Dear Viv: An Intimate Portrait of a Drag Superstar Gone Too Soon

In a galaxy full of drag stars, Britain’s The Vivienne was certainly the brightest, rivaling that of the Sun. Unfortunately, their light dimmed too soon. As someone who followed their journey on RuPaul’s Drag Race UK, the death of the 32-year-old drag queen earlier this year rocked me to the core. Naturally, I approached Dear Viv with a still-wounded heart.

Indeed, I was trepidatious when World of Wonder, the production company behind the Drag Race franchise, announced back in May that they would be releasing a documentary about The Vivienne. After all, their death from cardio-respiratory arrest — brought on by their ketamine addiction — took place in January, a mere four months earlier.

Would this documentary be a respectful tribute to Viv, or would it be a hastily cobbled-together piece that served only to sensationalize the lurid aspects of their life?

After finally sitting down to watch Dear Viv, I received the answer to my question.

A Queen in the Making

Born in Colwyn Bay, Wales, James Lee Williams knew at a young age that they wanted to be in the spotlight. From hamming it up on home videos to acting in stage plays as a kid, Williams’ destiny seemed set in stone.

Add in their gay awakening at 14, combined with a passion for makeup and a love for all things Cher, and Williams was set firmly on the path of drag.

After turning 16, Williams left behind their beloved family to pursue a career as a makeup artist in Liverpool, England. In the process, they acquired another job as a drag queen, which saw them performing night-time gigs at popular drag venues in the city and beyond.

Adopting the name “The Vivienne” — due to their penchant for Vivienne Westwood clothing — Williams became the modern-day answer to British drag queen Lily Savage. While they became known for their singing ability and comedic chops, they were fashion-forward and polished in appearance. As such, Viv was a glamorous, multi-faceted gem waiting to be unearthed.

The Vivienne’s Road to Drag Race UK

Using a mix of unused archival footage, social media clips, and interviews with their family, friends, and colleagues from the drag world, the documentary immediately cements The Vivienne as a powerhouse performer from the get-go. The doc also shows how much they desired to compete in RuPaul’s Drag Race.

So, in 2019, when it was announced that The Vivienne was cast in the first season of RuPaul’s Drag Race UK, those who knew them or were familiar with their reputation instantly pinpointed them as the winner.

Deservedly so: Viv’s polished looks, incredible makeup artistry, and tongue-in-cheek humor — including their hilarious impression of US President Donald Trump in the Snatch Game — propelled them to the finals. In the end, they walked away with the crown and the title of the “UK’s First Drag Superstar.”

Fans also witnessed their vulnerabilities. The Vivienne was recovering from a ketamine addiction, having acquired the habit when they moved to Liverpool years earlier. However, I was surprised to learn from the unaired show footage that they never even told their family about their addiction. Eerily, it seemed to foreshadow their renewed use of the drug years later.

All That Glitters Isn’t Gold

The Vivienne’s career took off after winning Drag Race UK. Stints on The Weakest Link, Emmerdale, Dancing on Ice, and Blankety Blank followed, along with a burgeoning theater career. Their Instagram and X accounts were filled with stunning glamour shots and frank, motivational clips. Yet behind the foundation and glitter, Williams was struggling.

As fellow drag queen Cheryl points out, queer people “often hide from their emotions” due to past trauma and persecution. While Williams had a loving, supportive family and social circle to fall back on, their personal insecurities drove them to seek escape and validation through the persona of their drag alter ego.

It even got to the point where performer and character became separated: unaired show footage expands on this, whereby Williams explains that they spent their money on clothing for The Vivienne, outright neglecting the needs of their “boy self.”

Eventually, Williams looked beyond Viv to find — or rediscover, rather — another outlet for their distress, one that they again hid away from their loved ones: ketamine usage. As we learn from Simon Jones, Viv’s publicist, covert counselling efforts came to nought. In the end, the Schedule III controlled substance played a part in claiming Williams’ life on January 3, 2025.

Dear Viv: Long Live Williams and The Vivienne

The documentary opened my eyes to several things. Namely, The Vivienne was more than the polished, talented drag superstar that they presented themselves as. They were human, as flawed and as vulnerable as the rest of us. It shouldn’t take away from their legacy; it merely adds a new, relatable dimension to it.

It also showed me that even the strongest foundations are vulnerable to cracks. While Williams put Viv on a pedestal and strove to keep the queen up there, they struggled all the same. And if there’s anything I’ve learned from my own mental health battles, it’s that it’s okay to admit to yourself that you’re not in a good space and that you’re entitled to the emotions you’re feeling.

Nevertheless, communication is key. Shame tinged with pride certainly prevented Williams from dropping their mask of perfection and speaking to their loved ones about their difficulties. At the same time, though, I can’t blame Williams for wanting to stay tight-lipped for fear of being labeled a failure. The doc does a good job exploring both sides of this double-edged sword.

All in all, Dear Viv is well worth the watch. For fans who love the art of drag, it serves as both a well-thought tribute and a cautionary tale. It neither judges nor glosses over Williams’ ketamine usage. Instead, it merely presents the portrait of a drag superstar from all angles, one who gave joy to the world, still had more to give, and whose legacy will inspire others to do the same.

Long live James Lee Williams and The Vivienne, fabulously one and the same and forever loved.

Dear Viv is available to stream on WOW Presents Plus and BBC iPlayer.

---

For more TV and film reviews, check these out:

• New Doctor Who Season Two — One of the Best Seasons of Television of All Time?
• Miranda, an Obscure TV Show for All the People Who Are “Too Much”
• Vinland Saga: Historical, Action, Anime Review
• Saturday Morning Cartoons and Breakfast in Bed – Positivity Corner
• Elio: Adventure/Sci-fi, an Animated Film Review
• Suffragette: The Long March Toward Votes for Women – Film Review
• Amazed By History: My Take on Concrete Cowboy – Film Review