AJ and the Queen: Michael-Leon Wooley's character was rewritten to showcase his musical talents
While fans are raving about the new series, ‘AJ and the Queen’ which debuted on Netflix this week, one character, in particular, seems to stand out as a favorite: Louis, the quirky best friend to the show’s lead Robert. Critics and fans alike are hailing RuPaul Charles’ (who also serves as the show’s co-creator) performance on the show, but it’s the zany antics of Louis, the “blind, diabetic drag queen” played by Michael-Leon Wooley, that are the show’s true scene stealers.
The actor caught up with MEAWW (MEA WorldWide) reporter Alana Jordan at the show’s red carpet premiere to chat about his role and what he believes is the true message of the series.
This is the second time Wooley has played a popular character named Louis, as he played the lovable, but misunderstood gator of the same name in the 2009 hit, “The Princess and the Frog.” On the show, Louis the Drag Queen loves music almost as much as Louis the Gator did in the Disney film, though it turns out he wasn’t initially written that way. “He wasn’t originally (going to play music on the show), but Micahel Patrick King, knowing I could sing and play the piano, he changed the role around and got me to make sure I did it in the series.”
If you asked someone what the series was about, music would just be an element in a long list of answers. But to Wooley specifically, the heart of the show lies with the idea of what it means to be a family. “People see different things and take different things from the show, but I specifically take family - that’s what the show’s about to me. How we become family from people we’re not related to, how friends become family, how Ru & I feel like family on the show - we’re roommates together, but he is like my brother. We would do anything for each other. And AJ and Robert’s character become family. And there are bad things dealing with family: AJ’s mother and that relationship. It’s all about family, good or bad.”
You can watch 'AJ and the Queen' streaming now on Netflix.