Valentina drag queen movie#
Valentina drag queen full#
Valentina drag queen professional#

girl, and I’m up and down being driven around like Miss Daisy on Lyfts and Ubers. I can’t even imagine getting around by myself the way my friends that live in New York do it’s just a whole other world. New York’s train system is super-intimidating to me. I’m born and raised in L.A., so public transit here is not as developed. Did you have any actual context to this New York City geography? Your one line deals with complaining about Daniela and Carla’s salon moving out of Washington Heights to the Bronx and now having to take a train. To go from doing a live musical to a film musical was like, Okay, I need to utilize all these training skills that I’ve learned in school for performing arts and all this training I got from Rent.

Valentina drag queen professional#

You better be a professional and learn it in the moment! I had obviously come off Rent, which was this super-major production where the pressure was super-high. It was such an artistic challenge that half my body was like, Oh, fuck! and the other half was, Yeah, bitch, you better learn it quick.

I was learning it from the choreographers, who were super-patient and lovely with me in the moment. All the dancers, I guess, had done these camps where they learned the choreography and had been practicing. I was really nervous, having no real clue of what was really going to go down but being completely open and available to whatever. So I got in there with all the lead actresses - we’re in the same trailer, and they obviously had the makeup artists and I had my big ol’ setup of all the makeup that I use set out, painting my makeup and kiki-ing. When I first arrived, people know the diva! They were like, “We’re going to allow you to do your own makeup,” which is something I love to do. I’m moving around, not necessarily being a character or persona but supporting the main actors and being in a chair while Dascha Polanco does my hair. My role isn’t too big, but it takes place in the salon, and the whole community gets there and they kiki about the gossip of the neighborhood. I knew ahead of time we were doing “No Me Diga,” so I was just listening to it before I went. I was only in one number, but it was all happening so fast. I knew Hamilton and Lin-Manuel Miranda, but song I had to learn pretty quick. Obviously, I’m a Latina and I love anything that’s Latino. How familiar were you with the musical before shooting, and did you do anything special to prepare? And how was it when you finally showed up to set? With the director of Crazy Rich Asians and then to be in a Latino musical, to me it was just the opportunity of a lifetime. The director of Sex and the City was like, “I needed you here.” Getting to be part of this career where these huge directors are like, “Hey, I’m interested in you,” it’s amazing. The idea of getting that level of budget and glamour, and for someone so major as a director - to be able to work with him takes me back to when I was a part of working on RuPaul’s show AJ and the Queen. I remember thinking, How is this even possible to have this kind of production? Just luxury and so much detail. Just to know that Jon Chu thought of me was really sweet and special. I was honored because I did hear that everybody in it was Latino. Would you want to do this?” I was like, “Absolutely.” The idea of going from doing Rent, playing the role of Angel, going from a live musical to a film musical, was - oh my goodness, the perfect way to keep developing my skills in that realm.

Valentina drag queen movie#

The director of the movie really wants you. My management reached out to me and was like, “Hey, they want you in this movie In the Heights. How did you first get involved with In the Heights ?

Valentina drag queen full#

In a call with Vulture, Valentina opened up about her excitement to be part of what is essentially the musical Avengers: Infinity War of Hollywood’s Latinos, the full fantasy that salons create, feeling validated as a nonbinary performer beyond her drag persona, and more. Having recently come off her performance as Angel in the televised musical Rent: Live, her In the Heights role gave her the opportunity to further her multi-hyphenate skills - all the while getting to experience the true glamour of a major studio film. It’s a perfect fit that finds her alongside the other salon divas for “No Me Diga,” the musical’s upbeat number that centers on the neighborhood ladies kiki-ing about the chisme making its way around the block. She might only have one line of dialogue in one scene of the movie musical, but the former Drag Race Miss Congeniality makes her time count. It’s her! Valentina! This week, the 30-year-old entertainer makes her film debut with In the Heights, looking gorgeous as ever decked out in golden hoop earrings, orange diva shades, and thigh-high boots.