{{Short description|Chinese-American actor and activist}} {{Infobox person | name = Leo Sheng | birth_date = {{birth year and age|1996}} | birth_place = Hunan, China | education = University of Michigan (BA) | occupation = Actor, activist }} '''Leo Sheng''' (born 1996)<ref name=":0" /> is a Chinese American actor and activist known for playing Micah Lee on ''The L Word: Generation Q.''
== Early life and education == Sheng was born in Hunan, China and was adopted and raised in Ypsilanti, Michigan by an American lesbian couple.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|last=McFarlin|first=Jim|date=2019-11-05|title=Actor Leo Sheng Makes His Small-Screen Debut in "The L Word" Reboot|url=https://www.hourdetroit.com/art-and-entertainment/leo-sheng-l-word-generation-q/|access-date=2021-07-22|website=Hour Detroit Magazine|language=en-US}}</ref> He first came out as trans at age 12.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web|last=Kim|first=Michelle|date=2019-12-06|title=Leo Sheng on How "The L Word" Reboot Is Going to Get Trans Representation Right|url=https://www.them.us/story/leo-sheng-l-word-generation-q-interview|access-date=2021-09-07|website=them.|language=en-US}}</ref>
He received his Bachelor of Science degree in sociology from the University of Michigan in 2017.<ref name=":1" /> Sheng was accepted to the school's social work graduate program and planned to enroll, but left because he was cast in his first professional acting role in ''Adam''.<ref name=":1" />
== Career == Sheng first gained attention when he was 17 and used YouTube and Instagram to document his transition.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Nichols|first=James|date=2014-10-15|title=LOOK: This Trans Man Opens Up To The World About His Transition By Using Instagram|url=https://www.huffpost.com/entry/transgender-instagram-documentation_n_5948248|access-date=2021-07-22|website=HuffPost|language=en}}</ref> In 2018, he acted in his first lead role in Rhys Ernst's ''Adam''. He also appeared in the documentary ''Disclosure''.<ref name=":0">{{Cite news|last=Delaney|first=Lou|date=2020-06-19|title=Leo Sheng, a Trans Activist Who Stars in 'The L Word'|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/06/19/style/leo-sheng-transgender-activist-l-wor.html|access-date=2021-06-15|issn=0362-4331}}</ref> He is a lead character on Showtime's ''The L Word: Generation Q'' as Micah Lee, who is also a trans man. When he was 11, Sheng watched a clip of a transmasculine character, Max, on the original ''L Word'' series and came out as trans shortly after.<ref name=":2" />
== Personal life == Sheng resides in Los Angeles. He is queer and a trans man.<ref name=":0" />
== Filmography == === Film === {| class="wikitable sortable" !Year !Title !Role !Notes |- |2019 |''Adam'' |Ethan | |- |2020 |''Disclosure: Trans Lives on Screen'' |{{N/a}} |Also creative consultant |- |2021 |''The Matrix Resurrections'' |N/A |Assistant |}
=== Television === {| class="wikitable" !Year !Title !Role !Notes |- |2019–23 |''The L Word: Generation Q'' |Micah Lee |19 episodes |}
== References == {{Reflist}}
== External links == * {{Official website|https://www.leosheng.com/}} * {{IMDb name|9658958}} <!-- per WP:ELMINOFFICIAL, choose one official website only -->
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Sheng, Leo}} Category:Living people Category:Chinese transgender men Category:American transgender men Category:American transgender actors Category:American LGBTQ people of Asian descent Category:University of Michigan alumni Category:21st-century American male actors Category:People from Ypsilanti, Michigan Category:Male actors from Washtenaw County, Michigan Category:1996 births Category:LGBTQ people from Michigan Category:21st-century Chinese male actors Category:Chinese LGBTQ rights activists Category:American queer male actors Category:American adoptees from China Category:LGBTQ rights activists from Michigan
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