In advance of the premiere of the new CBC Gem mini-series, QUEENS, theBUZZ caught up with a few of the cast members to find our more about the show, their role, and their experience on set. Read our preview piece on the show here. Enjoy!

Baby Bel Bel as Babs

Bel Bel Bel made her first performance at Buddies in Bad Times Theatre in 2012 as a member of the Cheeto Girls- a group of three drag queens who made “cheesy” spoof song covers at the Pride comedy show B*tch Salad. In 2015, she won Crews and Tangos Drag Race and most recently was crowned Miss Crews and Tangos 2019/2020. Bel Bel is a high energy, bubblegum pop star fantasy. She’s obsessed with pop culture and loves to mix cosplay into her drag.  INSTAGRAM: @baby_bel_bel

How did you get involved with this production of Queens?

A bunch of friends and colleagues sent me the information about the show and the audition process. After reading the scripts, I knew this was something I wanted to be a part of. 

2. What was it that attracted you to your particular role?

Babs, well … just based off her name alone I wanted to play her. My Drag name is Baby Bel Bel so there was an immediate similar connection, also after reading the character bio and the audition script I could tell Babs had a lot in common with myself. She wears her heart on her sleeve but is not afraid to be a little sassy. 

3. Can you elaborate a bit on your character without giving too much away to viewers?

Babs is fun, flirty & loves to be the centre of attention. 

4.. Have you had any acting experience prior?

Yes, I have been acting and performing almost my whole life.  I did lots of commercials as a ” Child Actor” & I studied Musical Theatre in college and have been in lots of plays, short films, television projects and voice work. Performing is my passion and I had a blast working on this show. 

5. What was the most challenging part of this experience?

Usually Drag work takes place in the evening so having 6 AM call times was sometimes hard to get used to but I was so excited to be working on this project that the early call times didn’t phase me too much. We filmed during the middle of a 3 day snow storm which sometimes became an issue for production. I also did my own “stunts” on the show, I use that term loosely you’ll have to watch to find out. 

6. Tell me a bit about yourself and your work in the drag community?

I’ve been a Drag Performer for about 6 years in Toronto, I’ve won a bunch of local contests in the city. I’m the co-creator and member of the Toronto Drag Girl Group ” The Spice Queens”  we have toured all over south ontario and even at The Rogers Centre. I’m also the current reigning Miss Crews & Tangos for 2019/2020. I’m known for my Cosplay & Lady Gaga Drag performances. 

7. Why do you think drag has continued to increase in popularity within mainstream culture?

Obviously Rupaul’s Drag Race has a major hand in bringing Drag to the mainstream, it’s one of the biggest reality programs on television and with the growing influence of Social Media ( YouTube, Instagram etc.)  you can find Drag related content all over.  Drag is just so much fun and it incorporates so many aspects of Queer culture, music, dance, fashion, makeup & politcs.  Drag makes people feel good and I think that’s why it continues to increase in popularity. 

8. With Pride events around the world cancelled this year, do you have a message you want to share?

Pride events may be cancelled but you can still celebrate in other ways, we as queer people have always had doors shut in our faces but we always find a work around to make the best out of a situation.  My message would be to reflect on things you are both proud of and thankful for. Reach out to your fellow LGBT+ friends and allies and let them know how important they are. 

9. Do you have any dirt you’d like to share on your fellow drag queens/characters from the show?

The cast was honestly so much fun to work with, “The Dirt” I have is not PG and I don’t want to ” spill any tea ” on my Drag sisters at the moment, maybe after Season 2 though …. lol. 

10. What’s one thing you wish for before 2020 is over and done with?

For “QUEENS” Season 2 to be confirmed. 

