With Outer Banks coming to an end, Madison Bailey wants to spread her wings as she contemplates the future of her career.
The openly pansexual actress recently discussed the “lack of queer representation” on the Netflix show, which released its fifth and final season on Thursday, revealing that she wishes her character Kiara came out as LGBTQ on the show, and she wants to play a queer character next.
“It’s never too late! It’s literally never too late,” she told OUT. “Especially with the lack of queer representation on this show, I’m really happy that people can still connect to it via me in real life and can connect through the actor, and I can represent off-screen.”
Bailey added, “There’s definitely themes that are relatable, especially with the found family and choosing your community and rebelling and picking your own friends, there are things to relate to. Your community has and will always have your back through every hardship that we face. Just remember that your community will always protect you and we will always ride for each other.”
As for whether she’ll get a chance to play an LGBTQ character in the future, Bailey teased, “Can I tease that moodboard might be coming to life right now in real time? It’s on the way! I’ve been manifesting it.
‘Outer Banks’
Netflix
“I’ve wanted to represent on-screen for a long time and I think I might have an opportunity to do so,” added Bailey. “I don’t want it to be theatric and sad, and I don’t want it to be a dark sad story. I want happy. I want joy. We need to put the community on screen.”
Season 5 of Outer Banks, now streaming on Netflix, finds the Pogues at their absolute breaking point following the tragic loss of JJ (Rudy Pankow) in Morocco. Stranded far from home and mourning the heart of their crew, they’ve lost the Blue Crown and continue to face a gauntlet of familiar threats as they seek to avenge JJ’s death and reclaim their future.