Lady Camden Biopic “Lady Like” Premieres at SIFF

Lady Camden, most notably known as RuPaul’s Drag Race Season 14 Runner Up, will visit Seattle to show off her new documentary, Lady Like. Directed by Luke Willis, the film highlights Lady Camden’s (a.k.a. Rex Wheeler) journey to find her chosen family, her voice, and her confidence, and prove that embracing one’s vulnerable self and artistic core is an important step towards healing. The film is narrated by fellow Drag Race alum and current All Stars contestant, Nina West. Both Lady Camden and Luke Willis will attend the screening, including a VIP meet & greet beforehand. 

Lady Camden on RuPaul’s Drag Race / The List

“I just think that this film to me is like a love letter to my younger self, too. I think it's giving my younger self permission to have fun and enjoy it,” said Camden in an interview about the film. “You know, a lot of my therapy has been looking back on time—whether you're like 9, or 16, or 21, or whatever it is—and trying to hold that kid's hand and letting them see what you've built and created. And letting them actually go ‘Wow, that's so cool!’ That's sort of what this film has meant to me personally. And I would love for younger queer people to see this and let themselves enjoy the good stuff that happens to them, as it happens. Don't wait until you're in your 30s to look back." 

In addition to being one of Drag Race’s most iconic queens, Lady Camden has also studied, performed, produced, and choreographed ballet. Both Willis and Camden have called San Francisco home, known among queer Americans as hosting a bevy of queer history and culture. 

“I still remember the first time I met Rex and his infectiously joyful energy. I remember even more the first time I saw Lady Camden,” said Willis in a director’s statement. “I did not know at first she and Rex were one in the same, but I instantly recognized that spark that I had seen in Rex and realized this was no average drag queen. Then and there I decided ‘I must make stuff with her!’” 

Luke Willis, Director / The Peace Studio

Willis finds it incredibly important to keep telling queer stories partly because he was a queer kid in the conservative South in the ‘90s—a difficult time and life to lead indeed. After retiring from ballet and theater, he entered the filmmaking scene with several projects screened at film festivals around the world. Some of his short films can be seen on Nowness and HereTV.

“He is excited to be part of a new generation of queer storytellers that are celebrating queer joy on screen and is passionate to contribute to the new repertoire of queer heroes in media to inspire new generations of young people. Luke aims to make the movies and celebrate the stories he so desperately needed as a queer kid.” [press release]

Watching the trailer, one gets the impression that Camden is very much in the moment; a queer journey that’s at once poignant, current, magical, and carries forth the theme that collectively we are beyond the “tolerance” stage…we’re into the full-on Acceptance Era. Sure, it’s nice to get society’s acceptance sometimes, but accepting our true selves is always where our real power lies.

Trailer and tickets to this once-in-a-lifetime screening are available on siff.net.


Mary Adner

(she/her) Mary is the Editorial Director of The Evergreen Echo. You’ll find her on panels at various nerdy conventions, consuming art, watching films or cartoons, debating media, taking pictures, or recommending spots to Seattle newbies. She has previously written for Seattle Gay Scene, and has edited, acted, planned, created, and collaborated on a plethora of projects in artsy, political, and geeky realms since 2014.

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