Comedy character joins big-screen adaptation

Comedy creation Myra Dubois has joined the cast of the movie version of Everybody's Talking About Jamie.

The alter-ego of performer Gareth Joyner is one of the drag queens in the film – but has been sworn to secrecy about the details.

But DuBois insisted her part was ‘very important. Integral to the plot actually. Why they've not called it Everybody's Talking about Myra I don't know but anyway I'm in it’.

DuBois has been seen on set filming scenes with Richard E Grant, who plays dress shop owner Hugo Battersby and his drag queen alter ego Loco Chanelle – a role previously played by stand-up Phil Nichol in the West End smash.

They filmed confetti-strewn scenes along with 21-year-old Max Harwood, who plays the title role, on the balconies of a small block of council flats in Sheffield, which were festooned with shiny bunting and colourful balloons.

The cast also includes Catastrophe’s Sharon Horgan as Jamie’s teacher Miss Hedge, Happy Valley's Sarah Lancashire as his mother, Margaret.

Inspired by the 2011 BBC Three documentary Jamie: Drag Queen at 16, the film and stage show of a teenager who overcomes prejudice and bullies on his Sheffield council estate to wear a dress to the school dance.

Dubois – who was shortlisted in the best character or improv category of this year’s Chortle Awards – also has her roots in South Yorkshire; Rotherham to be precise.

She will be back on set next month for two days more filming in Sheffield – requiring her to take August 22 and 23  off from her Edinburgh Fringe Show Dead Funny at Underbelly Bristo Square.

Published: 3 Jul 2019