What It Feels Like for a Girl cast reveal their queer awakenings, from Troye Sivan to Nicki Minaj
(L-R) Laquarn Lewis, Ellis Howard and Hannah Jones at the UK premiere of ‘What It Feels Like for a Girl’ at SXSW London, Barbican Centre. (Getty)
(L-R) Laquarn Lewis, Ellis Howard and Hannah Jones at the UK premiere of ‘What It Feels Like for a Girl’ at SXSW London, Barbican Centre. (Getty)
What It Feels Like for a Girl has only been out for a couple of days, but it feels like we know the talented young cast so well already.
The BBC series, based on Paris Lees‘ memoir follows young Byron (Ellis Howard) as they go on a journey of self-discovery and self-destruction in noughties-era Nottingham.
To help Byron on their way are ‘The Fallen Divas’ – Lady Die, Sasha, Sticky Nikki, and Dirty Damian. They’re played by Laquarn Lewis, Hannah Jones, Alex Thomas-Smith, and Adam Ali respectively.
Speaking to PinkNews exclusively ahead of the show’s release Howard, Lewis, and Jones discussed their queer awakenings and what helped them along their way.
“I just knew I was gay when I was introduced to Nicki Minaj,” said Lewis before the cast dissolved into giggles quoting Nicki memes.
“From fashion to personality to just being so camp and so flamboyant,” Lewis gave as examples of Nicki’s appeal to the queer community.
“Honestly, she’s the only person who could make me straight. I’m obsessed,” Lewis added.
@pinknews We sat down with the ‘What It Feels Like For A Girl’ cast to discuss their queer awakenings and which piece of queer media made them feel seen for the first time. Ellis Howard, Laquarn Lewis and Hannah Jones star in the hard-hitting BBC drama, based on Paris Lees’ memoir of the same name, now available to watch on BBC iPlayer and airing on BBC Three. #parislees #tvtok #whatitfeelslikeforagirl #queertiktok #nickiminaj #lgbtqia ♬ Vlog Hip-Hop Urban – Vladislav Kurnikov
Jones started to explain the first time she realised she was queer, but then turned to Howard and said, “you’re gonna hate this,” before stating the moment was “a Troye Sivan concert in 2016.”
Howard then exclaimed, “That is crazy!”. Jones went on to recall, “The stage lit up in rainbows and he sang ‘Heaven’. I was like, ‘Oh, my God, my tribe is queer people.”
Meanwhile, Howard shared that his awakening makes him “like a gay man in his 50s,” referencing Judy Garland and Liza Minelli. He laughed at doing “”Over the Rainbow,” [with a] ciggy in my hand at 11-years-old being like, ‘I’m gonna be a star’.”
He then joked: “You come down to my house, I sit you on that f***ing couch, and I say, ‘Look girl, you’re gonna watch this, this, this, and this.’ And it’s just me with Whitney Houston singing to the sailors. It wasn’t f***ing cool Tumblr, it wasn’t Nicki Minaj. But it was Judy Garland.”
PinkNews also spoke to Calam Lynch and Jake Dunn about the series’ “intense” intimate scenes.
@pinknews PinkNews spoke with 'What It Feels Like For A Girl' stars Calam Lynch and Jake Dunn to explore what it’s like navigating queer sex scenes on set. #calamlynch #jakedunn #whatitfeelslikeforagirl #tvtok #queer #intimacy ♬ When I Look At You (Instrumental) – BLVKSHP
PinkNews’ senior entertainment reporter Marcus Wratten described the series as “visceral, essential viewing” in his review.
All episodes of What It Feels Like For A Girl are streaming on iPlayer now with new episodes airing on Tuesdays from 9pm on BBC Three.
