![]() ![]() 'It just seemed like a funny and quirky idea,' Minkoff added, 'to take Ursula. Sign up for Them’s weekly newsletter here. Ursula was initially going to resemble Joan Collins, however, basing the character on Divine made much more sense. You can catch McCarthy putting her own spin on underwater drag when the film hits theaters on May 26. The Little Mermaid’s star-studded cast also includes Halle Bailey as Ariel, Javier Bardem as King Triton, Jonah Hauer-King as Prince Eric, Daveed Diggs as Sebastian, and Awkwafina as Scuttle. Ursula's overweight body and tentacles, her deep voice, and the excessive, sexualized shimmies are reminiscent of a drag queen. That was really where I began before I stepped into comedy and acting.’” “She said, ‘Well, I had a character that I played and I was part of a drag show. “I sat down with to have a meeting, and the first thing she said to me, she goes, ‘You know, I started my career in drag,’” the filmmaker told Entertainment Weekly. “I’m always right on the verge of going full-time with her… To keep the humor and the sadness and the edginess to Ursula is everything I want in a character - and frankly, everything I want in a drag queen.”Īccording to the new Little Mermaid director, Rob Marshall, McCarthy’s love of drag came up during their earliest conversations about Ursula. “There’s a drag queen that lives in me,” she added. Divine came from Our Lady of Flowers, a novel Waters was reading.The Bridesmaids star also drew from her own drag persona, Miss Y, that she used to perform under in New York City’s club scene. As Waters was a bit of a father figure in their friend group, he assigned a nickname to everyone. ![]() Eventually, Waters helped the creation and characterization of Milstead’s drag persona Divine. When they met as teens, the two became friends and Waters convinced Milstead to be his filmmaking muse. Waters would eventually direct major movies like Hairspray and Cry-Baby. The nefarious sea witch played by Melissa McCarthy in the new film was originally inspired by Baltimore drag queen Divine. around the same time as John Waters, a filmmaker of many cult classics that transgressed social norms. Harris Glenn Milstead, better known as Divine in drag, grew up in Baltimore, Md. (Photo by Catherine McGann/Getty Images) (Catherine McGann/Getty Images) Divine died a week later, on Main Hollywood, California at the age of 42. NEW YORK - FEBRUARY 26: American filmmaker John Waters (L), and American actor Harris Glen Milstead (1945 - 1988), better known as Divine, pose for a photo outside the Waverly Theater at the premiere of Waters' film "Hairspray" on Februin New York City, New York. It all came together when animator named Rob Minkoff drew a vampy overweight matron who looked a lot like Divine.ĭivine and filmmaker John Waters became friends as teenagers He has since made Ursula’s ‘Poor Unfortunate Souls’ a part of his repertoire. The queer actor and singer got his big break in the Broadway version of The Little Mermaid in 2007, originating the role of Sebastian. One was a manta ray inspired by Joan Collins while another was a scorpion fish. Though not a drag performer, many have called for Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt star Titus Burgess to take on the role of Ursula. Before landing on the final design of Ursula, there were several iterations of sketches. Divine, however, did not have purple skin like the half-woman half-octopus villain. With thin and high-arching brows, solid blue eyeshadow, white coiffed hair and wide red lips, the distinction between Ursula’s makeup and Divine’s is uncanny. Ursula, portrayed by Melissa McCarthy in the adaptation, was heavily inspired by a drag queen from the 60s through the 80s named Divine. Best known as John Waters go-to leading lady in films like Hairspray and. (Photo by Tom Gates/Hulton Archive/Getty Images) / Disney (Tom Gates/Disney)ĭisney’s live-action T he Little Mermaid released its official trailer during the Oscars on Sunday, giving a better glimpse of everyone’s favorite villainous sea witch Ursula. Divine was an icon in the LGBT+ community, as well as in the film and music industries as a renowned actor and singer. Its widely known that Ursulas appearance was inspired by the drag legend Divine. Divine is wearing a platinum blond wig, make-up, and a black spaghetti-strap dress. January 1983: American actor and drag queen Divine (born Harris Milstead) performs at the Red Parrot nightclub in New York City.
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