EVELYN – The First Trans Star to Arrive to Fame in Argentina

Evelyn is the dazzling creation of Argentine actor and performer Jorge Pérez.

Evelyn a trailblazer who broke boundaries in the 1970s entertainment world. As a vedette, Evelyn sang live with his own voice, danced with unmatched charisma, spoke directly to her audience, and ruled the stage with freedom and authenticity — doing whatever she desired under the spotlight.

Her rise began on Corrientes Street in Buenos Aires — the Argentine equivalent of Broadway in New York — where only the most talented and celebrated artists could secure a place among its glittering marquees.

Jorge Pérez, performing as Evelyn, was first discovered by acclaimed television journalist Leo Vanés, who cast him in the hit musical Verdísimo at the legendary Popea Theater on Corrientes Street. Surrounded by a constellation of celebrities, Evelyn’s magnetic stage presence captivated audiences and critics alike, marking her triumphant arrival to the most coveted avenue in Argentine show business.

Her success continued with Los Vecinos de Corrientes, where Evelyn enchanted the renowned producer Gerardo Sofovich, who was fascinated by her brilliance and immediately signed her for his new revue, Corrientes de Lujo. Evelyn’s stardom soared even higher when she joined Una Noche de Locura, produced by Antonio Prat, the distinguished director of Teatro Maipo — the most prestigious revue theater in Argentina.

Evelyn rapidly became a national sensation: the first and only Argentine trans performer to achieve fame during the most repressive years of the military dictatorship in the late 1970s. Her courage and success were extraordinary acts of defiance in a society where censorship and persecution silenced countless voices. For the next twenty years after her forced exile, no other trans artist in Argentina would achieve public stardom or be able to freely represent the LGBT community. It was only in the 1990s — with the return of democracy — that new trans performers began to appear, enjoying the freedom that had been denied to Evelyn.

But behind her glamour lay danger. When the dictatorship banned Jorge Pérez from portraying Evelyn in the film My Girlfriend the Transvestite—forcing the title to be changed to My Girlfriend Him and replacing him with a cisgender actress—he became a direct target. One night, after a performance, he found a chilling note on his dressing table: “You’ll be next.”

That threat marked the turning point. Jorge Pérez fled Argentina overnight to escape the death squads of the regime.

Soon after, he accepted a major contract to star in a musical in Caracas, Venezuela, where he was celebrated and respected. His acclaimed production, The Evelyn Show, toured Europe for two years before reaching the United States, where Jorge Pérez Evelyn continues to live — a living legend of trans visibility, artistry, and resilience.