Roy Haylock's alter ego, Bianca Del Rio, took home the crown on the sixth season of RuPaul's Drag Race. Combining humor with bright costumes, she snatched the title and is notably the first and only Latino winner of the hit Logo show.
Afterward, Del Rio has returned for appearances on Drag Race as well as the second season of RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars. Bianca's Rolodex of Hate was filmed of her doing stand up comedy for Logo TV and also toured around the world.
Now a new storm is brewing with the movie Hurricane Bianca. This has Haylock and Del Rio both starring in the story about a Texas teacher fighting discrimination in a small town. There are guest stars galore with Alan Cumming, Margaret Cho, Rachel Dratch and RuPaul, among others.
Windy City Times: I just wanted to tell you how funny you were at the RuPaul's Drag Race premiere for season eight with Lady Bunny here in Chicago.
Bianca Del Rio: Anytime you can work with Bunny it is always fun, because she might be there physically but may not be there mentally—so it creates a wonderful situation for me.
WCT: Now you will be back in town. How did you get involved with this movie Hurricane Bianca?
BD: It is one of these weird, strange things. I moved to New York City 12 years ago and I met Matt Kugelman, who just moved there a year before me. He was one of those go-getter people. He makes things happen. We did a series of commercials to enter contests to win money. I was his muse in those videos that I probably wouldn't have done if he wasn't pushing me to do it.
One day, he had an idea for this movie. I had no idea that in 29 states people can be fired for being gay. ( This was before Drag Race. ) We started a crowdfunding and it did pretty well. When I got on Drag Race I had to be quiet for a year when we filmed. People may have assumed I took off to Mexico with the dollars we raised! We did another crowdfunding after Drag Race and we raised almost $170,000 to make the movie happen. It has been quite the process.
It truly was the effort of my friend Matt, who was the genius to write it. His motto is, "It never hurts to ask," which is how RuPaul is involved along with Margaret Cho, Alan Cumming and the amazing Rachel Dratch. She is so goddamn funny in this movie.
WCT: I think people are craving another Too Wong Foo movie these days.
BD: I also think there is a fine line in gay films. Usually they are so campy that you can't deal with it or something that is so serious that it doesn't represent your life. This is a serious topic but done in a comedic way, which is why I wanted to do it. I don't like to do preachy things or get too political. It is pretty insane that a gay person in a small town can be fired because of who they sleep with or sexual orientation. I thought the topic was important and the way he wrote it was genius.
WCT: Are you wearing drag to the opening event in Chicago?
BD: Yes, I will be wearing drag. I'm not that grand where I can say "no" to drag. The movie is called Hurricane Bianca, not Hurricane Roy!
I will be showing up in drag and it is a great way to meet all the people that support the film. People have been asking, "When is coming out?" I tell them, "It's not Star Wars. I don't have that kind of money!"
I'm excited to take pictures with people and do a Q&A at the film festival in Chicago. That is also Matt Kugelman's hometown.
WCT: Great. So I have an eyelash question. Are those inspired by Liza?
BD: It is one of those things. When you are not a pretty queen you have to add more shit to disguise yourself. I was never a coifed, feminine beauty. The clown approach was something I started with. If you look at younger photos it has definitely gotten bigger, kind of like Bunny. For every two pounds she gains, she adds a wig, so I do the same thing with lashes.
WCT: What was the reason that you weren't in the photo with all of the RuPaul winners on season eight?
BD: They filmed the season rather quickly in Los Angeles. I was notified two weeks prior and they were very cryptic about what it was. I wasn't available because I was in Texas filming the movie. Those 18 days were already scheduled that I had to film. There was no drama involved. I just couldn't leave set to fly to LA. They were very understanding. They told me their idea and I thought it was pretty funny to add the clown.
My response to everyone else was, "Well, some of us were working."
Later on, I got to do my bit part at the end. Ru did a cameo in this movie for me so it was not scandalous like some people thought it was.
WCT: Are you interested in filming more movies?
BD: Sure. At this point I have done clubs, theater, porn—why not?
WCT: Is another comedy show in the works?
BD: Yes, I am actually starting my tour, "Not Today, Satan" on Sept. 28 in Seattle. We are going to 29 cities in the U.S. You can find all that information at TheBiancaDelRio.com . I am excited after traveling last year with my show and I will be in Chicago Oct. 9 at The Vic. In February, I will be touring Europe.
I have a couple of other secret projects out that you will find out about in the fall.
WCT: Where did the expression "Not today, Satan" come from?
BD: It was something my friend and I used to say years ago. It was like saying, "Don't mess with me today, bitch." You would have to go to church and rebuke Satan for the moment, because that was who was testing you. It has come in handy.
I forgot I even said it on RuPaul's Drag Race then it came out months later and caught on.
WCT: When will Hurricane Bianca be released on video?
BD: It will be released digitally on Sept. 23 on Amazon, iTunes [and] Vimeo, and available globally on WolfeOnDemand.com the same day. We have lots of international fans from Drag Race, which is wonderful. The DVD is released Oct. 18 in the US and Canada.
WCT: Have you been surprised by the international appeal of Drag Race?
BD: I am so happy that RuPaul won the Emmy [at the Creative Emmys Sept. 11]. He is wonderful at what he does and been at it a long time. It is a merit to how fabulous the show is and that people are watching. It is insane that in my youth I never thought I would be on an international television show dealing with drag queens. It is amazing that it is so mainstream.
I am so grateful that two and a half years after winning that I am still getting exposure. In London my show sold out in a day, which is crazy. With streaming and online ways to see the show there are new opportunities to watch it around the world.
WCT: I look forward to saying hi at the premiere.
BD: Bring your porn. If it is sticky use some disinfectant first!
Look for star Bianca Del Rio and writer/director Matt Kugelman at opening night for Reeling Film Festival at the Music Box Theatre, 3733 N. Southport Ave., on Thurs., Sept. 22. Visit ReelingFilmFestival.org/2016/ for more information on other screenings.
