Iris Menas
iris menas (born July 20, 1990)[a] is an American actor. They[b] are best known for appearing as Anybodys in the 2021 film adaptation of West Side Story[1] and their voice roles in the Monster High reboot,[4] Madagascar: A Little Wild,[5] Ridley Jones,[5] and the Fairly OddParents reboot.[6]
Early life
[edit]During their youth, menas attended the Kansas Dance Academy in Wichita for twelve years. They graduated from Wichita East High School in 2008.[7] In 2012, menas graduated from University of Oklahoma, earning a BFA from the Weitzenhoffer Family College of Fine Arts. While attending school, menas was part of a production of a musical named "A Chorus Line," in May 2010,[8][9] where they played Diana Morales, with dance professor Lynn Cramer calling the performance "outstanding...insightful and genuine."[10]
Career
[edit]In 2022, menas voiced Frankie Stein in the rebooted Monster High television show.[4][11][12] Later, menas voiced Odee Elliot in Madagascar: A Little Wild, and Fred in Ridley Jones.[5] Fred is the "first nonbinary series regular on a preschool television program," with menas saying it is "a really interesting tool to use an animal because we have nothing to project on an animal in terms of gender," adding that there is "something so beautiful about boiling something down for a child to understand."[5]
In 2021, menas became known for appearing in West Side Story.[1][2][13] PinkNews called it "powerful win" for trans representation, with menas hoping that the film would have a positive impact on audiences, adding that everyone needs to be a "little more open and a little more compassionate toward one another."[14] The film was banned in Saudi Arabia and Kuwait, while Bahrain, United Arab Emirates, Qatar, and Oman requested cuts to scenes with menas' performance, which 20th Century Studios and Disney declined to do, with the film not airing in those countries either.[15][16]
In September 2021, menas noted that performances they had done for Jagged Little Pill, on Broadway,[10][17] had resulted in PTSD and called proposed plans for better portrayal of trans and nonbinary characters "NOT enough," adding in a social media post, fellow actors, and themself, were "asking for basic care and we are [being] gaslit."[18][19][20]
In the 2024 Fairly OddParents reboot The Fairly OddParents: A New Wish, menas voiced Winn Harper.[6] In November 2024, menas won a Velma Award for Best New Nonbinary Cast Member for the portrayal.[21]
In 2025, menas voiced Nova in an episode of WondLa.[22] The following year, menas voiced Harmony in an episode of Cartoon Cartoons.[citation needed]
Personal life
[edit]menas is Transmasculine and non-binary and lives in Brooklyn, New York, as of March 2022.[1][2][23]
Selected filmography
[edit]| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020, 2022 | Madagascar: A Little Wild | Odee Eliot (voice) | 2 episodes |
| 2021 | West Side Story | "Anybodys" | |
| 2021–2023 | Ridley Jones | Fred (voice) | 35 episodes |
| 2022 | Way Down | Alex | 2 episodes |
| 2022–2024 | Monster High | Frankie Stein, Carrots, Mystery Meat, Dragon Girl, BG Students, Lion Monster Knocker, Kaylee, Goobert, Partying Book #1, Turntable Voice, Dragon Girl #6, Whiskerene, Gooberry Monster (voices) | 50 episodes |
| 2022–2023 | Monster High Mysteries | Frankie Stein (voice) | 8 episodes |
| 2023 | Monster Ball Homecoming | 6 episodes | |
| 2024 | The Fairly OddParents: A New Wish | Winn, Oates, Director, Katie, Lapis Lazuli, Giant Bird, Fairy (voices) | 20 episodes |
| 2025 | WondLa | Nova (voice) | Episode: "Chapter 8: Home" |
| 2026 | Cartoon Cartoons | Harmony (voice) | Episode: "Harmony in Despair" |
Notes
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ a b c d e Horst, Carole (January 8, 2022). "'West Side Story's' Iris Menas Brings New Dimension to Old Character". Variety. Archived from the original on January 8, 2022. Retrieved May 13, 2023.
- ^ a b c Butler, Isaac (December 15, 2021). "How West Side Story's Anybodys Went From Tomboy to Trans Character". Slate. Archived from the original on March 18, 2026. Retrieved October 23, 2023.
- ^ "iris (@hi__im__iris)". Twitter. Archived from the original on November 16, 2021. Retrieved June 7, 2024.
zie-hir non-binary lesbian NYC tweets are my own.
