Halleloo!: Shangela Talks About Being Handpicked By Lady Gaga For 'A Star Is Born'
It's been a big year for RuPaul's Drag Race alum Shangela, who made her debut on the silver screen in A Star Is Born. OK! Magazine's Joe Drake sat down with the drag queen legend to talk Lady Gaga, Bradley Cooper, and Shangela's sickening London premiere look.
"It's amazing," the actress said of Lady Gaga handpicking her for a role in A Star Is Born. If the pop star hasn't pushed her to audition, Shangela may never have ended up in the movie.
"Originally, the casting went out for a Marilyn Monroe drag impersonator," she said, "and no matter how much time I stay out of the sun, I'm not looking like Marilyn Monroe."
While she didn't think she'd "be a fit" for the Marilyn part, Gaga's camp reached out to her personally, explaining that Mother Monster was looking forward to seeing Shangela's audition. "Is somebody pranking me?" she remembers thinking. "If Lady Gaga wants you to come in, you come in."
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So she grabbed a platinum blonde wig and auditioned for the role. After Gaga saw her, however, the singer envisioned something bigger for her. Shangela would eventually go on to portray a speaking role, the film's drag bar owner and MC.
Shangela went on to talk about Bradley Cooper's directorial style — "he made me feel so comfortable" — and her epic London premiere look, Diana Ross wig and all. Watch the full interview above!
What do you think about Shangela in A Star is Born? Let us know in the comments!
