The Vivienne
A moving and emotional interview with the world-famous James Lee Williams (RPS 03-08) or as he is more well known now “The Vivienne”.
Hi James can we ask firstly how long you were at RPS?
Yes, from Year 7 to Year 11
And what did you study that you remember?
I studied Drama, Art and German as my choices
Where did you go after you left school?
I left school on the Friday, on the Saturday I got on a train to Liverpool for a job in make-up. I worked for a company called New ID at trade shows and on counters.
How did you get into the field you are now in?
I kind of fell into Drag, it’s one of those careers that kind of chooses you, you’ve really got to want to do it. But the first night I was working in a bar to top up my income my boss asked if I’d do drag?
Well, he didn’t have to ask me twice! Would I rather be serving drinks? Or performing on stage!? And from that moment I’ve never looked back.
Please tell us about the Ru Paul Drag Race and how you got into it, what it was like, what you enjoyed and how you won?
So drag race, for anybody who hasn’t seen it, is a competition TV show to find the UK’s next drag superstar. You’re put through the ringer of acting challenges, singing challenges, sewing etc. And looking back, my GCSE final for Drama, I played a woman, so maybe I’ve got Rydal and Mr. Lavin to thank! I even performed at the last end of year 11 disco as Britney Spears which can still be found on YouTube!
From watching the Drag Race we can see there are an enormous amount of skills required to succeed in the business, what are these and how did you attain them?
Without sounding too much like Liam Neeson, drag does take a particular set of skills, most of which I actually started at Rydal, sewing with Ms. Teal, acting with Mr. Lavin, singing with Miss Hearn. Drag at its core is performance art, so these skills have proved invaluable to me in later life. The make-up I taught myself.
To what extent would you put your success down to attending the school?
I think a drag queen can come from anywhere, what I think Rydal Penrhos gave me was an amazingly safe and accepting place I wouldn’t have got in many other schools.
I was extremely flamboyant, I remember Mr. Lavin casting me in the 6th form production of West Side Story, I was Year 10 at the time so this was huge for me, he saw something in me and allowed me to do it even though it wasn’t even my year group’s production. I was very flattered.
Photo: Rankin Images
To what extent would you put down your confidence and attitude and work ethic to attending the school?
I’d put it all down to my time at Rydal Penrhos, if I learned anything in my time there it was be on time, thank you to Mr Bathie for that! So I always like to turn up on time, be nice to people and do the best I can.
Were there any standout moments for you in your life/education that led you to the incredible success you have achieved?
I think it would have to be a mixture of the amazing drama programme on offer at Rydal Penrhos and the fabulous staff who never judged me for being different, even though I didn’t know what I was going through at the time, it was all so new to me, so to have teachers who were so positive was worth more than its weight in gold.
What is the most incredible thing that fame has brought for you… in terms of feelings/events?
The best thing about it is being able to do what I’ve always done, which is having fun! But on a bigger platform, so hopefully I can inspire others, put smiles on people's faces and bring some light to the rather dark world at the moment.
What are your plans now?
Enjoy everything that comes my way, lots more TV series’ are in the pipeline, I have landed my first bonafide acting job on TV with a huge name, and talking of that I’m still in touch with Mr. Lavin who was my school drama teacher and he’s very proud.
A DRAMATIC STORY: A HISTORY OF THEATRE AT RYDAL PENRHOS (Price: £13) - Covering 1899 to 2015 this paperback is dedicated to Mr Robert Tickner archivist, school master and housemaster.