Ivory Towers as Shoshanna

Ivory Towers has been entertaining the masses for around 13 years! Winning titles such as Miss Gay Toronto, Miss Crews and Tangos, and Queen of Halloween, to name a few. Ivory has been featured in ads for Sephora Canada, Absolut Vodka and IKEA! This dancing comedic diva wants to be a household name, doing anything she can! Keep an eye out for this beautiful, comedic queen! Instagram: @_ivorytowers

1. How did you get involved with this production of Queens?

I actually auditioned for two other roles, and my other friends are so talented they got them and I actually got a call a night before to be offered a role that someone couldn’t do anymore!!! I was super excited so I said yassssss!

2. What was it that attracted you to your particular role?

I went into the whole thing mostly blind, so it was something that I came up really quickly. She is very much me in that she won a title years ago, and is still clinging onto that win! 

3. Can you elaborate a bit on your character without giving too much away to viewers?

She is just very high and mighty and a VERY experienced queen! 

4.. Have you had any acting experience prior?

I actually moved here 15 years ago to be an actor! Went to clown college and stumbled into drag.

5. What was the most challenging part of this experience?

Waking up so early and learning lines.

6. Tell me a bit about yourself and your work in the drag community?

I have been performing drag for 13 or so years.

7. Why do you think drag has continued to increase in popularity within mainstream culture?

Before RU Paul, drag was just very underground. When Drag Race launched, it put a spotlight on us. All of a sudden we were in demand so that’s pretty cool!

8. With Pride events around the world cancelled this year, do you have a message you want to share?

Just to stay true to you, focus on yourself and remember who loves you and show them you love them. 

9. Do you have any dirt you’d like to share on your fellow drag queens/characters from the show?

Things I know about these amazing performers can’t be published!

10. What’s one thing you wish for before 2020 is over and done with?

For 2020 to be over and done with. LOL

Champagna as Elaina

A graduate of McEwan’s Theatre Arts program and Centennial’s Advanced Script to Screen, Champagna has an extensive background in acting. Originally from Edson, Alberta, Champagna has conquered Toronto as Bent Beauty Supreme 2019, walking the runway for Hayley Elsaesser and opening for the likes of Detox, Bob the Drag Queen, Kim Chi, Thorgy Thor and Alyssa Edwards. When she’s not appearing on multiple shows on OutTV (Popporn S2, Shadowlands, Drag Heals) or holding court in Toronto’s west end, Champagna spends her time focusing on queer storytelling in film and television with an emphasis on real life stories and normalizing the queer experience. Watch out for Champagna in her own webseries, “Womb Envy”, currently in production. INSTAGRAM: @champagna_papi

1. How did you get involved with this production of Queens?

I first got involved when creator and writer Justin Gray reached out to audition for two separate roles for the show.

2. What was it that attracted you to your particular role?

I was particularly tickled by the dramatic use of Elaina’s language, her references to old school movies. I love a Queen that inserts themselves into the leading narrative of movies, it’s reminiscent of my days of a young queer in middle of nowhere Alberta.

3. Can you elaborate a bit on your character without giving too much away to viewers?

Elaina is your typical old school Queen that holds tradition closely to her heart. She has fought tooth and nail to get where she is and now has to do some work to find where she fits into the rapidly evolving landscape of drag as we know it now.

4.. Have you had any acting experience prior?

Yes bisch! My background is rooted in theatre and film, I have 15 years of training and experience from Alberta to New York and here in Toronto – acting has always been my vocation and passion.

5. What was the most challenging part of this experience?

Trusting myself and knowing that I am enough. This is the biggest film experience that I have had to date, which required me to ignore my inner saboteur. After all, the casting team chose me! I had to trust that I was the best for the role and knew where to bring the character.

6. Tell me a bit about yourself and your work in the drag community?

I perform predominantly in the west end of Toronto where the scene is a little more alternative than the rest of the city. I am most known for snatching the crown as Bent Beauty Supreme 2019, and hosting the largest Rupaul’s Drag Race viewing party in the city with Allysin Chaynes. I like to think that I create spaces in the city where the underdog and counter culture people can congregate, and share my platform with other performers who might not get the chance to do so elsewhere. #celebrateandelevate

7. Why do you think drag has continued to increase in popularity within mainstream culture?

At the crux of drag is human connection, it is a transformational experience. People are hungry to be seen and heard. By putting on “a mask” it invites people to let their guard down and allows for the space to relax a little and be vulnerable. Seeing someone command a space unapologetically as themselves is extremely powerful to watch and rubs off on people very easily.

