# Ruby Rose
**Ruby Rose** (full name Ruby Rose Langenheim; born 1986 in Melbourne, Australia) is an Australian actress, television presenter, model, and DJ who became known internationally as Stella Carlin on Netflix's *Orange Is the New Black* and as the lead of [The CW](https://www.edgepedia.org/the-cw)'s *[Batwoman](https://www.edgepedia.org/batwoman-tv-series)*, a role that made her the first openly lesbian superhero lead in television history.[1](https://www.biography.com/actor/ruby-rose) The German National Bibliography records her under her earlier name, Langenheim, Ruby Rose, female, Australia, born 1986 in Melbourne, confirming the identity.[2](https://portal.dnb.de/opac.htm?cqlMode=true&method=simpleSearch&query=nid%3D1124022023)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Full name and birth | Ruby Rose Langenheim, born 1986, Melbourne, Australia[1](https://www.biography.com/actor/ruby-rose) • [3](https://www.cbsnews.com/newyork/news/ruby-rose-facts-orange-is-the-new-black/) |
| Start in media | Second in the 2002 *Girlfriend* magazine teen model search; TV debut as a presenter on MTV Australia at 21[4](https://www.nine.com.au/entertainment/celebrity/ruby-rose-what-happened-career-relationships-explainer-20231221-p5pl03.html) |
| Breakthrough role | Stella Carlin on season 3 of *Orange Is the New Black* (2015)[1](https://www.biography.com/actor/ruby-rose) |
| Batwoman | Cast August 2018 as Kate Kane; described by Biography.com as the first openly lesbian superhero lead in television history[1](https://www.biography.com/actor/ruby-rose) |
| Departure | Announced May 2020 she would not return for season 2; reasons are disputed between her accounts and the studio's[1](https://www.biography.com/actor/ruby-rose) • [4](https://www.nine.com.au/entertainment/celebrity/ruby-rose-what-happened-career-relationships-explainer-20231221-p5pl03.html) |
| Identity and pronouns | Identifies as gender-fluid and lesbian; uses she/they pronouns[5](https://www.timeout.com/melbourne/theatre/ruby-rose-interview) • [6](https://www.news24.com/you/celebs/international/ruby-rose-my-new-role-my-sexuality-and-why-i-left-batwoman-20201008-3) |
| Recent work | Stage debut in *2:22 A Ghost Story* (Melbourne, July 2023); cast in *Dirty Angels* with Eva Green[4](https://www.nine.com.au/entertainment/celebrity/ruby-rose-what-happened-career-relationships-explainer-20231221-p5pl03.html) |
## Early life and background
Rose was born in Melbourne in 1986, the only child of Katia Langenheim, a 20-year-old single mother who was an artist. She spent much of her childhood traveling around Australia with her mother, an aspiring artist trying to make ends meet.[7](https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2021/mar/31/ruby-rose-on-gender-bullying-and-breaking-free-i-had-a-problem-with-authority) She was born in 1986, and was raised by a young, artistic single mother.[1](https://www.biography.com/actor/ruby-rose) Her height is listed at 5'7" (1.70 m).[3](https://www.cbsnews.com/newyork/news/ruby-rose-facts-orange-is-the-new-black/)
## Modelling and television presenting
Rose's entry into media came through modeling and presenting rather than acting. She came second in the 2002 *Girlfriend* magazine teen model search, losing to Catherine McNeil, and made her television debut as a 21-year-old presenter on MTV Australia.[4](https://www.nine.com.au/entertainment/celebrity/ruby-rose-what-happened-career-relationships-explainer-20231221-p5pl03.html) As a VJ on MTV Australia's TRL she became a household name in Australia.[6](https://www.news24.com/you/celebs/international/ruby-rose-my-new-role-my-sexuality-and-why-i-left-batwoman-20201008-3) She modeled as the face of Maybelline New York.[5](https://www.timeout.com/melbourne/theatre/ruby-rose-interview)
Her hosting work spanned several Australian programs: she was one of the faces of *The 7pm Project*, co-hosted *Australia's Next Top Model*, and hosted *Ultimate School Musical*.[1](https://www.biography.com/actor/ruby-rose) According to [TV Guide](https://www.edgepedia.org/tv-guide), she got the MTV Australia job after attending an audition as an acting class assignment.[8](https://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/ruby-rose/bio/3030204207/)
