Blu del Barrio explained

Blu del Barrio
Birth Date:15 September 1997
Education:London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art (BA)
Occupation:Actor
Years Active:2019–present

Blu del Barrio (born September 15, 1997) is an American actor, best known for playing Adira Tal in . 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.

Personal life

Born September 15, 1997,[1] [2] del Barrio is a native of Southern California, growing up in Topanga.[3] [2] They came out as non-binary in 2019 and 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; 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 Treks first non-binary character.[16]

Del Barrio told Nick Adams of GLAAD in 2020:

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), a species Vary described as "avatars for LGBTQ representation on Star Trek", as Adira's lover and, thanks to Nick Adams providing examples, both Alexander and del Barrio realized the potency of those episodes featuring the trill for queer representation.

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

Film

Television

Web

External links

Notes and References

  1. https://twitter.com/StarTrek/status/1570412246248955905 . Star Trek . StarTrek . 1570412246248955905 . September 15, 2022 . Join us in wishing a very Happy Birthday to @bludelb! #StarTrekFamily #StarTrek . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230101052838/https://twitter.com/StarTrek/status/1570412246248955905 . January 1, 2023 . January 1, 2023.
  2. Web site: Blu del Barrio on Becoming Star Trek's First Non-Binary Star — and How It Helped Them Come Out . Jodi . Guglielmi . October 29, 2020 . . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20210505171509/https://people.com/tv/blu-del-barrio-on-becoming-star-trek-first-non-binary-star/?utm=newsbreak . May 5, 2021 . December 29, 2022.
  3. Web site: Star Trek's Blu del Barrio & Ian Alexander: Transgalactic Heroes . Dawn . Ennis . February 7, 2022 . . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20220207140421/https://www.out.com/print/2022/2/07/star-treks-blu-del-barrio-ian-alexander-transgalactic-heroes . February 7, 2022 . December 30, 2022.
  4. Web site: Meet Star Trek: Discovery's Blu del Barrio . Nick . Adams . September 2, 2020 . . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20200902202332/https://www.glaad.org/blog/meet-star-trek-discoverys-blu-del-barrio . September 2, 2020 . December 29, 2022.
  5. Blu del Barrio Interview . Dawn Ennis . Blu . del Barrio . October 26, 2020 . . December 29, 2022.
  6. Web site: This 'Star Trek' Actor Came Out After Their Character Did . Dawn . Ennis . October 29, 2020 . . live . subscription . https://web.archive.org/web/20221229145211/https://www.forbes.com/sites/dawnstaceyennis/2020/10/29/this-star-trek-actor-came-out-after-their-character-did/?sh=2c51f5191bd1 . December 29, 2022 . December 29, 2022.
  7. Web site: Star Trek actor Anthony Rapp featured in official D&D musical event . Alex . Meehan . September 20, 2021 . Dicebreaker . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20210921085621/https://www.dicebreaker.com/games/dungeons-and-dragons-5e/news/dnd-musical-event . September 21, 2021 . December 29, 2022.
  8. Web site: The Cast of 'Star Trek: Discovery' Plays Dungeons and Dragons: Watch . January 30, 2022 . gaynrd . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20221229135636/https://gaynrd.com/the-cast-of-discovery-plays-dnd/ . December 29, 2022 . December 29, 2022.
  9. Web site: Nerd Alert! Star Trek: Discovery's Anthony Rapp reveals details of the cast's Dungeons & Dragons campaign . November 10, 2020 . Alison . Pitt . Daily Star Trek News . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20201110100850/https://www.dailystartreknews.com/read/nerd-alert-star-trek-discoverys-anthony-rapp-reveals-details-of-the-casts-dungeons-amp-dragons-campaign . November 10, 2020 . December 29, 2022.
  10. Web site: Follow the Star Trek: Discovery crew's Dungeons & Dragons campaign with #DiscoDoesDnD . February 11, 2021 . Alison . Pitt . Daily Star Trek News . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20210211091117/https://www.dailystartreknews.com/read/follow-the-star-trek-discovery-crews-dungeons-amp-dragons-campaign-with-discodoesdnd . February 11, 2021 . December 29, 2022.
  11. Web site: Inside the Groundbreaking 'Star Trek: Discovery' Episode With Trans and Non-Binary Characters . Adam B. . Vary . November 6, 2020 . . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20201106145900/https://variety.com/2020/tv/news/star-trek-discovery-trans-non-binary-blu-del-barrio-ian-alexander-1234824183/ . November 6, 2020 . December 29, 2022.
  12. Star Trek's New Non-Binary Star Blu del Barrio Talks Their Debut . Riley Silverman . Blu . del Barrio . October 29, 2020 . . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20211021162746/https://www.syfy.com/syfy-wire/star-treks-new-non-binary-star-blu-del-barrio-talks-their-debut . October 21, 2021 . December 30, 2022.
  13. Web site: Blu del Barrio . . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20221228210526/https://www.spotlight.com/1012-6753-9895 . December 28, 2022 . December 31, 2022.
  14. Web site: 2019 graduates . . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20200918112815/https://www.lamda.ac.uk/students-alumni/recent-graduates/2019-graduates . September 18, 2020 . December 29, 2022.
  15. Web site: 'Star Trek: Discovery' Season 3 Will Introduce Non-Binary And Transgender Characters . September 2, 2020 . . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20200903174243/https://trekmovie.com/2020/09/02/star-trek-discovery-season-3-will-introduce-non-binary-and-transgender-characters/ . September 3, 2020 . December 29, 2022.
  16. Web site: Star Trek: Strange New Worlds' Jesse James Keitel Explains Why Playing Angel Was 'Refreshing' . Mick . Joest . June 20, 2022 . Cinemablend . Future US . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20220619212715/https://www.cinemablend.com/interviews/star-trek-strange-new-worlds-jesse-james-keitel-discusses-why-playing-angel-was-refreshing . June 19, 2022 . December 29, 2022.
  17. Web site: Otis & Eunice . . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20210624181527/https://www.rcm.ac.uk/oe/ . June 24, 2021 . December 30, 2022.
  18. Web site: Virtual Conservatoire delivers simultaneous performances of Otis and Eunice across two cities . April 1, 2019 . . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20200814111653/https://www.rcm.ac.uk/about/news/all/2019-04-01otisandeunice.aspx . August 14, 2020 . December 30, 2022.
  19. Web site: In the Service of the Queen . . en . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20210517134729/https://www.lamda.ac.uk/whats-on/films/in-the-service-of-the-queen . May 17, 2021 . December 29, 2022.
  20. Web site: TIFF Industry Selects Section Includes Steve Buscemi's The Listener', Bill Pohlad's Dreamin' Wild; Jason Reitman's Live Read Returns . D'Alessandro . Anthony . August 23, 2022 . . en-US . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20220823161717/https://deadline.com/2022/08/tiff-jason-reitman-steve-buscemi-bill-pohlad-1235098228/ . August 23, 2022 . December 29, 2022.
  21. Web site: The Owl House (2020) Credits . Behind the Voice Actors . December 30, 2022.
  22. Web site: Disney introduces first non-binary character in TV series The Owl House . Hannah . Lovejoy . July 25, 2021 . . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20210725080021/https://www.digitalspy.com/tv/ustv/a37120223/disney-first-non-binary-character-owl-house/ . July 25, 2021 . December 31, 2022.
  23. Web site: Dirty Laundry, Who Hid $20,000 Inside a Bowflex? . Dropout .

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