Ruby Rose on Why She Chose Not to Undergo Gender Transition Surgery

Smoldering Aussie actress Ruby Rose, who’s created major buzz since her breakout role on the latest season of Orange Is the New Black, recently opened up about why she chose not to transition from female to male.

In an interview with Access Hollywood, the star – who has been outspoken about her gender fluidity – shared that she saved money for gender confirmation surgery as a child after seeing a documentary but later decided against it.

“I had this jar that I would collect dollars – in fact, we were so poor, it would have been cents. So I probably had 19 cents to go towards this surgery that I didn’t really know a lot about. I think I had seen like a daytime documentary, probably something on Oprah and I was like, ‘That’s what I’m going to do.’ And so I started saving from probably the age of 5,” explains Rose.

The actress came out at the age of 12 and embraced her identity in her teenage years.

“When I got to 15 was when I kind of decided to get more into my body, and I shaved my head, and my mom was just like, ‘I don’t know what’s going on right now, but if you are happy, then do it,’ ” explains Rose. “And I decided to change the way that I dressed and talked and realized that I didn’t want to transition, I just wanted to be more comfortable in my own skin.”

When asked about Caitlyn Jenner, the 29-year-old says she feels “blessed to be alive and even part of this huge movement.”

Says Rose, “I’m like, ‘Caitlyn, call me! I mean, I’m busy, but I want to hang out. You’re awesome!’ ”

RELATED VIDEO: Orange Is the New Black Star Lea Delaria Says ‘It’s Taken Everybody’ to Achieve Diversity for LGBT Television Characters

Orange Is the New Black

is streaming now on Netflix.