Lesley Jordan has cuppa with Thomas and chats about his one man show

He’s probably best known this side of the Atlantic as the pint sized, acid tongued Beverley Leslie from the US sitcom Will & Grace.  With his distinctive camp walk, southern drawl and only 5ft tall, it wasn’t always easy for Lesley Jordan trying to make it in Hollywood in the eighties.  Thomas Magill met him for a coffee and a gossip ahead of his one man show at the Apollo in London. 

TM - Where did the idea for a one man show come from?

LJ – I’d written a book about my life with all my party stories, and I called it my trip down the pink carpet.  So we took the book on a tour, and rather than me just getting up and talking about the book, we made up a little show, and signed books afterwards.  The book did okay – not brilliantly - but the show was really popular.  People seems to love listening to the show and watching me tell my tales.  I then got invited to New York – they have the Harvey Milk High School there and they wanted me to do it at a benefit show.  We did the show, and it went down so well that we got serious about it, and opened in LA a while later.

TM - And what can we expect from the evening?

LJ - Basically, it’s just me, on a stage telling funny stories about my life and the celebrities I’ve bumped into – sometimes literally – and worked with.  It includes the beginning of my journey and tales about where I grew up in the deep south, and being deeply ashamed about being gay.  I talk about reaching Hollywood, learning to accept my sexuality, and then making a fortune from it.  My story is essentially about how I was able to turn everything I hated about myself into gold.

TM – So, it’s not only a cracking night out, but it has a lesson for life too presumable?

LJ – Sure honey.  Coming out is not new, and people are can get sick of yet another “coming out” story.  But, my story resonates with lots of people for different reasons.  I had a girl come up to me after one of the shows who said she was bullied because she was fat.  I have had others who’ve said they grew up poor or isolated and not feeling part of anything and my story sounded like her own.  So, it’s not something I ever get tired of doing, because I know it maybe will help some-one along the way.

TM – How do you think a British audience with take to the show?

LJ – Well we will have to see, won’t we?  One Brit who saw the show in LA came up to me afterwards and said “darling, you’re like crème brulee – they’ll eat you up in England”.

TM – You’ve got some very distinctive features – I’m thinking about your walk, and strong southern accent.  How have they helped or hindered your career?

LJ – When I first came to LA, I met this casting Director from Texas, and I was told, honey, you gotta lose the accent.  Otherwise I’ll never work in LA.  So, I gave it some thought, and then I tried, but honey it didn’t work.  But I’m not like Dolly Parton – I mean, you can understand me, and I’m now at a point where it’s just a part of me.  Maybe I have painted myself into a corner.  I mean, all I’m offered these days is very queeny roles, and I just think – there could be worse problems honey.  I’ve kept the ship afloat for over thirty years with these roles, so I’m not that bothered.  I also do a lot of cartoon voice over work and commercials.  Honey – you give me $20 and a square meal, and I’m there.  I’m above nothing!

TM – I suppose with that in mind, you’re not fussy where you work, or are you?

LJ – Actually I am.  I really prefer the stage.  But it doesn’t pay the same money as TV or the movies now-a-days.  The way I balance my work is with sitcoms, because in America they’re shot in front of a live audience.  Take Will & Grace, we had a live audience in the studio, and all four of the main characters has a strong theatre background, and I think that’s why I loved it so much – and why it worked so well.   Film is a Directors medium, television is the writers medium – but it’s the stage that is the actors medium.  

TM – It’s such a great show – did you enjoy working on it?

LJ – It was fantastic, and very hard work with Directors and writers giving us re-writes in the middle of scenes, in front of the audience.  People thought there was improvisation on the show, but the twelve writers on the show were determined not to let the actors improvise, so honey they was none.   The four main characters really bonded too.  None of them were famous before the show started, and they all grew very famous - and very rich – together, so it was lovely to see.  Before each show they would hold hands and say a little prayer together – and I wasn’t invited!  Am I bitter? No no!

TM – So now you’re in London – are you enjoying it?

LJ – Can you believe this is my first time, except for a quick trip over to do The Paul O’Grady last month.  Everything is so old, but I think it all looks lovely, but I haven’t had time to do much yet.  The only thing I really want to see is The National Portrait Gallery, so I’m going to get the show going first – then I’m going to go sightseeing alone.

TM – So what next after the show ends in London?

LJ – Well I go home to Hollywood and I have a month off.  I’m then off to entertain lesbians in Canada – please, don’t ask!  And then it’s into rehearsals for my Broadway debut honey.  My one man show ran off-Broadway, but the musical I’ll be in is called “Luck Guy” and its set in Nashville and I play Big Al alongside a six foot three drag queen, so it’s going to be a lot of fun.

TM – Well Lesley I hope you have a fantastic time in London and the show’s a smash.  When is it on until?

LJ – Thanks honey, It ends on the 19^th February and I hope you enjoy it when you come down to see it later x

For further information and to buy tickets go to http://www.mytripupthepinkcarpet.com/