## Acting career
Rose began focusing on acting in 2008, with her film debut in the Australian comedy *Suite for Fleur*.[1](https://www.biography.com/actor/ruby-rose) • [9](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm3199307/) Her breakthrough came in 2015, when she was cast as the sarcastic inmate Stella Carlin on season 3 of Netflix's *Orange Is the New Black*; she has called the role "the most pivotal" of her career.[1](https://www.biography.com/actor/ruby-rose) • [6](https://www.news24.com/you/celebs/international/ruby-rose-my-new-role-my-sexuality-and-why-i-left-batwoman-20201008-3) Her 2014 self-funded short film *Break Free*, in which she explores gender roles, caught the casting director's attention for the show.[5](https://www.timeout.com/melbourne/theatre/ruby-rose-interview) • [7](https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2021/mar/31/ruby-rose-on-gender-bullying-and-breaking-free-i-had-a-problem-with-authority)
After *Orange Is the New Black*, she was recruited for Hollywood action films: *[Resident Evil: The Final Chapter](https://www.edgepedia.org/resident-evil-the-final-chapter)* (2016), *xXx: Return of Xander Cage* (2017), *John Wick: Chapter 2* (2017), and *[Pitch Perfect 3](https://www.edgepedia.org/pitch-perfect-3)* (2017), in which she played a musical rival.[1](https://www.biography.com/actor/ruby-rose) • [9](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm3199307/) She also appeared in *The Meg*[5](https://www.timeout.com/melbourne/theatre/ruby-rose-interview) and starred in the action film *[SAS: Red Notice](https://www.edgepedia.org/sas-red-notice)*, released around March 2021.[7](https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2021/mar/31/ruby-rose-on-gender-bullying-and-breaking-free-i-had-a-problem-with-authority)
## Batwoman and departure
In August 2018 Rose was selected to play Kate Kane, the title character of The CW's *Batwoman*. Biography.com describes the casting as making her the first openly lesbian superhero lead in television history; DC describes Batwoman as the first superhero show to feature an openly gay character as its lead.[1](https://www.biography.com/actor/ruby-rose) • [7](https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2021/mar/31/ruby-rose-on-gender-bullying-and-breaking-free-i-had-a-problem-with-authority) • [10](https://www.dc.com/blog/2019/05/07/breaking-news-batwoman-series-officially-coming-to-the-cw) She said she strongly related to the character.[6](https://www.news24.com/you/celebs/international/ruby-rose-my-new-role-my-sexuality-and-why-i-left-batwoman-20201008-3)
**Injury and exit.** In late September 2019 she revealed she had undergone emergency surgery after suffering two herniated discs doing stunts for the show.[1](https://www.biography.com/actor/ruby-rose) In May 2020, two days after the season one finale, she announced she had "made the very difficult decision not to return" for season 2.[1](https://www.biography.com/actor/ruby-rose) The reasons for her departure are disputed. Rose initially cited an on-set injury and back surgery; in July 2021 she gave a different reason, saying a latex allergy made filming difficult.[4](https://www.nine.com.au/entertainment/celebrity/ruby-rose-what-happened-career-relationships-explainer-20231221-p5pl03.html) She also said her departure was partly influenced by the emergency spinal surgery after a stunt went wrong.[6](https://www.news24.com/you/celebs/international/ruby-rose-my-new-role-my-sexuality-and-why-i-left-batwoman-20201008-3) A Warner Bros Television spokesperson, however, told the BBC that "the truth is that Warner Bros Television had decided not to exercise its option to engage Ruby for season two of *Batwoman* based on multiple complaints about workplace behaviour that were extensively reviewed and handled privately out of respect for all concerned."[4](https://www.nine.com.au/entertainment/celebrity/ruby-rose-what-happened-career-relationships-explainer-20231221-p5pl03.html)
## Public identity and advocacy
Rose identifies as gender-fluid and lesbian. Shortly after releasing *Break Free* in 2014 she said, "I am very gender fluid and feel more like I wake up every day sort of gender neutral."[1](https://www.biography.com/actor/ruby-rose) She came out as gay to her mother at age 12, saying it was never a question of whether she would be honest about her sexuality.[6](https://www.news24.com/you/celebs/international/ruby-rose-my-new-role-my-sexuality-and-why-i-left-batwoman-20201008-3) She uses she/they pronouns.[5](https://www.timeout.com/melbourne/theatre/ruby-rose-interview)
Her advocacy covers LGBTQIA+ rights, animal welfare, anti-bullying, and youth mental health, the last drawing on her own experience of anxiety and depression.[5](https://www.timeout.com/melbourne/theatre/ruby-rose-interview) *The Guardian* credits *Break Free* with helping kickstart mainstream conversations about non-binary and gender-fluid identities, and describes her presence in the mainstream as a gender-fluid lesbian as subversive and important.[7](https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2021/mar/31/ruby-rose-on-gender-bullying-and-breaking-free-i-had-a-problem-with-authority)