- ^ a b Martin, Annie. "'Monster High': Nickelodeon renews animated series for Season 2". UPI. Archived from the original on November 17, 2022. Retrieved May 13, 2023.
- ^ a b c d Amatangelo, Amy (November 2, 2021). "As outcry over Chappelle continues, an LGBTQ pioneer returns to Netflix". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on May 25, 2026. Retrieved June 12, 2026.
- ^ a b Kandell, Jonny (July 10, 2024). "Meet Nonbinary Character Winn Harper from "Fairly Odd Parents: A New Wish"". Out in New Jersey. Archived from the original on December 26, 2025. Retrieved June 12, 2026.
- ^ Wu, Lily (December 11, 2021). "Former Wichitan performs in new 'West Side Story' movie". KWCH. Archived from the original on December 22, 2025. Retrieved May 13, 2023.
- ^ "Chorus Line". Weitzenhoffer School of Musical Theatre. University of Oklahoma. Archived from the original on September 5, 2021.
- ^ "Performances". Weitzenhoffer Family College of Fine Arts. University of Oklahoma. Archived from the original on July 25, 2021. Retrieved June 12, 2026.
- ^ a b "Steven Spielberg's West Side Story Features Two OU Alumni". Inside OU. OU Foundation. February 9, 2022. Archived from the original on December 4, 2025. Retrieved June 12, 2026.
Eloise Kropp and iris menas ('12, BFA), both former students in the Weitzenhoffer School of Musical Theatre, landed roles in the Spielberg production.
- ^ Weinreb, Adam (September 29, 2022). "The GLAAD Wrap: 'Bros' out in theaters today, trailers for 'Knock at the Cabin' and 'Spoiler Alert,' Hallmark announces first leading queer couple, new music from Lucy Dacus, Walt Disco, and more!". GLAAD. Archived from the original on January 31, 2026. Retrieved June 12, 2026.
transmasculine non-binary performer iris menas as Frankie Stein
- ^ Burlingame, Russ (July 13, 2022). "Monster High Announces Cast for New Nickelodeon Animated Series". Comic Book. Archived from the original on March 5, 2026. Retrieved June 12, 2026.
- ^ Walters, Talia (August 3, 2022). "West Side Story: Anybodys' Trans Identity Improves Upon The Original". Screenrant. Archived from the original on February 6, 2026. Retrieved June 12, 2026.
- ^ Kelleher, Patrick (December 13, 2021). "One of West Side Story's biggest changes is a powerful, poignant win for trans representation". PinkNews. Archived from the original on March 28, 2026. Retrieved June 12, 2026.
- ^ Welk, Brian (December 6, 2021). "'West Side Story' Banned in Saudi Arabia, Kuwait Over LGBTQ Character Played by Nonbinary Actor". TheWrap. Archived from the original on January 20, 2026. Retrieved June 12, 2026.
- ^ Linehan, Alice (December 7, 2021). "West Side Story reportedly banned in multiple Gulf countries because of trans character". GCN. Archived from the original on March 14, 2026. Retrieved June 12, 2026.
- ^ "Our Alumni". University of Oklahoma Weitzenhoffer Family College of Fine Arts. Archived from the original on March 4, 2020. Retrieved June 12, 2026.
- ^ Curto, Justin (September 26, 2021). "Jagged Little Pill Actors Call Out Production's Treatment of Trans Cast". Vulture. Archived from the original on March 17, 2026. Retrieved June 12, 2026.
- ^ "Lead Performers Walk Out Of 'Jagged Little Pill' Over Treatment Of Trans Artists". Star Observer. September 26, 2021. Archived from the original on July 22, 2025. Retrieved June 12, 2026.
- ^ Evans, Greg (September 24, 2021). "Former 'Jagged Little Pill' Broadway Cast Members Accuse Production Of "Harm To The Trans And Non-Binary" Communities". Deadline. Archived from the original on December 16, 2024. Retrieved June 12, 2026.
- ^ "Awards Updates: LAAF Winners, Inaugural Velma Winners Announced". Animation Magazine. December 10, 2024. Archived from the original on July 23, 2025. Retrieved June 12, 2026.
- ^ "Nova Voice". Behind the Voice Actors. Retrieved June 12, 2026.
- ^ Ermac, Raffy (March 2, 2022). "How West Side Story Added Depth to Its Trans Character". Out. Archived from the original on January 19, 2026. Retrieved June 12, 2026.