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Entertainment • Actor

Nicole Maines

Nicole Maines is an American actress, comic book writer, and transgender rights activist.

By Ethan Anderson| Reviewed by Olivia Bennett, Standards & Fact-Checking Lead| Updated July 26, 2026|2 min read| Fact-checked

Nicole Maines is an American actress, comic book writer, and transgender rights activist. She is known for playing Nia Nal, also called Dreamer, on the television series Supergirl, and for being the anonymous plaintiff in a landmark Maine bathroom-access case involving transgender students.

Maines was born in 1997 in Gloversville, New York. Before her acting career, she was the anonymous plaintiff in Doe v. Regional School Unit 26, a Maine Supreme Judicial Court case about transgender students’ access to bathrooms matching their gender identity. The Maine court ruled in 2014 that barring transgender students from using bathrooms consistent with their gender identity was unlawful.

Acting career

Maines is best known for playing Nia Nal / Dreamer on Supergirl from 2018 to 2021, becoming the first person to portray a transgender superhero on television. She later appeared in other film and television roles, including a recurring role as Lisa on Yellowjackets, as well as projects such as Bit, Darby and the Dead, and guest roles on television.

Advocacy

Maines is widely identified as a transgender rights activist. Her public profile has been shaped by both her advocacy and her role in the Maine bathroom-access case.

Notable significance

Her role on Supergirl was notable as the first television portrayal of a transgender superhero. This gave her a prominent place in discussions of LGBTQ+ representation in mainstream entertainment.

Key facts

  • Maines first gained public attention as the anonymous plaintiff in Doe v. Regional School Unit 26, a Maine Supreme Judicial Court case about transgender students’ access to bathrooms matching their gender identity.
  • The Maine court ruled in 2014 that barring transgender students from using bathrooms consistent with their gender identity was unlawful.
  • She portrayed Nia Nal / Dreamer on Supergirl from 2018 to 2021, becoming the first person to portray a transgender superhero on television.
  • Maines has also appeared in projects including Yellowjackets, Bit, Darby and the Dead, and guest roles on television.
  • She is also described as a transgender rights activist and comic book writer.

Frequently asked questions

Who is Nicole Maines?
Nicole Maines is an American actress, comic book writer, and transgender rights activist best known for Supergirl and for a landmark Maine legal case.
What role did Nicole Maines play in Supergirl?
She played Nia Nal, also known as Dreamer, in the series’ fourth through sixth seasons.
Why is Nicole Maines significant in transgender history?
She was the anonymous plaintiff in a Maine case that helped establish bathroom access rights for transgender students under state law.
What is Nicole Maines’ date of birth?
She was born on October 7, 1997.
What other TV work is Nicole Maines known for?
She has appeared in Yellowjackets and has had other screen roles, including projects such as Bit and Darby and the Dead.

References

  1. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nicole_Maines
    Supports: Birth date, birthplace, occupation, activism, legal case, and acting credits including Supergirl and Yellowjackets.
  2. IMDb — https://www.imdb.com/name/nm7414233/
    Supports: Birth date, birthplace, acting credits, and role associations.
  3. Outsmart Magazine — https://www.outsmartmagazine.com/2018/07/meet-nicole-maines-tvs-first-transgender-superhero/
    Supports: Supergirl casting, transgender superhero milestone, and legal case background.