Richard E Grant pleased Drag Race fans everywhere last night when he appeared as a guest judge on RuPaul’s Drag Race UK vs. the World wearing gigantic artificial lashes.
The Saltburn star, 66, got into the spirit of things as he made his debut appearance on the panel with Michelle Visage and Alan Carr at season two’s premiere.
The renowned BBC series, hosted by superstar RuPaul Charles, 63, and celebrating the art of drag, has already drawn many notable ‘extra special’ guest judges, including Bridgerton actor Jonathan Bailey, Katie Price, and Spice Girl Melanie C.
Richard, on the other hand, exuded a unique energy with his fluttering eyelashes and bespoke Union Jack jacket.
Not only did he make a sassy sashay down the runway, replete with a hair toss for the show’s trailer, but he also revealed upon his introduction that it was ‘an honour’ to be there.
‘I’ve been obsessed with Drag Race for years,’ he added.
Fans appeared to share the fascination, with several rushing to complement his lashes and performance on social media.
‘Richard E Grant wearing falsies. What a legend,’ enthused @jennyelliott88 on X, while Seema Thomas quipped: ‘Richard E Grant? More like Richard She Grant.’
‘Richard E Grant serving,’ commented user Irvin on Instagram.
‘Gosh you good in makeup Richard! X’ complimented @truffles_ingalltombs, while Alex Bradley-Stocks added: ‘Yessss Richard; he loves it! Great bloke ❤️’
We couldn’t agree more.
When Ru asked the Withnail and I actor if he’d spent much time around drag queens, Richard responded: ‘Well, I worked with the Spice Girls on Spice World: The Movie, so does that count?’
Richard E Grant? More like Richard She Grant 👁️👄👁️ #DragRaceUK pic.twitter.com/knOahf9tSg
— Seema Thomas (@seemathomasss) February 9, 2024
Richard E Grant in fake lashes….#DragRaceUK pic.twitter.com/EJu1PUPS9T
— NapQueen3000 🏳️🌈🏴 (@napqueen3000) February 9, 2024
Richard E Grant wearing falsies. What a legend #DragRaceUK pic.twitter.com/3Pq96KTpm0
— 𝓙𝓮𝓷 (@jennyelliott88) February 9, 2024
https://twitter.com/DeanWilliam/status/1756069478498971863However, let us not forget his memorable performance as a drag queen in the 2021 film adaptation of Everybody’s Talking About Jamie.
He portrayed Hugo Battersby, a shop owner in Sheffield who goes by the drag name Loco Chanelle and serves as a gay mentor to the main character Jamie (Max Harwood).
Throughout the show, Richard offered supportive and enthusiastic comments to the queens competing, telling Marina Summers she was ‘as sassy and sexy as you get’.
‘I thought you were like a Mae West bull-in-a-china-shop – fabulous!’ he said to Choriza May. ‘I loved it!’
Richard, who lost his wife of 34 years, vocal instructor Joan Washington, to lung cancer in September 2021, has recently gained popularity on social media for his joie de vivre.
He recently made his celebrity friends and followers laugh when he teamed up with TikTok sensation and comedic actor Luke Millington Drake, who impersonates him.
On Wednesday, the two entertained viewers by recreating a comedy in which Luke pretends to be Richard while running through a field.
As they square off, they put each other to the test to see who the’real’ Richard is, alluding to a monument of Barbra Streisand’s visage in the famed super-fan actor’s yard.
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Richard then points out: ‘If there are two Richards, doesn’t that mean double the joy, double the laughter and double the pocketfuls of happiness?’
It certainly seemed so for the internet, with Ted Lasso actor Hannah Waddingham posting: ‘THIS HAS LITERALLY MADE MY DAY! BallyGood show boys! BraaabloodyVO! 😂👏🥰’
‘I am so happy about this it’s beyond heartwarming and has made my week!’ added singer Paloma Faith.
‘No this is simply the BEST thing that has EVER happened to the internet,’ insisted influencer Em Clarkson.
RuPaul’s Drag Race UK vs the World airs Fridays at 9pm on BBC Three and iPlayer.