Noah Lamanna Brings Queer Stories to Life in Ginny & Georgia and Beyond (Exclusive)
Toronto-based actor Noah Lamanna is stepping into the spotlight with a breakout role in Season 3 of Netflixs Ginny & Georgia. Playing Tris, a sharp-witted skateboarder and peer tutor, Lamanna adds a fresh energy to the series, which left fans reeling last season with Georgias arrest at her own wedding.Tris quickly bonds with Marcus (Felix Mallard) and Silver (Katelyn Wells), cementing their place in the shows evolving teen ensemble. For Lamanna, the role was an opportunity to dive into a character that balances cool confidence with emotional depth.Everyone was so lovely and welcoming, and the creative team gave me a lot of space to play around with the character, Lamanna told Gayety. Tris is very cool and collected, and they have a wisdom beyond their years. I really enjoy playing confident characters, so this was a fun season for me.From Post-Apocalyptic Romance to Small-Town SecretsLamanna is no stranger to fan-favorite franchises. Before joining Ginny & Georgia, they appeared in Season 2 of HBOs The Last of Us as Kat, Ellies ex-girlfriend. For Lamanna, stepping into that world was surreal.I was a fan of the shows first season, so to suddenly find myself in the mountains working with Craig [Mazin] and Bella [Ramsey] was surreal, they said. I think its cool that the show continues to push queer visibility when it could easily downplay the games queer narrative. It also proves the power of queer audiences, because the fanbase is immense and deeply committed.A Theatre Background That SticksBeyond television, Lamannas theatre work has earned acclaim. Their turn as Eli in Let the Right One In at Berkeley Repertory Theatre landed them a Bay Area Theatre Critics Circle nomination for Best Principal Performance in a Play.Preparing to embody a centuries-old vampire took both physical training and heavy research. Playing a 400-year-old 12-year-old vampire takes some figuring out, Lamanna said. I think the whole story is actually a really beautiful allegory for trans identity, so it felt very special to be invited to bring that element of myself into the character.Navigating Identity and RepresentationAs a nonbinary actor, Lamanna has witnessed the industry shift toward more authentic storytelling. They credit the growing presence of queer and trans voices in writers rooms with shaping richer, more nuanced roles.I dont feel strongly about only playing queer or trans characters, but I am always happy to be prioritized for queer projects, theyre usually more fun, Lamanna said.Still, they admit theyd love to expand the kinds of stories theyre offered. Someone please cast me as a cowboy in a queer Western!Building New WorldsLamanna is also stepping behind the camera. Theyre in pre-production on their first short film, a satirical look at the contradictions of being a working artist under late-stage capitalism.Its a cartoonish, slapstick dark comedy, and Im excited to make it, they said. If there are any wealthy gays out there looking to support an independent queer artist, hit me up!Finding Queer JoyAmid the industrys ongoing debates about queer trauma in media, Lamanna is intentional about infusing joy into their work and daily life.I like finding the gays on set and just hanging out, they said. Theres a lot of queer joy to be found at work. Also, no one has asked me to shave my armpits in six years. It brings me joy when crew guys call me bro.As for whats next, Lamanna hopes 2026 brings opportunities to travel, collaborate, and keep creating. I want the job to feel like an adventure, they said.Source