The actor and activist chats with DIVA about starring in Genndy Tartakovsky’s new film, Fixed
BY ELLA GAUCI, IMAGE BY NETFLIX
An R-rated animated comedy about a dog realising he’s going to be neutered in the morning might not be the first place you look for intersex representation, but it should be. Netflix’s latest release, Fixed, directed by Genndy Tartakovsky, follows the story of Bull as he attempts to have one last adventure before losing his balls. On the way, we meet a number of furry – and equally horny – friends voiced by stars like Adam DeVine, Idris Elba and Kathryn Hahn.
While the topic of the film may seem rather wild, at its core, Fixed is a film about human relationships and the way we see our bodies. It’s precisely what makes it such a great vessel for the character of Frankie, an intersex Doberman voiced by River Gallo. The intersex activist is not a stranger to the screen, with their film Ponyboi being released earlier this year, telling the story of a young intersex sex worker.
In Tartakovsky’s animated film, River embodies the role of a “dog whorehouse madam”, a phrase I thought I would never have to write. After striking up a chance encounter with one of Bull’s friends – a nervous beagle called Lucky (Bobby Moynihan) – River’s character Frankie speaks about the power of owning who you are. “I couldn’t believe this was being made,” River tells me. “If you look past the raunchiness and the sex, the film gets at this very deep conversation about gender and sexuality. Once you get past the exposed dog butt holes and dangling balls, there is a really heartfelt and radical message about being yourself, whoever that is.”
Throughout River’s career, they have used their platform to speak openly about being intersex. In 2023, they starred in Julie Cohen’s doc Every Body, which focused on the lives of intersex activists. Since then, they have written and starred in their debut film Ponyboi. In this new role of Frankie, River says that they felt connected to the story.
“I was born already neutered in a way. I was born without testicles. I think the conversations in the film about what it means to neuter a dog relates to the issue of what it means for identity to be hinged on a certain organ,” River continues.
Frankie’s character acts as a wise teacher for Lucky, and in particular, River felt moved by their character’s monologue about being yourself no matter what. It’s a sentiment that many queer people can relate to. “I think queer people know that feeling of ‘I have choice and agency over my life’,” River adds.
For so long, we have seen a serious lack of intersex representation on screens. I ask River what their younger self would feel seeing a character like Frankie be celebrated. “This is exactly the type of message that I wanted to hear when I was younger. I think it would have given me a lot more hope and peace.”
While we have seen strides in intersex representation, there is still so much work to do. River hopes to see more projects “seamlessly insert an intersex narrative” like Tartakovsky. In the future, they say that they’d like to see intersex characters included in stories that go beyond discussions about their bodies.
Although there is hope and optimism for the future of intersex creatives, it is a hard battle to continue to fight daily. I ask River how they make sure to look after themselves. “Be relentless in the pursuit of the message that you have to offer the world while also acknowledging when to rest. Self-care is a radical act.”
You can watch Fixed on Netflix now.
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