Coach Beiste recently made the life-changing decision to undergo gender reassignment surgery. "Glee" will re-introduce the McKinley High football coach next week.
People.com revealed the first photo of Dot-Marie Jones' as her new male self. The actress initially hesitated to the idea of her character transitioning from a woman to a man, but not because of the subject matter.
"I just didn't want to let down the girls who are straight and tomboys that my character represented the last four seasons," Jones told People. "But I got the script and I was, like, 'Oh my God. This is amazing.'"
Jones has faced several difficult issues with her character since joining the cast in season two. She dealt with domestic abuse from her former boyfriend and struggled with intimacy.
Beiste revealed her decision to become a man in the Jan. 16 episode of "Glee." She will be the first series regular character to come out as transgender and go through the process of transitioning on a network TV show.
"I had thousands of Tweets from people. I was crying," Jones said. "Members of the transgender community were saying, 'I never thought I'd see myself on TV. You have no idea what this means to me. Now, maybe people will get it.'"
Jones credited her hair and makeup team for her on-screen transition. Beiste will sport a stubble beard and will ditch the curls.
"People walk by me and I forget that I'm in [the hair and makeup to make me look like a man]," she said. "I'll say, 'Hey.' And they'll say, 'Hi.' And then a few seconds later, they'll run back, 'Oh my God! Dot!' It's awesome."
Beiste will return to "Glee" on Friday, Feb. 13 at 9 p.m. on Fox.
