James Lee Williams, the drag performer and winner of the first season of RuPaul's Drag Race UK, best known by his stage name The Vivian, died over the weekend. They were 32 years old.
Williams' death was announced in a statement from manager Simon Jones, but the cause of death was not mentioned.
Williams, who adopted that stage name because she loved wearing Vivienne Westwood's clothes, became one of the world's most famous drag queens after winning the first season of “RuPaul's Drag Race UK.'' became famous as
On the show, The Vivian, known for his comedy and voice impersonations, especially his impersonation of Donald Trump, opened up about his struggle with substance abuse and recovery.
“Viv is the perfect example of a 21st century British queen,” RuPaul said at the 2019 final.
James Lee Williams was born on April 12, 1992 in Colwyn Bay, Wales. At the age of 16, Williams moved to Liverpool, England to pursue a career as a make-up artist. In a 2020 interview with The Sunday Times, Ms Williams said she discovered her passion for drag in Liverpool, where she earned the nickname Vivienne for dressing Vivienne Westwood “head to toe”. Ta.
“I saw some drag queens at a club one night and was surprised,” Williams said in an interview. “They were getting paid to have a great night and entertain people. I knew right away that's what I wanted to do.”
Williams began performing and adopted the nickname as his stage name. “I didn't want a cheesy, vulgar drug name,” Williams said in an interview with the Sunday Times.
In a 2019 interview with the BBC, Williams described Vivian as someone who was “interested in money, moved to Los Angeles, blew everything up and then had to go back to Liverpool”.
“I like a very intense look, but I also like to be playful on stage, so I'm kind of a combination of old school and new school, and I think that works well for me,” Williams said in an interview. spoke.
In 2015, The Vivienne beat out 20 other performers in a day-long competition hosted by RuPaul. Four years later, Williams auditioned for and ultimately won the first series of RuPaul's Drag Race UK.
Williams appeared as Vivian on the seventh season of RuPaul's Drag Race: All Stars and was a finalist on the British series Dancing on Ice in 2023.
Williams also pursued a career in musical theater, appearing as the Wicked Witch of the West in the UK and Ireland tour of The Wizard of Oz and at the Gillian Lynne Theater in the West End.
According to British theater news site WestEndTheatre.com, Williams just finished touring as Vivian in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, where she played the role of “Child Catcher” and will reprise her role on tour in February. The plan was to perform it again. site.
“I think it's great to be a great performer, but I think it's much more endearing to be able to relate to someone who's a little bit ordinary than to have all the skills in the world,” says Vivian of RuPaul's Drag. He spoke at the finals. According to the BBC, Race UK. “I don't have all the skills in this world, but what I do have are the tools to put someone at ease.”