## Other ventures
Beyond acting, Rose has worked in music and fashion. She released her first track, "Guilty Pleasure", in 2012 with singer/songwriter Gary Go, supported [The Veronicas](https://www.edgepedia.org/the-veronicas)' single "On Your Side", and has DJed at clubs including New York City's Pacha.[1](https://www.biography.com/actor/ruby-rose) As of December 2023, she was reported to continue DJ engagements, including the Minus18 Rainbow Formal.[4](https://www.nine.com.au/entertainment/celebrity/ruby-rose-what-happened-career-relationships-explainer-20231221-p5pl03.html) Her modeling work included the Maybelline New York campaign.[5](https://www.timeout.com/melbourne/theatre/ruby-rose-interview)
## What has changed since 2023
Rose moved back to Australia in November 2021 and has kept a lower profile since leaving *Batwoman*.[4](https://www.nine.com.au/entertainment/celebrity/ruby-rose-what-happened-career-relationships-explainer-20231221-p5pl03.html) In July 2023 she returned to the stage in Melbourne, starring in the play *2:22 A Ghost Story* alongside [Daniel MacPherson](https://www.edgepedia.org/daniel-macpherson); the play, written by Danny Robins, premiered on the West End in 2021 and received a Laurence Olivier Award nomination for Best New Play the following year.[4](https://www.nine.com.au/entertainment/celebrity/ruby-rose-what-happened-career-relationships-explainer-20231221-p5pl03.html) • [5](https://www.timeout.com/melbourne/theatre/ruby-rose-interview) As of December 2023 she had 22.8 million Instagram followers and was set to appear on screen alongside [Eva Green](https://www.edgepedia.org/eva-green) in *Dirty Angels*.[4](https://www.nine.com.au/entertainment/celebrity/ruby-rose-what-happened-career-relationships-explainer-20231221-p5pl03.html)
## Reception and recognition
Her recognition centers on three points: the milestone significance of her *Batwoman* casting as the first openly lesbian superhero lead on television,[1](https://www.biography.com/actor/ruby-rose) the cultural impact of *Break Free* in mainstreaming conversations about gender-fluid identities,[7](https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2021/mar/31/ruby-rose-on-gender-bullying-and-breaking-free-i-had-a-problem-with-authority) and her lead role in *2:22 A Ghost Story*, a play that earned an Olivier nomination for Best New Play.[5](https://www.timeout.com/melbourne/theatre/ruby-rose-interview)
## References
1. [Ruby Rose – Batwoman, Age & Facts, Biography.com](https://www.biography.com/actor/ruby-rose)
2. [Katalog der Deutschen Nationalbibliothek — Rose, Ruby](https://portal.dnb.de/opac.htm?cqlMode=true&method=simpleSearch&query=nid%3D1124022023)
3. [Getting To Know Ruby Rose, 'Orange Is The New Black's' Australian Newbie, CBS News](https://www.cbsnews.com/newyork/news/ruby-rose-facts-orange-is-the-new-black/)
4. [What happened to Ruby Rose and what is she doing now? | Explainer, Nine.com.au (21 December 2023)](https://www.nine.com.au/entertainment/celebrity/ruby-rose-what-happened-career-relationships-explainer-20231221-p5pl03.html)
5. [We talked to Ruby Rose ahead of her Melbourne stage debut, Time Out Melbourne](https://www.timeout.com/melbourne/theatre/ruby-rose-interview)
6. [Ruby Rose: my new role, my sexuality and why I left Batwoman, News24](https://www.news24.com/you/celebs/international/ruby-rose-my-new-role-my-sexuality-and-why-i-left-batwoman-20201008-3)
7. [Ruby Rose on gender, bullying and breaking free: 'I had a problem with authority', The Guardian (31 March 2021)](https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2021/mar/31/ruby-rose-on-gender-bullying-and-breaking-free-i-had-a-problem-with-authority)
8. [Ruby Rose Biography, Celebrity Facts and Awards, TV Guide](https://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/ruby-rose/bio/3030204207/)
9. [Ruby Rose (III), IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm3199307/)
10. [Breaking News: Batwoman Series Officially Coming to The CW, DC](https://www.dc.com/blog/2019/05/07/breaking-news-batwoman-series-officially-coming-to-the-cw)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Screen and stage › Film and television › Screen people and creators › Screen actors of the Anglosphere and Europe › Australian actors › Surnames O to S*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 17, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Oct 12, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*
License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license