Iz Hesketh
{{Short description|British stage actor and drag queen}}
{{EngvarB|date=August 2023}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2023}}
{{Infobox person
| name =
| image = Iz_Hesketh.png
| caption = Hesketh performing as Margot in Legally Blonde at the Regent's Park Open Air Theatre in June 2022
| birth_name =
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1997|9|22|df=y}}
| birth_place = England
| alma_mater = Urdang Academy
| occupation = {{hlist|Actress|drag queen}}
| years_active = 2018–present
}}
Iz Hesketh (born 22 September 1997) is a British actress and drag performer, best known on television for portraying Kitty Draper in long-running British soap opera, Hollyoaks.{{Cite web |last=Lindsay |first=Duncan |date=2024-01-15 |title=Three Hollyoaks characters die - with one murdered and a fourth facing death |url=https://metro.co.uk/2024/01/15/hollyoaks-spoilers-three-characters-die-one-murdered-20118770/ |access-date=2024-01-18 |website=Metro |language=en}} On stage she is notable for portraying Margot in Legally Blonde at Regent's Park Open Air Theatre,{{Cite web |last=Russo |first=Gillian |date=2022-04-04 |title='Legally Blonde' sets full cast at Regent's Park Open Air Theatre |url=https://www.londontheatre.co.uk/theatre-news/news/legally-blonde-sets-full-cast-at-regents-park-open-air-theatre |access-date=2023-03-10 |website=London Theatre |language=en}} originating the role of Pythio in Europe in Head Over Heels at the Hope Mill Theatre, Manchester{{Cite web |title=Cast for Head Over Heels UK premiere revealed {{!}} WhatsOnStage |url=https://www.whatsonstage.com/manchester-theatre/news/cast-for-head-over-heels-uk-premiere-revealed_58105.html |access-date=2023-03-10 |website=www.whatsonstage.com |date=5 January 2023 |language=en-GB}} and performing as her drag persona Seriah Sis.{{Cite web |title=Seriah Sis {{!}} Instagram |url=https://www.instagram.com/seriahsis/ |website=Instagram}}
On television, she also stars as Valerian in the 2024 British historical adventure series, Renegade Nell on Disney+.
Career
After graduating from Urdang, Hesketh embarked on the UK/European Tour of The Book of Mormon in which she toured across five venues: Palace Theatre (Manchester), Theater 11 (Zürich), Sunderland Empire, Bristol Hippodrome, and Birmingham Hippodrome from June 2019 to March 2020 when the tour was interrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic.{{Cite web |title=Iz Hesketh - Followspot |url=https://www.dresscircle.co.uk/people/isaac-hesketh-125 |website=DressCircle.co.uk}} During the COVID-19 lockdown, Hesketh participated in (as her drag persona Seriah Sis) and won an online social media drag competition titled 'Lockdown Legends' hosted by Tia Kofi (her drag mother).{{Cite web |title=Lockdown Legends: The Final! {{!}} ⚡️Lockdown Legends: The Social Media Drag Competition!⚡️ EPISODE 7 📺 ⚡️ The Final ⚡️ Join our host Tia Kofi and head judge Sum Ting Wong as the top... {{!}} By Two Box Productions {{!}} Facebook |url=https://www.facebook.com/TwoBoxProductions/videos/lockdown-legends-the-final/904018503445077/ |access-date=2023-04-11 |website=www.facebook.com |language=en}}
In September 2020, after initially delaying its summer run, casting was revealed exclusively by the theatre website WhatsOnStage{{Cite web |title=Rent musical revival at Hope Mill Theatre full casting announced {{!}} WhatsOnStage |url=https://www.whatsonstage.com/manchester-theatre/news/rent-musical-revival-hope-mill-cast-2020_52455.html |access-date=2023-04-11 |website=www.whatsonstage.com |date=24 September 2020 |language=en-GB}} for the upcoming revival of Rent at the Hope Mill Theatre in Manchester, which included Hesketh as a featured ensemble member. After opening to critically acclaimed reviews and a socially-distanced audience in November 2020,{{Cite web |title=Review: Rent (Hope Mill Theatre) {{!}} WhatsOnStage |url=https://www.whatsonstage.com/manchester-theatre/reviews/rent-hope-mill-manchester-musical_52743.html |access-date=2023-04-11 |website=www.whatsonstage.com |date=5 November 2020 |language=en-GB}} the production had to close after five performances due to a newly imposed lockdown.{{Cite web |title=Prime Minister announces new national restrictions |url=https://www.gov.uk/government/news/prime-minister-announces-new-national-restrictions |access-date=2023-04-11 |website=GOV.UK |language=en}} However, as a result, a series of online performances ran from 27 November to 20 December 2020 on the Hope Mill Theatres' website.