The Vivienne: How RuPaul winner became British drag breakout star

Known to the world as The Vivienne, James Lee Williams was one of the biggest breakout stars of British drag, and it all started with an impression of Donald Trump in 2019 on the first season of RuPaul’s Drag Race UK.

Like many of the drag queens on the show, The Vivienne was unapologetically unique and hilariously straight-talking, but she also had something more: pizzazz.

Described by judge Michelle Visage as “the best Snatch Game character in the history of the show”, it was The Vivienne’s President Trump impression – complete with pouted lips, orange makeup and a floppy blonde wig – in the Snatch Game that won her the show.

That win consolidated The Vivienne’s influence in the drag community and her career in the world of TV and musical theatre flourished.

Giving one of the most memorable performances in the Snatch Game is no easy feat, but The Vivienne’s highlights from the show go far beyond her Trump impression as she was responsible for some of the show’s most iconic moments.

Having adopted the drag name The Vivienne because of a love for wearing Vivienne Westwood clothing, her weekly outfits on the catwalk were second to none.

On the show, she described her drag style as being “like a Scouse wife who has come into money, she moved to LA and blew it all and then she’s had to move back to Liverpool”.

Without a contour line out of place and a perfected walk in stilettos, she wooed the judges with her bold, glitzy and saucy looks.

Her ‘Queen Elizabeth walking around Balmoral’ outfit, which saw her wear a gold poncho and grey knitted skirt with fluffy ducks attached to it, was one of her most memorable.

Combine that with her doing the floss dance in the outfit and she had viewers, fellow contestants and even RuPaul crying with laughter.

In the final she was described by judge Graham Norton as having “it all”. Fellow judge Alan Carr added that she had “trademark wit” and delivered a “comedy masterclass” with her impressions of Trump, Margret Thatcher and Kim Woodburn.

The Vivienne went on to be a contestant in the seventh season of RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars in 2022.

In January 2023, The Vivienne became the first drag queen to appear on Dancing on Ice and was partnered with American skater Colin Grafton.

She finished in third place behind gymnast Nile Wilson and Joey Essex.

The pair skated to songs by gay icons such as Dolly Parton and Cher and particularly excelled in the movies and musical weeks, whether performing to Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious or Don’t Cry for Me Argentina.

Her jaw-dropping ability to skate perfectly from day one meant not only did she never appear in the bottom two, but she also never appeared lower than third on the leader board.

But it was the week five performance that struck a chord with many as James chose not to perform in drag for the first time, confessing that it made him emotional dancing to Beyonce’s Halo “without my armour”.

James was widely praised for their decision, with one person on X saying that “‘The Vivienne skating as James and not in drag in itself is inspiring”.

Williams starred in a number of theatre shows, most recently in a role that seemed to be the perfect fit – the misunderstood yet strong and compassionate Wicked Witch of the West in the revival of The Wizard of Oz musical.

Starring alongside Aston Merrygold in the UK and Ireland tour, the performer reprised the role in the West End at the Gillian Lynne Theatre last year.

“I don’t have many words to say as this is one huge dream,” they wrote on Instagram. “Dream big kids.”

The Vivienne channelled her Wicked Witch of the West role off-stage in November when she sent heads spinning in her emerald green sequined gown at the European premiere of the Wicked film.

Most recently, she was performing as the Childcatcher on the tour of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang and performed just a week ago in Blackpool.

While The Wizard of Oz was The Vivienne’s first theatre role, she was no stranger to TV and was able to successfully build a career in television after RuPaul’s Drag Race, appearing in a range of programmes including Hunted, Emmerdale and the Great British Sowing Bee.

Over Christmas, The Vivienne appeared on a celebrity special of BBC’s Blankety Blank.

In 2020, the Vivienne starred in a six-part series The Vivienne Takes on Hollywood on BBC Three.

The show saw the drag queen document her travels to Los Angeles in order to make a music video and was complete with her classic Northern humour and zingy one-liners.

Not all drag race contestants and winners have been able to build such a successful brand around themselves despite their humour and flawless looks, which is testament to how The Vivienne’s personality shone through in all her work.