With her addictive Welsh charm, frenetic energy and camp-as-tits sense-of-humour, Actavia rapidly sashayed into Drag Race UK‘s upper echelons of fan-faves. Although she didn’t leave the competition with a RuPeter Badge, she earned viral infamy with her barrister realness and lip-sync smackdowns, both of which are revered as two of the franchise’s best. And, in her final episode, Actavia earned a rare seal of approval from RuPaul when the host declared her love and described her as – major compliment incoming – “the bees-knees”. (Anetra, Jorgeous and Marina Summers are shaking!)
In episode six, Actavia served Girl Power as she paid homage to Sum Ting Wong’s number-one fan Geri Halliwell in the Rusical, before embracing her inner Princess Diana on the runway. While she unleashed several cackles from Ru and the rest of the panel, her lack of Geri-isms and Diana get-up landed her in the bottom, where she Time Warp’d with Lill to overwhelming praise. It wasn’t her time, however, and Actavia left the competition in seventh place.
Following one-hour of sleep as a result of her Porn Idol appearance on Thursday (7 November) – “it’s lovely watching people get naked in front of me!” she says – Actavia tells GAY TIMES that she’s more than satisfied with her season six run: “If I had to go out on episode, it would be the Rusical. As Chanel [O’Conor] would say, they were just picking the pubes. […] I really can’t complain at all. I’m really happy with how everything was shown.”
Actavia discusses all of the above in her exit interview, as well as her post-show homage to Geri Halliwell’s camp bilingual banger ‘Mi Chico Latino’, Untucked drama with Kyran Thrax and promising future as an Actimel ambassador. (And, as per, you can also watch below.)
Actavia, sut wyt ti babi?
“How’s your baby?”
Oh, is that what it means?
Yeah! “How is your baby?” I’ve not had one, love!
I put “how are you babe?” into Google translate, something must have gone wrong.
To be fair, “babe” doesn’t have a direct translation. It’s more like, you say it in English as “bab”. Do you say “bab”, like how are you bab? That was good, though!
How was last night? How much sleep have you had?
I was at Porn Idol last night, it’s lovely just watching people get naked in front of me. Can’t complain! Honestly, I was really nervous to watch last night’s episode but I was like, ‘Camp!’ I’m very happy.
Actavia, I don’t think a queen has ever had such an incredible showing on their last episode. From your berserk Geri Halliwell impersonation to that insane lip-sync, and then RuPaul declaring his undying love for you, this was an iconic week for you.
Literally. I’ve been saying this to everyone I’ve spoken to since last night. If I had to go out on one episode, it would be the Rusical because I feel like everyone, all season, has been so strong. But in this one, as Chanel [O’Conor] would say, they were just picking the pubes. Yes, okay, maybe Geri was very energetic, a bit more than she usually would [be], but I still did good! So, I really can’t complain at all. I’m really happy with how everything was shown.
Picking the pubes definitely applies here because you got the choreography down the most, which is obviously an integral part of a Rusical. And you were so entertaining! I didn’t think Ru was going to send anyone home. Did you also think that?
To be honest, no. Going into the Rusical, I can only speak for myself, but I feel like most of us, if not all of us in the cast, were like, ‘This Rusical is the one. It’s really good.’ In rehearsals we were all killing it, and everyone was funny. I feel like in a lot of Rusicals there’s always a standout part that’s obvious from the get-go when you listen to it. But, I feel like all of these parts had comedy to each and every one of them, and everyone had their time to shine. So, I didn’t expect a double save or a top two, but I knew it was going to be tricky for the judges.
Before we go further into the episode, let’s talk more about RuPaul’s comments. He has on occasion told a queen that they were “born to do drag”, from Anetra to Jorgeous to Marina Summers, but this felt… more than that. He’s obsessed with you. So, how did you feel in that moment?
I was so surprised. The main interaction I had with Ru, besides the eyebrows and the Michael Jackson all that, were critiques, and I was more in the bottom than I was in the top. So, I wasn’t expecting it at all. I was actually mind-blown. Especially looking like a battered version of Diana, it was so funny. Watching it back, I still can’t believe it happened, to be honest. I’m just like, ‘Right… right…’ I love it, obviously!
She’s so infatuated you might need a restraining order.
No, she can stalk me if she wants to, that’s fine.
This episode was one of the best in history, across any franchise. Fans agreed, too, so what is it like to see this incredible reaction online?
It’s honestly crazy. Being on Drag Race has been such a dream of mine for so long, never mind being on what people are saying is one of the best seasons? It’s insane! Filming it we were like, ‘This is really good, we’re all such strong competition against each other, and there’s a lot of drama.’ But seeing it on TV it’s like, ‘Oh no, this season is actually really good.’ So, I don’t disagree with anyone. It sounds so congenial, so boring, but I’m so glad I’m part of this cast and this season specifically.
Speaking of drama, there was a little bit in this episode – the tiniest bit – when you and Charra Tea expressed how you wanted to see Kyran Thrax knocked down a peg. What did you bring it up to Kyran in Untucked?
