"He knows who he is, and he’s very happy" - Tia Carrere on son Jude coming out as transgender

Tia Carrere, who was catapulted to fame after starring as one of the regular characters in the classic daytime soap opera General Hospital, revealed in a recent interview with People that her 19-year-old son Jude has come out as transgender, and she couldn’t be more proud.

Fifty-eight-year-old Althea Rae Duhinio Janairo, professionally known as Tia Carrere, recently starred in Disney’s live-action comedy sci-fi film Lilo & Stitch, which was released on May 23, 2025. As per reports, Carrere, after starring as Cassandra Wong in Penelope Spheeris’ 1992 musical comedy Wayne’s World, became a sex symbol.

During the ’90s, her persona was frequently associated with the so-called “hot and desirable” female trope of that time. According to The Sun USA, in 1992, Tia Carrere received a nomination for the Most Desirable Female Award by the MTV Movie and TV Awards. Not to mention, her posing nude as a playmate for Playboy cemented her personality as a sex symbol of that era.

While opening up about her son, Jude, who recently came out as transgender, with People, Carrere said:

"He's very matter-of-fact. He knows who he is, and he’s very happy."

The Relic Hunter actress continued, saying:

"He's such a sweetheart, he’s like the therapist to all the other kids. When his friends go out drinking or partying too hard, he’s always the designated driver, that kind of caring friend you can always lean on."

Tia Carrere further added:

"I did a good job with that. But I don’t want to congratulate myself too much! He’s his own person."

Tia Carrere shares that her son, Jude, is not fond of the spotlight

Kull the Conqueror actress Tia Carrere was previously married to film producer Elie Samaha from 1992 to 2000. She then married Simon Wakelin, a photojournalist, in 2002, with whom she shares her son, Jude. They split in 2010. While she claimed that her son does not like attention and is not fond of the spotlight, he attended the premiere of her new movie, Lilo & Stitch, and walked the red carpet as she was shooting a film in the Philippines. Carrere said:

"He doesn’t love the spotlight. He’s more introverted, so he definitely won’t go into acting or singing like I did. But he’s a great artist. I don’t know what he’ll do! Maybe become a doctor or work with animals. He’s working with animals right now."

Tia Carrere, while talking with People about the success of her recently released movie, said:

"I love that I’m not a glamorous sex symbol or whatever in this movie. It’s just good acting and it’s empathetic and it catches your heart, and that makes me so happy."

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Carrere’s comments reveal a personal perspective alongside her established career in entertainment. As she navigates this new chapter in her family’s life, her pride in Jude and the developments in her career reflect changes in both her professional and personal roles.

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