{{Cite web |last=Darvill |first=Josh |date=2020-11-15 |title=Rent revival at Hope Mill Theatre online trailer revealed |url=https://stagechat.co.uk/news/regional/14951-rent-revival-at-hope-mill-theatre-to-stream-online.html |access-date=2023-04-11 |website=Stage Chat |language=en}} The show returned again to the Hope Mill Theatre in Summer 2021, with Hesketh also returning as a featured ensemble and alternate Angel for this iteration of the production.{{Cite web |title=💥 The incredible @iz.hesketh will return to the cast of #RENT as a featured ensemble member and alternate Angel this summer! |url=https://www.facebook.com/ |access-date=2023-04-11 |website=Facebook |language=en}}
In March 2022, it was announced exclusively via WhatsOnStage that Hesketh would portray the role of Margot in the revival of Legally Blonde at Regent's Park Open Air Theatre.{{Cite web |title=Legally Blonde at Regent's Park Open Air Theatre announces lead casting {{!}} WhatsOnStage |url=https://www.whatsonstage.com/london-theatre/news/legally-blonde-at-regents-park-open-air_56114.html |access-date=2023-04-11 |website=www.whatsonstage.com |date=16 March 2022 |language=en-GB}} This marked the first time Margot was played by a trans non-binary actor in a professional capacity. In an interview with media outlet PinkNews Hesketh said "I can't quite put into words how grateful I am to be taking this huge step in musical theatre history".{{Cite web |last=Yates |first=Jonny |date=2022-04-29 |title=Trans non-binary star of hit musical Legally Blonde claps back at transphobic post |url=https://www.thepinknews.com/2022/04/29/legally-blonde-musical-tickets-west-end/ |access-date=2023-04-11 |website=PinkNews |language=en}} In response to the transphobic backlash, Hesketh said "You've made my determination to change this industry that little bit stronger today (...) If anyone feels like I'm not right for this part or that I won't be able to do this role as well as a cis female, PLEASE feel free to drop me a message and I'll be more than happy to buy you a ticket to watch the show so you can sit there for the duration and be proved wrong".{{Cite web |title=Iz Hesketh - I'm out here too busy being successful to get my nails infilled and people have the time to photoshop whole logos? Could never be me |url=https://twitter.com/iz_hesketh/status/1518565212860956673?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1518565212860956673%7Ctwgr%5E41c283b3b1b35371e022849da968d0ddca04aba9%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https://www.thepinknews.com/2022/04/29/legally-blonde-musical-tickets-west-end/ |access-date=2023-04-11 |website=Twitter |language=en}} The highly praised production ran from May–July 2022, and included a performance at the annual West End LIVE event held in Trafalgar Square by the Society of London Theatre, Westminster City Council and the Mayor of London.{{Citation |title=Legally Blonde {{!}} West End LIVE 2022 | date=25 June 2022 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IZs40JGVX-E |access-date=2023-04-11 |language=en}}{{Citation |title=Legally Blonde perform Bend and Snap {{!}} West End LIVE 2022 | date=26 June 2022 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R2ZrDVLLoV8 |access-date=2023-04-11 |language=en}}
At the beginning of 2022, casting was revealed for the European premiere at the Hope Mill Theatre in Manchester, of the jukebox musical Head Over Heels (based on the music of The Go-Go's) this included Hesketh as the principal character Pythio, an oracle to the fictional kingdom of Arcadia.{{Cite web |last=Darvill |first=Josh |date=2023-01-05 |title=Head Over Heels cast announced for UK premiere at Hope Mill Theatre |url=https://stagechat.co.uk/news/regional/49703-head-over-heels-cast-announced-for-uk-premiere-at-manchesters-hope-mill-theatre.html |access-date=2023-04-11 |website=Stage Chat |language=en}} The production ran from 26 January to 4 March 2023.{{Cite web |title=Head Over Heels – Hope Mill Theatre |url=https://hopemilltheatre.co.uk/event/head-over-heels/ |access-date=2023-04-11 |website=hopemilltheatre.co.uk}} In early May, WhatsOnStage exclusively revealed the casting of new Weimar-era Berlin musical Fury and Elysium at The Other Palace that included Hesketh portraying Anita Berber,{{Cite web |title=Anita Berber wild child, bisexual icon, lover, groundbreaking artist and true legend, most famously painted in red by Otto Dix. Played by the sensational iz.hesketh. |url=https://www.instagram.com/p/Csi4GUIIjDP/ |access-date=2023-05-23 |website=Instagram}} the production ran for a limited run of two weeks in June 2023.{{Cite web |date=2023-05-03 |title=Cast announced for Fury and Elysium musical at the Other Palace {{!}} WhatsOnStage |url=https://www.whatsonstage.com/london-theatre/news/cast-announced-for-fury-and-elysium-musical_58869.html |access-date=2023-05-19 |website=www.whatsonstage.com |language=en-GB}}
