Best known for co-hosting RuPaul’s Drag Race and appearing in Strictly Come Dance in 2019, Michelle Face56 years old, currently co-producing Scissorhandz, a musical version of Edward Scissorhands with Lance Bass, star of N’Sync.

In 60 secondsshe speaks her “love language” with Giovanni Pernicebecoming “dumb” for a sitcom, his lasting friendship with RuPaul and Christmas in Los Angeles.

Are you going to turn on your Zoom camera?

Absolutely not. I love you very much but it’s Sunday morning and I’m still in bed.

I have The Devil Wears Prada Gala today I have to jump in the shower. Seventeen hours of hair and makeup…well, today I do it myself so let’s say 4 p.m.

Your own premiere is coming soon

Very exciting. Scissors. I’ve been a fan of Edward Scissorhands for a long time, so when I heard they were doing this musical in Los Angeles, I was all for it.

Edward Scissorhands is a film about misfits. I never had a place where I felt like I belonged until I discovered the LGBTQIA+ community and I feel like that’s why it speaks to so many queer people .

How is this different?

Scissorhandz, the musical, is the same story but with a final touch and it’s edifying. We have a non-binary Scissorhandz and everyone knows every song. There’s Taylor Swift and Gaga and Alanis Morissette and Leona Lewis…

No Seduction (the group Michelle was part of in the 90s)?

(Laughs) No! We want tickets to sell, we don’t want to delay.

And you co-produce with Lance Bass of NSYNC.

Yes, we have been friends for a long time. We both come from girl groups. We have a topic that we all know and love and that makes it really gay and really camp… It’s also perfect for all ages.

And now you’re hosting Drag Race Down Under yourself.

It’s wonderful. I’m having the best time of my life. I knew what I had to do and that’s why Ru trusted me and said, “Do it – and do it yourself.”

The moment LaVoix dragged her dad on Drag Race UK made you cry.

I had a moment of tears. Don’t judge me for that. This older man standing next to his gay son saying, “Why wouldn’t I love my child?”

Have you ever wondered what your life would have been like without RuPaul?

I try not to think about it because it is such an important part of my life. We met in New York nightclubs, so we know where all the bodies are buried, honey. And then we unexpectedly came together for a breakfast radio show and the rest is history.

Do you ever fall?

You’ll think I’m full of bullshit, but we’ve absolutely never fallen out. Do we ever disagree? Absolutely, but it’s okay to disagree. We love each other so much that there is no time to waste.

Are you watching Strictly this year?

I saw snippets. I would do this show every year if I could.

What was your favorite moment?

Doing Madonna was my favorite moment but obviously not that of the country. It was my love letter to the queer community. I am very proud of this moment.

You were dancing with Giovanni Pernice, because of whom there was trouble.

I was absolutely fine with him. We fought every day but that’s how two Italians communicate. It is our love language. I’m still friends with Gio. Is it hard? Yeah. Is he the best teacher? Yeah. Would I dance with him again? In the blink of an eye.

You’re in the new BBC sitcom Smoggie Queens…

Created, written and performed by the brilliant Phil Dunning, Smoggie Queens is such a fun, hysterical and demented love letter to Middlesbrough. I play Elaine, a very old-fashioned office worker. This is my first time doing hair and makeup and it took me 15 minutes, from head to toe.

Are you acting the way you want?

This is my 20th year in radio and I will still do radio, but I want to act and I’m going to focus on that in 2025 and put it in between my Drag Race shoots and whatever else life throws at me.

What are you doing for Christmas?

Christmas is in Los Angeles. I have a black tree with gold ornaments and I bring tons and tons of them from England. An entire suitcase will be filled with Cadbury and Percy Pigs. It will be a very British Christmas in America.

Scissorshandz has its European premiere at Southwark Playhouse Elephant from January 23. You can buy your ticket here.

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