SBG 132: Renegade Nell with Iz Hesketh

Lez Hang Out | A Lesbian Podcast

Strap on your fairy wings, because it is time to go save the monarchy!

This week, Leigh (@lshfoster) and Ellie (@elliebrigida) hang out with Iz Hesketh (@iz.hesketh), proud trans actor and drag performer known for her roles in British soap opera Hollyoakes and Disney’s Renegade Nell, to talk about why the Disney+ series Renegade Nell Should’ve Been Gay(er). Although we wish this series would have been renewed for a second season, the episodes we did get are jam-packed with racial diversity, gender nonconformity, and all-over queer energy; and we think it has true cult classic potential. If you have not watched it yet, we highly recommend doing so before listening to this episode as it contains quite a few spoilers.

We were so excited to sit down with Iz and talk about her role as a canonically nonbinary character (one of only 4 trans/nonbinary characters in the Disney universe and the FIRST to be in a live-action series). Normally we can only speculate what creators and the folks behind the scenes were thinking when they make things that just seem SO gay to us, but this time we have firsthand accounts from someone who was actually there on set (and guess what, listeners? We were right!). Many of the people behind the scenes for Renegade Nell were queer themselves and fully open to incorporating that into the characters and story. Viewers can see this for themselves through little changes that make a big impact on representation such as changing Valerian’s (Iz Hesketh) pronouns and even incorporating the colors of the trans flag into one of Iz’s costumes. Whether the plan was for Valerian to be nonbinary all along, or if they changed it when Iz was cast, we are thrilled to see such inclusive, diverse representation on Disney+.

The queerness does not stop at Valerian, however, as the main character Nell is quite masc herself and can easily be interpreted as either a very butch lesbian or a trans man. We also have Leigh’s favorite, Polly Honeycombe, a femme who is absolutely besotted with Nell, Billy, a very gay fairy (as are all fairies), and Sofia, the “enemy” in our enemies-to-lovers ship with Nell. Gender nonconformity is woven throughout the show as a main theme. Even when something pretty darn gay does happen, like Polly kissing Nell, the characters are all very accepting and think nothing of it.

We know one thing for sure, Renegade Nell Should’ve Been Gay(er).

Iz is saving up for gender-affirming surgery and fundraising through Go Fund Me! Please consider donating to her fundraiser if you are able.

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You can find your fav tol and smol hosts Ellie & Leigh at @elliebrigida and @lshfoster respectively.

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