The Vivienne will be the subject of a new documentary.
The late RuPual’s Drag Race UK season one winner is being honored in the upcoming doc Dear Viv, which will debut on WOW Presents Plus, from the producers of the Drag Race franchise, World of Wonder.
Keep reading to find out more…
Dear Viv has the support of The Vivienne‘s family and closest friends, and will even feature interviews with the performer’s mother, father, sister and life-long best friends, as well as with career collaborators and fellow Drag Race queens.
The documentary “offers a celebratory, and deeply personal portrait of James Lee Williams, known to millions as The Vivienne. The film is told through a blend of personal interviews and never-before-seen archival footage, tracing The Vivienne’s remarkable journey from their roots in North Wales to the global stage; winning the inaugural season of RuPaul’s Drag Race UK, becoming the first drag performer to compete on Dancing on Ice, competing in the first ever all-winners season of RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars, and captivating theatre audiences as the Wicked Witch of the West in the 2024 UK tour of The Wizard of Oz.”
“We wanted to celebrate The Vivienne and not just mourn her. Although she left us far too soon, her life was defined by her breathtaking talent, scene-stealing charisma, and infinite kindness,” co-founders of World of Wonder and producers of the doc Fenton Bailey and Randy Barbaro shared in a statement. “We hope her vision and her voice shine through in Dear Viv and that it inspires everyone who watches it. Although producing it was bittersweet, we are so grateful to friends and family for trusting us to tell The Vivienne‘s story. Above all, we hope Viv loves the film as much as we loved her.”
Featured interviews in the doc will include The Vivienne’s mother Cassie Williams, father Lee Williams, and sister Chanel Williams, who recount intimate stories from The Vivienne’s upbringing, alongside vivid memories and reflections from close friends, collaborators and fellow RuPaul’s Drag Race queens: Baga Chipz, Blu Hydrangea, Bobby Musker, Cheryl Hole, Claire Sweeney, Colin Grafton, Crystal, Danny Beard, Michael Marouli, Monet X Change, Raja, Simon Jones, Tia Kofi, Tiara Fletcher, and Trinity the Tuck.
The interviews will be intercut with “exclusive footage of The Vivenne from home movies and stills provided by her family and friends, as well as unaired clips from her time on Drag Race.” It will also touch on the sensitive subject of The Vivienne’s self-confessed struggle with addition, with her sister Chanel Williams giving a passionate campaign argueing for better awareness around the dangers of ketamine, which is the drug that caused The Vivienne‘s untimely death earlier this year.
Dear Viv is set to debut Thursday, August 28th on WOW Presents Plus worldwide, day and date with the film’s UK premiere on BBC Three and iPlayer.
Our continued thoughts are with The Vivienne‘s loved ones.
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