What’s After Drag? Precious Paula Nicole’s Newfound Beat in ‘Lip Sync Assassin’
What’s After Drag? Precious Paula Nicole’s Newfound Beat in ‘Lip Sync Assassin’
Three years after their monumental ‘Drag Race Philippines Season 1’ win, Precious Paula Nicole struts down the bedazzled path of drag excellence to full-fledged film royalty in the killer (quite literally) flick Lip Sync Assassin.
When you’re the only one left to shantay, once all the spotlights have dimmed, and the werkroom’s nothing but a hollow studio—where does an icon go in the vast expanse of life after drag?
Three years after their monumental Drag Race Philippines Season 1 win, Precious Paula Nicole struts down the bedazzled path of drag excellence to full-fledged film royalty in the killer (quite literally) flick Lip Sync Assassin.
“Naniniwala ako na yung universe yung gumawa ng paraan para mapunta [Lip Sync Assassin] sa akin,” Nicole said. “Nag-attract sa akin [sa pelikula], syempre unang-una sa lahat yung character na in-offer sa akin, napakalapit din naman sa puso ko.” (I was attracted to the film, first and foremost, because the character that was offered to me was near to my heart).
Lip Sync Assassin follows the story of Sampaguita, a drag queen forced to turn into a life of crime due to poverty. She wrestles between the worlds of performing and slaying in hope to keep her drag house and family afloat, while a force beyond the shadows starts framing her for crimes much worse than what she has done.
Precious Paula Nicole as Sampaguita in Lip Sync Assassin
Admitting that they felt lost after 15 years of doing drag, Nicole believed that it was what attracted director Jon Galvez to “hunt” them for the role.
“Feel ko kaya siya na-attract [sa akin] kasi ito rin yung moment na parang nasa era ako ng pag-explore after drag (I feel that he [the director] was attracted to me was because I was in that era where I’m exploring possibilities outside of drag),” they said, revealing that Galvez didn’t offer the role to anyone else as well.
As a morally complex drag-queen-turned-murderer, Nicole still manages to find themself at the heart of the character, relating Sampaguita’s struggles to her own.
“Ang hirap na ginagawa mo yung passion mo every five days a week pero yung kinikita mo, sobrang liit, sobrang konti (It’s difficult to do what you are passionate about, five days a week yet earn very little),” they said. “So, alam mo yun, parang na-feel ko agad kung saan huhugutin ‘yung character ni Sampaguita.” (So, you know, I felt immediately where Sampaguita was coming from)
Although finding familiarity, Sampaguita still proved to be a far-cry from Nicole’s previous roles.
“Hindi ako pwedeng magkamali kasi baka last ko na ‘to (I can't make a mistake because this might be my last),” they said, recalling the fright that came with portraying such a polarizing character alongside bits of anxious internal monologue with them.
Despite bouts of crippling self-doubt and fear, Nicole pushed through with the mantra, “Binigay na ‘yan eh, wag na akong maarte (It's already been given to me, I shouldn't make any fuss),” reassuring themself that they wouldn’t have been given the role if Galvez didn’t think they could do it.
“Magkakamali ka man pero dapat ka (You will make mistakes, but you need to learn from them),” they said, recalling a fear they overcame regarding the use of a prop gun—a small victory, but a victory nonetheless.
Echoes from the past
From prancing on the roughed streets of Camarines Sur to representing Philippine cinema on the international screen, Nicole has come far from being just a RuGirl. But as they say: you can take the drag queen out of drag, but you can’t take the drag out of the drag queen.
Precious Paula Nicole talks to the press about Lip Sync Assassin
Starring alongside Nicole are fellow drag queens Angel Galang, Mrs. Tan, and Hana Beshie as her drag daughters in the film.
”Siyempre nakaka-proud din naman para sa akin (Of course I am proud of them)” Nicole said, relishing the inclusion of their friends. “Ever since naman, hindi lang sa movie, kahit naman sa stage, nag-share talaga ako ng light sa mga sisters ko.” (Not just in the movies, even on stage, I share the spotlight to my sisters)
Ahead of the film’s international premiere at the CinePride Film Festival in California, Nicole finds herself at another crossroads: whether to continue this new career on screen.
“Kasi nagawa ko na yung alam kong kailangan kong gawin, naibigay ko na sa screen ‘yung normal na sarili ko (I have already done what I needed to do, I already showed myself on the screen),” they said.
Yet in true Filipino fashion, they leave it up to Batman, or in this case, the universe. “Feeling ko, napag-prepare na ako ng universe to another level na ano ba yung next (I feel that the universe is preparing me for what's next),” Nicole said optimistically. They even jest about portraying a role where they aren’t gay.
But whatever their next role is, Nicole harkens back to the reason why they became a performer in the first place.
Precious Paula Nicole as Sampaguita in Lip Sync Assassin
“Ang alam ko lang dati is gusto kong mag-Beyoncé, gusto kong mag-perform (The only thing I knew then was I wanted to be like Beyoncé, I wanted to perform)” they said, recounting their previous jobs as film extras.
“Kung tatanungin mo ako five years ago, ten years ago, matatagpuan ako sa ganitong position? Hindi (If you would've asked me five years ago, ten years ago, if I'd find myself in this position? No),” they added.
Never would a little boy from Camarines Sur imagine that they would represent their home country on a global scale while also being the first Filipino drag queen to do so.
“Siguro mga 100 years from now, sino yung unang nag-movie na ganyan? (100 years from now, who did that kind of movies first?),” Nicole posed.
When the lights have been spent, the runway has been cleared, and you are left on your own, a drag queen reaches into their bag, grasps their sequins and makes their own spotlight.
“Si Precious Paula Nicole, part na siya ng history. Nakatatak na ito forever.” (It's Precious Paula Nicole, they're part of history now. Forever making their mark)
…With additional reporting by Miguel Louis Galang and Meckhan Tagarda
