A Conversation with.....

I was fortunate enough to be able to interview Alf whilst he was getting ready before one of his performances. To be honest, it turned into more of a conversation with me asking the odd one or two questions to get the conversation started. This really gave me a chance to get to know a bit more about him and ask some of the questions I wanted to ask. I am really pleased to say that Alf was really responsive, and was more than happy to talk to me openly about his background, and the life story that brought him to crate such a Character like Miss Julie Paid. Throughout the conversation I was suprised at just how personal some of the responses were. After editing the interview and printing it accordingly alongside the illustrations I think it will provide an insightful outlook before and during his life as a Drag Act. Below is just an example of some of the answers that he gave as the interview went on for a while, Here is a really short extract:

How do you feel when you are "Miss Julie Paid"?

"I enjoy being a Drag Act, It’s amazing; it has lifted me out of Depression so many times. My Mother is a clinical schizophrenic and I have always had that fear. And with this, you know, you can allow Depression to take over quickly and this allows me to vent whatever I’m feeling."

How do you wish Julie to be perceived by the audience?

"Fearless, absolutely fearless…. its very rare that someone gets one up on me but I want her to be perceived as a ballsy, gutsy girl but who is completely sweet…. and really, If I offend somebody, even through my comedy, I’m mortified, absolutely mortified. So I like to try and get that balance of being catty, bitchy, and sexy. Do you see?"

If you were to look at the characters as two separate Identities, Yourself and Julie, How would you as a personality differ to that of Julies?

"I can be quite insecure…. I don’t trust my own instincts, I have suckered by people that I trusted, you know, to have as friends and learnt that actually it’s not me they wanted to know, it was Julie. And they tend to take the piss or whatever. I was far too trusting or too naive…. but you know what, Julie will have none of it. It’s amazing that when I am Julie on stage, you can’t cut crap with me. "

"So with Julie who is strong, independent looking woman I can be whoever I want to be, I can have every confidence in being Julie. I think she’s fabulous. I don’t have to worry about what people think of me or whatever and that’s the way Julie is."

"I have massive confidence with her and I know that when I am Alf, Maybe sometimes feeling low and down thinking “I can’t do this tonight” and feeling lousy, ummmm…. but as soon the make-up, and when I put that Wig on, Bang! It changes there and then, Julie takes over, it becomes a mask, absolutely a mask. Julie just takes over and I don’t have to think anymore, its just autopilot."

So what is the process that is involved in getting ready?

"Its all about layering, If you think of a shop dummy and see one being sprayed, its done in blocks or stages, It’s the same. You have to put in highlights, your low lights, your block colours, and your shadings."