I probably seemed like a bit of a freak to just be like, ‘Oh yeah, RuPaul said he loved me. Anyway Kyran, I said this about you.’ Basically, I have been a fan of Kyran since prior to filming the show. Every day I’d literally be like, ‘You’re insane’. On and off camera, I would be in awe of Kryan. So I was like, ‘One, Chanel has gone, so there’s no drama this episode so far. Two, she’s gonna watch this and think, oh, she’s a bitch, she’s been licking my ass, blowing smoke up my ass, the whole time we’re filming.‘ So I was like, ‘I’m gonna tell her.’ Also, it’s TV, so why not?
You put on your producer hat in that moment…
What I said to Charra, I meant in the moment. Watching her do the Rusical I was like, ‘You are incredible, aren’t ya?’ So that’s why I had to tell her. I can’t even be mad, she’s so good.
Let’s talk about this lip-sync, because this is the second time this season you’ve delivered a lip-sync for the ages. Your showdown with Kiki was double shantay worthy, and this one too. Was that the first time you’ve done the Time Warp?
Yes, to be honest I’ve never seen The Rocky Horror Picture Show. Thankfully, I knew some of the moves. Watching it I was a bit like, ‘Wait, what if I just didn’t do any of the moves correctly, and Lill is actually doing the choreo?’ But watching it back I was like, ‘I was doing okay!’ Yeah, I was a bit nervous to watch it because I know in some of my performances I can do a bit too much, but watching it was I like, ‘Oh no, I was selling it, slay.’ It could’ve gone either way. Obviously, [I’m] buzzing for Lill.
Obliterated. You obliterated it. I cannot believe you left on that lip-sync. That was not a ‘leave the competition now’ lip-sync.
Thank you. I definitely wasn’t going down without a fight. I think out of everyone, with that song, I was like, ‘Oh shit, Lill.’ Lill wasn’t a dark horse because she was killing the competition, but I feel like I’ve not seen Lill perform besides what she did [in the lip-sync] with Zahirah [Zapanta]. She obviously sent Zahirah home so I was like, ‘I can’t underestimate her.’ I’m glad I didn’t, because she sent me home!
I cannot get over that, in your final episode, you did a Spice Girl, then dressed up as Princess Diana and did the Time Warp.
So ridiculous. Honestly, you couldn’t write it down on paper. Like, try explaining that to a straight person?
You admitted that Geri is someone you are not overly familiar with. Now she’s going to be part of your legacy forever, so have you become her number-one stan?
So… In the episode, it made out that I didn’t know who Geri was. Of course, I know who the Spice Girls and Geri Halliwell is, but I just didn’t grow up with them. I just didn’t! The reference where she sings in Spanish, Michelle [Visage] was trying to explain that to me and I was just like, ‘I’m sorry babe, I just don’t know it! I probably wasn’t born…’ I know that reference isn’t that old, but I just didn’t grow up with those references. I can’t help that. But, I do like Geri and I have done a music video of Geri on my Instagram. I will happily say I never want to listen to ‘My Chico Latino’ or ‘Who Do You Think You Are’ for quite a while.
I saw it and I’m obsessed. ‘Mi Chico Latino’ is one of the campest mainstream songs in history. Also obsessed with the fact there was a couple walking behind you with their dog, unbothered.
Do you know what the worst part is? I filmed that last weekend, in November, on a beach. It was horrible! It was so cold, but so worth it. Final product was gorgeous.
I would like to see ‘Mi Chico Latino’ rise to the top of the charts as a result. Imagine explaining that to a heterosexual?
I would send them a picture of me dressed up as Diana, and me in the Smiffy’s Geri wig and tell them, ‘Watch this.’
It feels like we should invite Just May into this conversation.
That poor woman. I wanted to message her prior to the episode, but I knew I couldn’t. Just May would’ve killed to do my role. She’s gonna block me now like, ‘As if! Not only do you not understand the references, but you did… that.’ Sorry Just May, if you’re watching!
You didn’t win a challenge this season, but you went viral with your legendary barrister wig. What is better: seventh place with a viral moment and RuPaul declaring his love for you, or winning the crown?
The crown is the reason everyone goes into the competition, and the money. But, if I wasn’t gonna get the crown, I’m probably in the best position now. Especially with that barrister photo, I don’t know if you follow Marmalade on Twitter, but her favourite thing is to wake up – it’s like a ritual – and tweet ‘good morning!’ with that photo. I can’t even complain because it’s keeping it alive. Oh, and I probably should’ve done this in episode two, but I’ve actually dropped some merch of that on a t-shirt. Why not?
Where is the barrister wig now? Is it in The Louvre?
I said it in the episode, I think, but the wig was Kyran’s. She gave it to me at a gig so I could do a photoshoot in it. Then I was like, ‘When do you want this back?’ and she was like, ‘You can keep it, I’m not gonna wear it.’ I was like, ‘Okay then! If you see me at DragCon wearing it, don’t quote me.’ Oh my god, no, imagine?
What is next for Actavia?
Anything that’s thrown at me. I feel like I’d be stupid not to just ride the wave of Drag Race in the best possible way I can. Dracula’s Child is going on tour in March, me and a fellow cast member might be coming out with a song in – when’s the finale? – a few weeks! I want a pot noodle ad, I want an Actimel ad, I want all of it, why not?
A Geri Halliwell biopic – sorry Just May – and a stint in The Rocky Horror Picture musical?
Oh no, I’ll pass on that one.
Drag Race UK season 6 is streaming in the UK on BBC iPlayer.
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