Brooke Lynn Hytes on queer joy, success and Stop! That! Train! cast: ‘I had to mud wrestle Jimbo for the role’

Canada’s Drag Race host and RuPaul’s Drag Race season 11 runner-up Brooke Lynn Hytes is one of a handful of Rugirls (and countless other celeb cameos) to appear in Stop! That! Train!

Taking on the role of mean girl train stewardess Amber, Hytes stars alongside Marty Lauter (better known as Marcia Marcia Marcia) and Symone as her sidekicks Alli and Ayshleiygh.

As stewardesses of the Glamazonian Express, they’re at odds with Ginger Minj and Jujubee’s Tess and DeeDee, who sneak jobs on the train after their previous jobs on Stank Rail are taken away.

The camp, side-splitting film, from World of Wonder and also starring RuPaul as President Judy Gagwell, is a 90-minute run of non-stop jokes and tomfoolery that is sure to become a gay classic.

Ahead of the film’s UK cinema release on 21 August, PinkNews sat down to spill the tea with Brooke Lynn Hytes, herself.

PinkNews: So, how did the role come about? Were there lots of auditions, were you handpicked by Ru?

Brooke Lynn Hytes: I auditioned once. I sent in my tape, and then I got cast. [Laughing] Then I had to do a mud wrestling competition with another girl to officially get the role. No I’m just kidding. I had to mud wrestle Jimbo for the role.

How did you feel when you found out you got it?

I was excited. It was awesome. I didn’t process it very long because I was really busy at the time, but I was kind of like, ‘Oh, that’s amazing!’ And then I forgot about it until it was actually time to do it. It was a really quick process between audition, getting the script, filming. The thing with movies is, you get the script and then it changes every day anyway, but we didn’t get the initial script until a couple days before we actually started shooting. I think it was a couple-month window from when I auditioned, found out I got the role, and then we shot.

Your character is almost like the Regina George of the Glamazonian Express, how did you find it stepping into those high heels?

Oh, difficult. It was a real stretch for me… It was fun though, I had a great time. It’s always fun to play the villain – I think those are just more interesting, fun characters to do.

One thing that stood out to me with the film is it’s just constant jokes, camp fun, stupidess. How on Earth did you get through the script!?

Oh my gosh! I only broke once. If you’re going to watch the movie, there’s a great blooper reel at the end during the credits. I’m so glad the one time I broke on set was in there. I had to say a line to Jujubee and had to look at her while I was saying it, and she was just acting and being Jujubee, and I for some reason just could not stop laughing. That was the only time I broke though, I was very proud of myself.

I loved the blooper reel! It felt really reminiscent of old films that had them.

Yes! I love a blooper reel.

Is there one scene in the movie that you’re particularly proud of?

Yes, I like my entrance scene when we’re kind of walking down the corridor. I’m really proud of that scene. I think that’s the scene also with my most dialogue, which was really great. I’ve seen a lot of positive reactions to it online. And then also the scene where I got slapped by Ru. I’ll always be proud of that.

Iconic. There are some musical numbers in the film too, do you think your time on Drag Race and as a dancer helped with those?

Oh, totally, yeah. I haven’t danced professionally, gosh, since like 2012, so it’s not often that I’m put in a situation where I need to learn actual choreography choreography. I think as an ex-dancer, you always kind of worry that you’re going to lose it and you’re not going to be able to pick it up, and then it’s like riding a bike. Like the minute you get in there and start learning, you’re like, ‘Oh, I remember how to do this,’ and it comes back really quickly.

Aside from you, obviously, there are some huge names on the cast. Was there anyone you were particularly excited to work with?

Nicole Richie, because I love The Simple Life, and just one of those shows that kind of defined my youth and my early days of coming out and being a a gay person.

I literally had a shrine to Nicole Richie and Paris Hilton above my desk at university, so I’d have been the same.

Yeah, they were so iconic!

Drag queens and celebrities can sometimes have their diva moments, were there any behind-the-scenes antics you saw?

Honestly, truthfully, no. Everyone there was such a professional. There were no meltdowns. I think we were all just really happy to be there and happy to be making a movie that was going to be in theatres. Everyone showed up on time. Everyone knew their lines, even from our guest stars. Everyone was just excited and happy to be a part of this project because it was just fun, and we’re all there having a good time and just excited to be working together.

I feel like that really shows through on-screen.

I know it’s boring, but it’s true.

No, great to hear everyone was professional! We touched on your dancing, but you’ve had so many incredible moments in your career, even before Drag Race. Where does this rank on the list?

Oh my gosh, I think this is right up at the top of exciting, career-defining moments for me! Definitely top five.

Amazing. And there are hundreds of Drag Race girls around the world now, how does it feel to still be in demand, booked and busy off the back of the show?

I mean, the only word that kind of summarises it all is grateful. I’m grateful to World of Wonder and RuPaul for creating Drag Race. I’m grateful for them trusting me with Canada’s Drag Race. I’m grateful to Crave and Bell Media in Canada for continuing to make Canada’s Drag Race. I’m grateful to the fans who keep watching, who keep allowing us to make this TV show. I’m just grateful to be here. I’m happy to be here. I’m happy to work. I’m happy to still be relevant. Yeah, I’m just a happy camper.

You just mentioned Crave and Bell Media, who make Heated Rivalry...

It’s always so exciting whenever a Canadian TV show pops off. It was kind of like when it happened with Schitt’s Creek. Canadians just get so excited when the rest of the world cares about anything that we’re doing. So yeah, it’s very exciting for us.

We’ve said how the film is just pure, queer joy, and it comes at a difficult time for the LGBTQ+ community. How important was it for you to bring this film to the public?

Oh, so important. I mean, I think queer joy is a form of protest, and it’s a form of resistance. And showing up and showing the world that, despite everything that’s being thrown at us, that we are still able to be happy and successful and thrive is part of what we need to do to stand up for ourselves and stand up for our rights.

Absolutely! And what would you say to the little queer kids watching this film?

Anything is possible. Anything is possible. You can be whoever you want to be, however you want to be it. I think if you just apply yourself, work hard, believe in yourself, and if you can’t believe in yourself, know that other people believe in you, and let that push you and lift you up, and just keep going. And life is long. Sometimes success comes later, so don’t give up on yourself. Don’t put yourself on someone else’s schedule. To each in their own time.

That’s lovely. Finally, what’s next for Brooke Lynn Hytes!?

A nap [laughs]. What is next for me? I honestly don’t know. Canada’s Drag Race All Stars is happening right now. We have another season that will be coming out later this year, and then who knows? Honestly, I don’t. I’ve learned to kind of not plan and just be open to anything. So I’m open to whatever comes my way. The goal is just to keep working, whatever that means, whatever that looks like, just to stay booked and blessed.

STOP! THAT! TRAIN! is in UK cinemas 21 August.

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