Raven-Symoné Christina Pearman turned down the idea of making her That's So Raven character a lesbian, saying there was ‘no reason’ to change who she was.
That’s So Raven first landed on our screens back in 2003 and saw Pearman, who turns 37 today, play Raven Baxter - a straight-talking teen who had to attempt to juggle normal teenage life alongside her psychic abilities.
Although it bowed out in 2007, the show proved to be so popular that a decade later in 2017 a spin-off series titled Raven’s Home was announced, with Pearman reprising the role of Raven.
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In the spin-off, Raven is divorced and living with her best pal Chelsea (played by Anneliese van der Pol, who also appeared in the original series), and raising their children together.
During talks ahead of the show’s creation, Pearman says she was approached by Disney bosses who asked her if they thought they should make the character gay.
However, Pearman - who is married to a woman - said she didn’t feel the need to make the character fit the actor.
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Speaking on the Pride podcast, she explained why she came to the decision she did: "There was a conversation before the series started.
"And I was asked the question, 'Would you like Raven Baxter to be a lesbian?' And I said, 'No'.
"The reason I said no wasn't because I wasn't proud of who I was, or I didn't want to represent the LGBTQ+ community in any way. It was because Raven Baxter is Raven Baxter.
"There was no reason for me to change the human that she was in order to fit the actress that played her."
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Pearman went on to say that she didn’t want to change the character in any way and end up becoming ‘blended’ with the fictional Raven.
She continued: "Raven Baxter is a character that I was proud to play. Even if she is straight, cisgender, I don't mind, let her have her moment.
"I didn't want to change who she was. When you really start blending your personal self with your character self, it's even harder.
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"Like, I'm stereotyped for the rest of my life. Let's just keep it 100. You know what I mean? If you ever see me in another character, you see Raven Baxter, and that's just what the deal is.
"I think the one thing that differentiates me from her is now a lot more."
Claire Reid