Hesketh also features on the live cast recording of Olivier-nominated autobiographical play My Son's a Queer (but What Can You Do?) and participated in the West End LIVE performance.{{Cite web |date=2022-09-15 |title=My Son's A Queer (But What Can You Do?) cast recording to be released {{!}} WestendTheatre.com |url=https://www.westendtheatre.com/133510/news/my-sons-a-queer-but-what-can-you-do-cast-recording-to-be-released/ |access-date=2023-04-11 |website=www.westendtheatre.com |language=en-GB}}
In January 2024, it was announced via the official Hollyoaks social media channels and Hesketh's Instagram{{Cite web |title=Looks like the cats out of the bag… I'm so proud to announce that I'm the new girl on the block in the @hollyoaksofficial Village! This character is one that I feel British TV has needed for a long time. She's fiery, independent and has a huge heart. I'm so excited to show that trans people are just like everyone else. We have flaws, we fall in love and sometimes we make bad decision for good reasons… Thank you so much to @peterhuntcasting and everyone in casting for trusting me to tell this story. Thank you to my amazing agent @nultus @keddiescottassociatesltd for always pushing for me to seen in rooms I never dreamed I'd be in. Thank you to @rayburmiston for the amazing shoot and capturing this photo. I can't not also thank my amazing friends and family who love me so fiercely and make it so easy for me to feel I can make the impossible possible. Here's to 2024 kids, I think it's gonna be a good year 🤍 |url=https://www.instagram.com/p/C1pQbe2I1DW/?img_index=1 |access-date=2024-01-03 |website=Instagram}} that she would star as Kitty Draper in long-running British soap opera, Hollyoaks. In March of that same year, Hesketh announced her role as Valerian in the British historical adventure television series Renegade Nell on Disney+. She is the first person to portray a non-binary character to appear in a Disney live action series.
In mid-July 2024, Hesketh won the award for Best Newcomer at the RadioTimes.com Soap Awards 2024. When speaking to Radio Times, she revealed that winning the award felt "unreal" and went on to say receiving the accolade was "absolutely incredible, yeah I'm just buzzing".{{Cite web |title=Hollyoaks' Iz Hesketh celebrates positive impact of trans youth storyline |url=https://www.radiotimes.com/tv/soaps/hollyoaks/hollyoak-iz-hesketh-trans-youth-storyline-exclusive-newsupdate/ |access-date=2024-07-23 |website=Radio Times |language=en-GB}}
Personal life
Stage
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders sortable"
! scope="col" |Year ! scope="col" |Production ! scope="col" |Role ! scope="col" |Venue ! style="text-align: center;" class="unsortable" |{{abbr|Ref|Reference(s)}} |
| 2018-2019
|Ensemble |
| 2019-2020
|Elder Cross/Davis |UK/European Tour |
| 2020-2021
|Rent |Featured Ensemble/Alternate Angel |Hope Mill Theatre |
| rowspan="2" |2021
|Cherry Jezebel |Pearl Reckless |
| Snowflake
|Olly |
| 2022
|Margot |
| rowspan="2" |2023
|Pythio |Hope Mill Theatre |
| Fury and Elysium |
Filmography
= Television =
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders sortable"
! scope="col" |Year ! scope="col" |Title ! scope="col" |Role ! scope="col" |Broadcasting Channel ! style="text-align: center;" class="unsortable" |{{abbr|Ref|Reference(s)}} |
| 2023
|Buffering |Kaia |ITV2 |
| rowspan="2" |2024 |
| Renegade Nell
|Valerian |
Awards and nominations
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" |
| Year
! Award ! Category ! Role ! Work ! Result ! Ref. |
|---|
| 2024
|Best Newcomer | Kitty Draper | {{won}} |
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{Instagram|iz.hesketh}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Hesketh, Iz}}
Category:21st-century English actresses
Category:21st-century English singers
Category:British musical theatre actors
Category:British stage actresses
Category:British soap opera actresses
Category:British transgender women
Category:British transgender actors
Category:British transgender musicians
Category:Transgender actresses