Today, GLAAD released a new exclusive interview with actor Lisa Rinna and drag performer Jackie Cox who are appearing together in the new Peacock streaming series “Days Of Our Lives: Beyond Salem.” In the interview with Anthony Allen Ramos, GLAAD’s Head of Talent, Rinna talks about seeing Jackie Cox’s drag impersonation for the first time and Cox reveals why Rinna makes a good person to impersonate. Rinna and Cox also have a personal conversation about what it means to be a part of making daytime television more inclusive with greater LGBTQ storylines and characters, including revealing a preview of the “drag ball” that is happening on the streaming series.
Watch the interview below:
Lisa Rinna on seeing Jackie Cox’s drag queen impersonation for the first time on ‘RuPaul’s Drag Race’:
“I didn’t know that it was happening and then all of the sudden people started saying ‘oh my god, you are a snatch game!’ Once I saw the show, it is just such an honor. If you are a character being played in snatch game, you have made it!”
Jackie Cox on why Lisa Rinna is an inspiration:
“What I love about Lisa is that she is willing to do anything, and that is something that I incorporate in my life! Lisa will say it, do it, own it, and sell it and that is what I aim to do in my life!”
Lisa Rinna on daytime TV becoming more inclusive of LGBTQ storylines:
“I think it is everything! We need to see that, kids need to see that. If they are going through that, they need to see it. It is so important to tell those stories, and I think daytime (television) has embraced it and they were early adapters. They embraced it early on, so I think it is fantastic.”
Jackie Cox on being a part of a more LGBTQ-inclusive story on “Days Of Our Lives: Beyond Salem”:
“It feels incredible! The fact that someone had the thought to write so much queerneess into this special was amazing to me…to introduce some new queer characters and some new elements, introduce drag, introduce people who maybe don’t fit the gender spectrum…it is so important for kids to see that…I think it is fun to watch with your parents.”
Lisa Rinna on how her character, Billie Reed, and Jackie Cox come together:
“There is a drag ball! The actors for the first time were getting ready in drag, they were so excited. I can’t even tell you, it was the cutest thing I have ever seen! These actors were so thrilled to be in their dresses and have their wigs on, I loved every second of it!
Jackie Cox on getting to fulfil a lifelong wish while filming “Days of Our Lives: Beyond Salem”:
“I have gotten so many fan theories messaged to me. Are you Billie Reed’s evil twin? Are you coming to steal the jewels? And the answer is probably yes to all of it! When Billie and I meet each other for the first time, that was my favorite thing in my whole entire life that I finally got to do: the soap opera stare down!”
Lisa Rinna on how she thinks her character, Billie Reed, would react to the drama unfolding on her other show “The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills”:
“She doesn’t watch the show…I don’t think that she has a whole lot of time for that kind of drama to be honest!”
Jackie Cox’s reaction to Kylie Sonique Love becoming first transgender winner on “RuPaul’s Drag Race: All Stars 6”:
“This is so amazing…we have to keep pushing the envelope especially for all of our siblings who are not falling in the binary spectrum and beyond, those of us who are trans, those of us who are nonbinary. The more representation we can have on screen, the more winners we can have, the more daytime stars who are drag queens, I am here for all of it. Kylie Sonique Love did so amazing and she is incredible and I can’t wait to see what she does with this crown.”
Lisa Rinna on filming the upcoming reunion for “The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills”:
“I hate the reunions, everyone hates the reunions, that is just the truth. They are difficult. You get a lot figured out but it is a very long day…I look forward to having that moment so we can move on!”
“Days of Our Lives: Beyond Salem” is streaming now on Peacock.