Dragula star Loris talks Resurrection, Halloween and what she really thinks about her Drag Race rivals
Loris is one of the stars of Dragula: Resurrection. (Shudder/Supplied)
Dragula: Resurrection sees seven iconic queens return for a socially-distanced Halloween special, competing for the chance to return for the upcoming season four. PinkNews caught up with one of the returnees, Loris, to find out more.
The two-hour special premiered on horror streaming service Shudder on October 20, just in time for the spookiest night of the year.
The Boulet Brothers quarantined with a five-person crew before going on a road trip across America, visiting the seven returning “drag monsters” at home, where they were given a truly unique chance to compete for $20,000 and the opportunity to return again for season four.
Loris, who first appeared on season one, came back along with Frankie Doom, Kendra Onixx, Dahli, Victoria Elizabeth Black, Saint and Priscilla Chambers.
As the witching hour approached, PinkNews sat down with Loris to talk all things Dragula, her new single, and of course Halloween.
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PinkNews: What was your reaction to being asked to return to Dragula?
Loris: It was very surprising, I think, to all of the contestants that anything was being produced at this time. The first impression that they gave us was: “Don’t worry, this will be safe, it will be socially distanced.” And so immediately, I was like: “OK you know, this sounds like something that I want to be a part of’,” because that was my primary concern. I was just like: “Yeah, when do we start?”
What was your highlight this second time around?
I was able to put the looks together with my family and my queer family and bring together elements of things that all the people in my life know how to do. These looks really resonate with me personally, because it took a little bit of everybody that loves me and a little bit of all of my supporters to be able to put them together.
How did you find competing away from the others?
We never even got to be around the other girls. Because it was shot on location we didn’t know who was talking s*** about who or whatever. But it was sort of just assumed that we would all be talking s*** about each other, because it’s Dragula, you know? That’s what the children want.
On Dragula: Resurrection you talked about your mother very briefly about being a Wiccan and a witch, could you tell us more about that?
Absolutely. My mom, she’s always been a very spiritual person, since I was very young she always did rituals. I think I was four or five, I said I wanted to dress as a witch, and she dressed me in drag. She was definitely a huge influence on my drag and on my on my free spirit. I think made it a lot easier for her to accept my life and my path and my choices.
You also talked about your relationship with James, AKA Honey Davenport (former Drag Race contestant). Could you tell us more?
I was James’s assistant and makeup artist for the finale of her Drag Race season. We just really bonded super well, and we knew that we wanted to work a lot more professionally together in the future. We are actually not dating anymore, but we’re still very close. We’re releasing out first official single together, “Freaky Planet”, which is kind of a big deal because it’s a crossover between Drag Race and Dragula in a way.
What was your favourite challenge?
My favourite was actually my ghost look because it really meant something special to me. Getting to make that statement about suicide awareness and the feelings of like darkness that we experience sometimes putting a visual representation to that. Lots of people reached out to me and said that they could really relate to the imagery of seeing that sort of dark side manifested. And that’s what made that really special for me. That’s what I think made it to me the most important challenge.
What do you want the fans of Dragula to get out of watching the Resurrection episode?
Just for people to see the potential and what drag can be when given the proper format, and when highlighted in the right way. It’s unlike anything that we’ve seen with drag in the world before so far. I think it really shows the potential that drag queens have when they’re not put inside of a box.
The RuPaul’s Drag Race season 12 queens are also releasing a Halloween special. What do you think about that? Do you see the two shows, and the queens, as in competition with each other?
I don’t think about it!
Honestly, no, they’re all very talented girls. I support anything that’s going to bring more coins into their bank accounts, because we’re all struggling out here, honey. And honestly, their season [12] got a little bit screwed because of the whole COVID situation.
What do you think Dragula has done for the drag and queer community?
Dragula tackles and addresses current issues in the LGBTQ community. And the Black Lives Matter movement and suicide awareness are at the forefront of the discussions being had on the special and that’s really unique and very important for our community to have that kind of representation.
When you heard about the show before your first run, what was it that made you want to enter?
Dragula is more about what you’re bringing to the stag as an entertainer… an attitude. I was excited to not have to give as much of a f***, having to always be polished and pretty, and that sometimes you can be messy, that that’s when you gave your best performance sometimes.
How do you think you’ve changed since then?
I feel like I’ve gotten a lot more confident in my skills and my ability to produce latex clothing and stuff like that. That’s the main thing. That’s a skill that that I’ve really been trying to work into my drag and incorporate into every facet of my look.
What is it about Halloween that you love so much? And what do you think it is about Halloween that resonates with so many people in the LGBT+ community?
I think it’s an opportunity to serve a fantasy and to be a character, something that you don’t necessarily get to be every day, even for drag queens. It presents a challenge to be something else, to go outside of your normal pretty makeup box and really serve an illusion. I guess this may be the escapism. Being able to be someone else, as a drag queen, I can relate to that.
