Ella Vaday Explained
Nick Collier[1] (born 23 September 1988),[2] [3] better known as Ella Vaday, is an English drag queen, actor and dancer who competed on the third series of RuPaul's Drag Race UK.
Early life and education
Collier was based in Dagenham, East London as a child. A fan of singing and dancing as a child, he attended Bird College, a performing arts school in Sidcup, South East London.[4]
Career
Collier first worked as a backup dancer for Olly Murs and Eoghan Quigg on The X Factor. Theatre credits include Book of Mormon, Cats, Fame, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat, Peter Pan, and Wicked. He has also operated a dog walking business. Collier competed under his drag name, Ella Vaday, on the third series of RuPaul's Drag Race UK.[4] He impersonated Nigella Lawson during the Snatch Game challenge.[5] [6] Conor Clark of Gay Times called the impersonation "iconic".[7] Collier was one of the three finalists, competing against Krystal Versace and Kitty Scott-Claus in the final lip-sync to "You Don’t Own Me" by Dusty Springfield.[8]
Collier is also due to appear as Ella Vaday in Sumotherhood, the feature film follow-up for Adam Deacon, due for release in November 2023.[9]
Personal life
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Ella Vaday's social media following increased from 6,000 to 30,000 followers.[4]
Filmography
Television
Notes and References
- Web site: 2021-09-22. Drag Race UK's Ella Vaday: Drag was a 'saving grace' during lockdown struggles. 2021-11-05. Attitude.co.uk. en. 2021-09-24. https://web.archive.org/web/20210924181240/https://attitude.co.uk/article/drag-race-uks-ella-vaday-drag-was-a-saving-grace-during-lockdown-struggles-1/25884/. live.
- EllaVaday . 1435303820079378434 . GUYS!!!..... 23rd September is a big day, because it’s also my Birthday!!!!!!.
- EllaVaday . 1432963580316590083 . It’s SEPTEMBER! Wtf…it’s September?!!! Cutla weeks till my 33rd birthday! Can actually plan to do something this year now we’re out of constant lockdowns of 2020! I wanna go on holiday soooooo badly!.
- Web site: King. Jonathan. 2021-08-18. Meet the Dagenham drag queen in this year's RuPaul's Drag Race UK. 2021-11-05. Barking and Dagenham Post. en-UK. 2021-08-25. https://web.archive.org/web/20210825144944/https://www.barkinganddagenhampost.co.uk/news/rupauls-drag-race-uk-ella-vaday-8246988. live.
- Web site: 2021-11-02. Nigella Lawson gives her verdict on Drag Race impersonation. 2021-11-05. The Independent. en. 2021-11-03. https://web.archive.org/web/20211103133208/https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/tv/news/nigella-lawson-drag-race-ella-vaday-b1949631.html. live.
- Web site: 2021-10-31. Nigella Lawson loved Ella Vaday's 'camp, enchanting' Drag Race UK impression. live. 2021-11-05. PinkNews. en-GB. 2021-11-03. https://web.archive.org/web/20211103151803/https://www.pinknews.co.uk/2021/10/31/nigella-lawson-ella-vaday-drag-race-uk/.
- Web site: 2021-11-01. Nigella Lawson responds to Drag Race UK's Ella Vaday's Snatch Game. live. 2021-11-05. Gay Times. en-GB. 2021-11-04. https://web.archive.org/web/20211104102925/https://www.gaytimes.co.uk/culture/nigella-lawson-responds-to-ella-vadays-snatch-game-impression-on-drag-race-uk/.
- Web site: 2021-11-25. Drag Race UK season three just crowned a winner, baby. 2021-11-26. PinkNews. en-GB. 26 November 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20211126062307/https://www.pinknews.co.uk/2021/11/25/drag-race-uk-season-3-winner/. live.
- Web site: 2022-04-08. Drag Race star Ella Vaday on having two physiques and eating in petrol stations. GQ Magazine. en-GB. 13 April 2023. 1 February 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230201111337/https://www.gq-magazine.co.uk/fitness/article/ella-vaday-drag-race-diet. live.
- Web site: 'The 2022 Queerties. Cheat Sheet. 24 February 2022. 13 April 2023. 12 February 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220212004231/https://www.queerty.com/Queerties2022/vote-2203-future-all-star. live.
