Blu del Barrio (born September 15, 1997) is an American actor, best known for playing Adira Tal in Star Trek: Discovery. They are the first openly non-binary actor, playing the first non-binary role in Star Trek. Del Barrio has studied and engaged in the performing arts since childhood, graduating from the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art (LAMDA) in 2019. They are outspoken in support of transgender visibility and inclusivity with accurate depiction in popular media.
Blu del Barrio | |
|---|---|
| Born | September 15, 1997 |
| Education | London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art (BA) |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 2019–present |
Personal life
Born September 15, 1997,[1][2][better source needed] del Barrio is a native of Southern California, growing up in Topanga.[3][2] They came out as non-binary in 2019 and as of February 2022[update] uses they/them/theirs pronouns.[3][4] Through their whole life, they had difficulty with their gender,[5][6] realizing they might be non-binary after seeing Lachlan Watson on television.[5][6] Being cast as a non-binary character in Star Trek: Discovery helped them come out publicly as non-binary.[2][4] They chose the first name Blu in 2019, in honor of their favorite color from childhood.[5][6]
They have referred to themself as an introverted nerd who likes being alone, loves watching movies, video games, photography and playing Dungeons & Dragons (DnD) with friends.[5][6] Cast members of Star Trek: Discovery,[7] including del Barrio and the regular Noah Averbach-Katz (the dungeon master), Anthony Rapp and Ian Alexander, and guests including Mary Wiseman, Emily Coutts and Rapp's fiancé Ken Ithiphol started playing DnD together during the filming of the fourth season of Discovery and, by request, stream their sessions as Disco Does DnD via Twitch.[3][8][9][10] Upon joining the cast of Star Trek: Discovery with fellow actor Alexander, del Barrio felt a little overwhelmed,[2] in part due to feeling impostor syndrome, believing someone with more experience should have the role,[5][6][11] and has expressed thankfulness for Alexander's presence and support.[4][12]
Del Barrio is passionate and forthright[3] in support of visibility for trans people,[2] telling Nick Adams, director of transgender representation at GLAAD (Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation) in 2020, that "it's not only important that we're talking about our experiences, it's necessary. People need to know who we are", and continued, saying that what they "want people to understand is that we do 'fit,' but not into the strict gender binary our society has created." They believe "non-binary people deserve to live in a world where they fit."[4]
Del Barrio is bilingual, speaking both Spanish and English to a native standard, and is a skilled paddleboarder.[13]
Career
Del Barrio studied ballet and theater in California before moving to the UK to study at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art (LAMDA), graduating in 2019.[3][14] They are highly skilled in the art of stage combat, dance and singing,[13] having acted in theater and short films since seven years of age.[5][6][15]
They were cast in their first major role in September 2020;[11] it was announced that they would join the cast of Star Trek: Discovery as Adira Tal for the series' third season. Del Barrio felt a resonance with the highly intelligent, introverted character with, what they consider to be, puppy-like emotions. They are the first out non-binary actor in Star Trek, and Adira is Star Trek's first non-binary character.[4][16]
Del Barrio told Nick Adams of GLAAD in 2020:[4]
When I got the call that I'd been cast as Adira, I hadn't yet told the majority of my friends and family that I was non-binary. I had only recently discovered the word and realized that it described how I'd felt for a long time. I knew I wanted to tell my friends and family, so when this happened, it felt like the universe saying "go ahead." So in a way, Adira's story ends up mirroring mine. Just after I told people in my life, so did Adira. Definitely not the most common coming out story, but it was scary, special, and life changing (as they usually are).
Speaking with Adam B. Vary for Variety in 2020, Discovery co-showrunners Alex Kurtzman and Michelle Paradise explained that they felt a responsibility to bring trans and non-binary character stories into the show, and that casting del Barrio in the role was an easy choice, even shaping the character of Adira to fit who they called an extraordinary person.
Ian Alexander plays the Trill Gray Tal (although originally auditioning for the role of Adira),[3] a species Vary described as "avatars for LGBTQ representation on Star Trek", as Adira's lover[3] and, thanks to Nick Adams providing examples, both Alexander and del Barrio realized the potency of those episodes featuring the Trill for queer representation.[11][12]
They have named Lachlan Watson, Indya Moore, Bex Taylor-Klaus, Theo Germaine, Asia Kate Dillon, and Brigette Lundy-Paine as non-binary role models for their career.[4][5][6]
Del Barrio has expressed a desire for a role in any Tim Burton film and would like to collaborate on relatively smaller budget independent films.[4][5][6]
Filmography
Stage
- Duchess of Malfi, The Duchess – company: LAMDA; director: Rodney Cottier[13]
- Hippolytus, Artemis – company: LAMDA; director: John Baxter[13]
- Kin, Rachel – company: LAMDA; director: Gretchen Egolf[13]
- Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812, Hélène Bezukhova – company: LAMDA; director: Louise Shephard[13]
- The Man of Mode, Mrs. Loveit – company: LAMDA; director: Beth Vyse[13]
- The White Devil, Vittoria – company: LAMDA; director: Rodney Cottier[13]
- The Winter's Tale, Paulina/Shepherd – company: LAMDA; director: Phillip Edgerly[13]
- Three Days in the Country, Natasha Ivanovna – company: LAMDA; director: Mary Papadima[13]
- Three Sisters, Irina – company: LAMDA; director: Caroline Leslie[13]
- Otis & Eunice (2019), Duke – a retelling of Orpheus and Eurydice created by Sharon Clark, featuring actors from multiple stage schools performing simultaneously at two locations, with audiences at each being able to watch the other via video streaming; directors: Mabel Aitken, Ian Morgan and AJ Quinn[3][17][18]
Film
- In the Service of the Queen (2019), Yaris – short film[19]
- The Listener (2022), Jinx[20]
- Trap House (TBA) – Post-production
Television
- Star Trek: Discovery (2020–2024), Adira Tal – recurring role (season 3); series regular (seasons 4 and 5)
- The Ready Room (2020–2024), themself
- The Owl House (2022), Raine Whispers (teenaged) – animated series; voice actor;[21] Disney's first non-binary character[22]
- Primos (2024), Alex – animated series; voice actor
- Max & the Midknights (2024), Max – animated series; voice actor
Web
- Dirty Laundry, Season 1, Episode 5, "Who Hid $20,000 Inside a Bowflex?"[23][better source needed]
References
- ^ Star Trek [@StarTrek] (September 15, 2022). "Join us in wishing a very Happy Birthday to @bludelb! 🥳 #StarTrekFamily #StarTrek" (Tweet). Archived from the original on January 1, 2023. Retrieved January 1, 2023 – via Twitter.
