Former Bold and the Beautiful star Karla Mosley is taking on a new role in television’s first all-Black soap opera Beyond the Gates. But the soap star recently looked back at one of her most iconic roles: playing model Maya Avant in the CBS soap from 2013 to 2019.

Mosley originated the Bold and the Beautiful character in 2013, but it wasn’t until 2015 that her character would come out as transgender. Speaking to People magazine, Mosley revealed she almost turned down the storyline when it was first proposed to her.

“When my boss asked me if I would do this story, I first was going to say no because it felt inappropriate for me to play that role as a cis woman,” she said. “I do identify as queer, but I’m not transgender.”

She added that her friends convinced her to continue playing the role, telling her, “If you don’t accept this story, this story won’t be told.”

The actress praised the role, noting it inspired many conversations about trans people amongst viewers. She recalled answering viewers’ questions on social media about the trans community while she was on the show, calling it a “powerful moment.”

“I am so grateful for that character because people who loved Maya and then had issues with what she said had to ask themselves like, even with a family member, ‘Well, if I loved her yesterday, why don’t I love her today?’” she said. “I actually had to grapple with that question, and I had so much feedback around healing that was able to happen within families and communities because of that storyline.”

But, Mosley noted she had to step away from the show by 2019 when it began to “became truly inappropriate” for her to keep that role.

“That’s why I stepped away from it. So no, I will not be playing another trans role,” she said. However, the Beyond the Gates star would surely take on another role like Maya. “I would love to play a role with the kind of gravitas and importance that Maya had for sure,” she added.

After leaving The Bold and the Beautiful, Mosley enjoyed a brief stint on The Young and the Restless in 2021.

Now, Mosley stars as former model Dani Dupree on CBS’ brand new soap opera Beyond the Gates.

The drama — which also stars Tamara Tunie, Clifton Davis and Daphnee Duplaix — is set in a gated community in one the country’s most affluent Black counties. At the center of the soap opera are the Duprees, a prestigious family who rule their community but have their own secrets to hide.

Beyond the Gates airs weekdays on CBS at 2/1c.