September 9, 2022
'RuPaul' Star Nina West has 'Divine' Role in 'Weird Al' Biopic
Kilian Melloy READ TIME: 1 MIN.
What becomes a drag legend most? How about when another drag icon plays her in a big studio biopic of Weird Al Yankovic? Word is out that Divine is played by Nina West in the new Daniel Radcliffe flick making its premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival.
Entertainment Weekly confirmed the casting, reporting that the "'RuPaul's Drag Race' season 11 alum and 'Hairspray' stage star Nina West will play Divine – the drag performer and John Waters muse who made waves in 1972 cult classic 'Pink Flamingos' – opposite Daniel Radcliffe's titular character in 'Weird: The Al Yankovic Story.'"
The cast boasts a number of other A-listers beside Radcliffe, including openly bisexual "Westworld" star Evan Rachel Wood (she plays Madonna). EW also noted that "Quinta Brunson plays Oprah Winfrey."
"Other supporting performances include Rainn Wilson as Dr. Demento, and Toby Huss and Julianne Nicholson as Yankovic's parents."
EW took note of another connection between the two drag stars, recalling that West "joined Hairspray's ongoing national tour in the role of Edna Turnblad, which was previously played by Divine in Waters' 1988 film of the same name."
Watch the preview for the film below.