- ^ a b c d e Guglielmi, Jodi (October 29, 2020). "Blu del Barrio on Becoming Star Trek's First Non-Binary Star — and How It Helped Them Come Out". People. Archived from the original on May 5, 2021. Retrieved December 29, 2022.
- ^ a b c d e f g h Ennis, Dawn (February 7, 2022). "Star Trek's Blu del Barrio & Ian Alexander: Transgalactic Heroes". Out. Archived from the original on February 7, 2022. Retrieved December 30, 2022.
- ^ a b c d e f g h Adams, Nick (September 2, 2020). "Meet Star Trek: Discovery's Blu del Barrio". GLAAD. Archived from the original on September 2, 2020. Retrieved December 29, 2022.
- ^ a b c d e f g h del Barrio, Blu (October 26, 2020). "Blu del Barrio Interview" (Interview). Interviewed by Dawn Ennis. Retrieved December 29, 2022 – via YouTube.
- ^ a b c d e f g h Ennis, Dawn (October 29, 2020). "This 'Star Trek' Actor Came Out After Their Character Did". Forbes. Archived from the original on December 29, 2022. Retrieved December 29, 2022.
- ^ Meehan, Alex (September 20, 2021). "Star Trek actor Anthony Rapp featured in official D&D musical event". Dicebreaker. Archived from the original on September 21, 2021. Retrieved December 29, 2022.
- ^ "The Cast of 'Star Trek: Discovery' Plays Dungeons and Dragons: Watch". gaynrd. January 30, 2022. Archived from the original on December 29, 2022. Retrieved December 29, 2022.
- ^ Pitt, Alison (November 10, 2020). "Nerd Alert! Star Trek: Discovery's Anthony Rapp reveals details of the cast's Dungeons & Dragons campaign". Daily Star Trek News. Archived from the original on November 10, 2020. Retrieved December 29, 2022.
- ^ Pitt, Alison (February 11, 2021). "Follow the Star Trek: Discovery crew's Dungeons & Dragons campaign with #DiscoDoesDnD". Daily Star Trek News. Archived from the original on February 11, 2021. Retrieved December 29, 2022.
- ^ a b c Vary, Adam B. (November 6, 2020). "Inside the Groundbreaking 'Star Trek: Discovery' Episode With Trans and Non-Binary Characters". Variety. Archived from the original on November 6, 2020. Retrieved December 29, 2022.
- ^ a b del Barrio, Blu (October 29, 2020). "Star Trek's New Non-Binary Star Blu del Barrio Talks Their Debut". Syfy (Interview). Interviewed by Riley Silverman. Archived from the original on October 21, 2021. Retrieved December 30, 2022.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k "Blu del Barrio". Spotlight. Archived from the original on December 28, 2022. Retrieved December 31, 2022.
- ^ "2019 graduates". Lamda. Archived from the original on September 18, 2020. Retrieved December 29, 2022.
- ^ "'Star Trek: Discovery' Season 3 Will Introduce Non-Binary And Transgender Characters". TrekMovie.com. September 2, 2020. Archived from the original on September 3, 2020. Retrieved December 29, 2022.
- ^ Joest, Mick (June 20, 2022). "Star Trek: Strange New Worlds' Jesse James Keitel Explains Why Playing Angel Was 'Refreshing'". Cinemablend. Future US. Archived from the original on June 19, 2022. Retrieved December 29, 2022.
- ^ "Otis & Eunice". Royal College of Music. Archived from the original on June 24, 2021. Retrieved December 30, 2022.
- ^ "Virtual Conservatoire delivers simultaneous performances of Otis and Eunice across two cities". Royal College of Music. April 1, 2019. Archived from the original on August 14, 2020. Retrieved December 30, 2022.
- ^ "In the Service of the Queen". Lamda. Archived from the original on May 17, 2021. Retrieved December 29, 2022.
- ^ D'Alessandro, Anthony (August 23, 2022). "TIFF Industry Selects Section Includes Steve Buscemi's The Listener', Bill Pohlad's Dreamin' Wild; Jason Reitman's Live Read Returns". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on August 23, 2022. Retrieved December 29, 2022.
- ^ "The Owl House (2020) Credits". Behind the Voice Actors. Retrieved December 30, 2022.
- ^ Lovejoy, Hannah (July 25, 2021). "Disney introduces first non-binary character in TV series The Owl House". Digital Spy. Archived from the original on July 25, 2021. Retrieved December 31, 2022.
- ^ "Dirty Laundry, Who Hid $20,000 Inside a Bowflex?". Dropout.
External links
- Blu del Barrio at IMDb
- Blu del Barrio on Instagram
- Disco does DnD – on Twitch