I look forward to seeing what is in store for my character."