RuPaul’s Drag Race star Shangela is breaking in to Hollywood.
The reality TV legend will be acting in upcoming movie A Star Is Born alongside season 4 star Willam Belli, and it was Lady Gaga herself who pitched for her to get the part.
Speaking exclusively to Digital Spy ahead of attending the London premiere, Shangela said: “I was very flattered, she reached out to me directly to make sure I came out for the audition for the film. She thought that she would love to have me involved with the film and I was just thrilled to even find that out.”
Speaking about life on the movie’s set, Shangela continued: “On set was fantastic. Honestly, you dream of being able to work with your favourite icons like Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper, so to have it come true I’m like: ‘Oh honey I feel like Cinderella at the ball, pinch me.'”
Shangela, whose real name is DJ Pierce, added that director Bradley allowed her to have a lot of say in her role and how it should be shaped.
“[Bradley] was a very knowledgable director even though this is his directorial debut,” she said. “He seemed like a true, well-knowledged professional on set. He created an environment that made us feel very comfortable and allowed us to explore our character. He said, ‘If I need to pull you back I will but you go for it’. I loved that. I think it helped us create magic.”
She added: “This is their baby, I was just thrilled to be involved in it and bring a little happy drag magic wherever I can, like my drag fairy dust and I added it to this modernisation of this story. This is their story, I’m just part of it.”
Shangela continued to say that she’d love to spend a day with Cooper and Gaga, all of them in drag.
“I would love one day for us to all get in to drag together and all hang out,” she said. “Wouldn’t that be fun, me and Bradley Cooper and Lady Gaga in drag skipping around the city?”
So what would the drag legend do to transform The Hangover actor? “He doesn’t need much honey, look at him, he is beautiful already,” she continued.
“Honestly, I would want to give him a fun Shangie makeover. He has that great head of hair, it’s so beautiful but I would want to get him in a big old wig. I want to go big, honey I’m from Texas. One day, we can all dream.
“He’s just such a cool person to work with, he is just so friendly, I think he’d have a great time.”
Shangela continued: “Honey, I feel like Cinderella at the ball and midnight, I hope it will never come. I’m excited to see Bradley Cooper again and Lady Gaga, they’ve made such a incredible film and to be a part of it, girl, I am living my best life. Halleloo.”
With the film gaining talk that it may be heading for an Oscar, the All Stars 3 superstar also revealed if she’d be appearing at the awards bash.
“I don’t know yet, I don’t have the ticket but if there is some way, somehow, I will find a way in. If I have to be the bathroom attendant, if I need to be holding the trophies in the back then honey, that would be a dream come true. I’m from a small country town and to now be moving around with some of the largest names in Hollywood is a dream come true.”
So will starring in the A-list film mean the queen is planning on moving in to some serious acting?
“Whenever the call comes, I will answer it,” she said. “My plan has always been to work as an actor in and out of drag in Hollywood and to see it coming true, I am very thankful and ready to do the work. At the end of the day, there’s also a lot of work that goes behind it and I think that has been a part of my entire journey in Drag Race and outside of Drag Race.
“I went on Drag Race three times and I never won the crown but I’ve never been afraid to do the work and that’s what brings me to this moment.”
Shangela is set to finish her UK tour with a performance tonight (September 27) at G-A-Y in London.
Discussing what audiences can expect from her show, she said: “You know Shangela is an entertainer honey! G-A-Y has been a great home to so many RuPaul’s Drag Race queens so every time we come here it’s just so crowded but fun. On-stage I like to give people something that they will remember, something different but something electric.”
A Star Is Born is out on October 3 in the UK and October 5 in the US. Book tickets here.
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