A TRIP WITH ALEXIS ARQUETTE

OutUK: What was it like growing in such a creative environment and with so many brothers and sisters who all became performers?
Alexis: It's sort of the family business so it wasn't so odd. My parents were both actors and my Dad was in a theatre group in Chicago called Second City. So it was second nature for us even though it was something none of us planned on doing. I planned to go to school for different things, but you know once you live in LA...it's all around you. It's sort of pointless to live here and not be part of this industry in some way.

OutUK: You as a drag queen, how did that start?
Alexis: It was because it was the 80's and boys wore make up. That's how I fell into it, thanks to Boy George. Without that sort of androgynous fashion I wouldn't have figured out the whole drag persona thing. But I've always found drag fun. I guess it's halfway 'cos of me being motivated by my views on gender, and the other part is because I just like to shock people, and I like to say things which you can't say normally when you're not in character.

OutUK: I thought at first you were gay, but then you had a girlfriend, so are you really bisexual...and I've read too that now you don't like discussing your sexuality.
Alexis: I always found it really kind of irrelevant because unless you've planned to sleep with someone I don't know why you'd ask them about their sexuality. Unless you're planning on discriminating against them. It just seems like that sexuality is like invisible race and once you find out what someone is you have the opportunity to judge them and then they put you in a box.
OutUK: The problem is though people especially young people, need public figures to be honest about their sexuality as role models, so they can learn to be honest with themselves too.
Alexis: For years I've been out as a gay man, because I always believed that kids did need a role model and people should be honest about sexuality, but then I came around. I really wish that Elton would have come out when I knew he was gay when I was a kid when I needed him to come out. But at the same time if someone's a public figure...do we expose ourselves for who we are? and wear our sexuality on our sleeves...or our bisexuality and be called wishy-washy? It comes full circle when you want to live your life the way you want it without society's judgement or mores or anything heaped upon it. You realise your sexuality is private. It's really no-one's business unless they want to sleep with you or discriminate against you.

OutUK: Tell me about Michael, the character you play in The Trip?
Alexis: I've often played pretty kind of out campy characters and Michael's definitely another one. He's very flamboyant and always trying to shock people and saying the one thing that everyone's thinking and no-one has the balls to say. He's silly and flippant and by the end he's grown up a bit. It's a bit of like a coming-of-age storyline, but I loved playing the character. He's always trying to get down your pants. I have friends like that. You'd be crying on their shoulder and their hands are down your zipper. But it's sort of endearing if you know what I mean.

OutUK: You're coming to London for the Festival?
Alexis: I'd really like to. I love London. I'd live there if I could. I lived there when I was a teenager and my favourite thing in London is the public toilets...it's like a gay sex club on every street-corner.

Alexis Arquette DVDs currently available.

Alexis Arquette Videos currently available.

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