8. With Pride events around the world cancelled this year, do you have a message you want to share?

Take this down time to reconnect with why Pride was started and is still, to this day, extremely important. With the absence of pink washing from corporations, we have a unique opportunity to clear away the nonsense and reconnect with the roots of the queer rights movement. Remember – Pride is a protest for equity started (and to this day) lead by Black Trans people. Join the movement, donate where you can, and bring the power back to where it belongs…the community.

9. Do you have any dirt you’d like to share on your fellow drag queens/characters from the show?

Hahahaha all I’ll say is this – Blow dryers taken to well worn heels in an attempt to thaw our feet is a smell I’ll never be able to get out of my sinuses. You thought a teens hockey bag was bad?!? Oh hunnnnny!

10. What’s one thing you wish for before 2020 is over and done with?

Covid to be gone so I can get back to what I do best – being vulnerable and connecting IN PERSON with people to change their minds about the queer experience.

Quick Lewinsky as Mooney

Quick Lewinsky is a Toronto-based burlesque artist and designer. A graduate of Queen’s University and George Brown’s Fashion Techniques and Design program, Quick draws on her theatre background both on and offstage, often stage managing, costuming, offering technical assistance and music direction. She’s an irreverent West End queen, a shameless weirdo, and everyone’s favourite cross-dressing uncle. INSTAGRAM: @quicklewinsky

1. How did you get involved with this production of Queens?

Justin is a dear pal of mine and I’d been watching his years-long process of developing the show. I’d always thought the idea was brilliant and he’s one of the most hilarious, clever people I’ve ever met. So when the casting call went up and he pushed me to audition, I couldn’t say no!

2. What was it that attracted you to your particular role?

I actually auditioned for three roles before finding the one that really fit. Though I shouldn’t be surprised, Mooney’s description as a “52-year-old bingo hall chain-smoking bus driver trapped in a twink body” pretty much sums up my drag. In hindsight, I’m not entirely convinced Justin didn’t write Mooney specifically for me as a read.

3. Can you elaborate a bit on your character without giving too much away to viewers?

She doesn’t mince words. And she might be more than a little oblivious about the taste-level of her drag. Again, art imitating life here – I’m equally crass and my love language is power-clashing. She may be a bit of an underdog, but she definitely doesn’t see it that way.

4.. Have you had any acting experience prior?

It’s been a hot minute. I did a lot of theatre growing up but after a really disorienting experience with stage fright in my late teens, I didn’t set foot on stage for 7 years. It was through Burlesque and drag that I got back into performing and storytelling, so despite coming to Queens with tons of stage experience under my belt, the idea of learning a tv script and being on set was an entirely new, whirlwind experience for me.

5. What was the most challenging part of this experience?

Putting a script in my hand again! I’d never once been on film and had to call up some industry-seasoned friends to help me get my audition videos together. But once everything got moving, we were all in it together. Getting to work with so many talented queers was so incredible and made the entire process a brilliant and outrageously supportive one. 

6. Tell me a bit about yourself and your work in the drag community?

I would say that most of my work in the drag community happens outside the village. I started burlesque in 2012 and eventually came to drag, incorporating it into my acts at first as a way to play with gender, and finally performing full-time in drag as Quick as her character developed organically. Now I have the privilege of carving out big queer space within the burlesque community while also working closely with drag performers of all genders across the city.

About the Author

Bryen Dunn is a freelance journalist with a focus on travel, lifestyle, entertainment and hospitality. He has an extensive portfolio of celebrity interviews with musicians, actors and other public personalities. He enjoys discovering delicious eats, tasting spirited treats, and being mesmerized by musical beats.