Willam Belli

Willam Belli is amazing. He’s fun, he’s candid, he’s whimsical, he’s slutty and he’s definitely not ordinary. Willam is an actor, a recording artist and a Drag Queen. He’s best known as an actor for his transsexual role in the hit series “Nip/Tuck.” As a recording star, his newest hit is “that boy IS a bottom,” and as a Drag Queen he became one of the most popular and controversial contestants on “RuPaul’s Drag Race” season 4.

In 2012 he was nominated “Most Addictive Reality Star,” and he appeared on the show “Rock of Ages” as well. Willam is accomplished and prides himself on breaking the rules. He also considers himself to be “a boy at heart.” We at the Bunk House are fortunate to be able to welcome Willam at the club on Friday, April 19, but until then I was also lucky enough to get a phone interview with him.

So how did you get the name Willam anyway?
It’s a long story, but it’s a family name basically. My grandfather had a really weird name when he immigrated from Croatia, and the nuns of Catholic school said it wasn’t a real name, so his dad just randomly chose the name of the kid that sat in front of him, William, but no one could say it, so they said Willam, and that’s how I got my name.

Who do you look up to?
I look up to Charles Bush, RuPaul, Lea Valerie. I like originality. A lot of people that did stuff before anyone else did it, the trail blazers, the people that didn’t impersonate someone, “that something that I don’t really love.” Why should I give you money just because you’re really good at parroting someone’s act?

What’s it like being the only queen to have been disqualified from “RuPaul’s Drag Race”?
It’s fun! I’m the only one to walk out of there who didn’t win, who wasn’t a loser. It’s really hard to get off that show otherwise.

What do you think the fate of that show would have been if that didn’t happen?
Phi Phi would have went home.

You think so?
I pretty much know so – everyone kind of said it.

I love your video “That Boy Is a Bottom.” It’s fun, it makes me happy.
Thank you, it was a lot of fun to make. It was inspired by my true life story.

If you could make another celebrity over, who would it be?
Probably a dead one, so they couldn’t say I wasn’t doing it right. Um, this is a hard one. I would say – this is really hard, sorry! – um, Melissa McCarthy.

Who did you enjoy watching in Drag Race?
Michelle Visage.

We have a million baby queens at the Bunk House, so besides the usual advice, do you have any weird, strange, interesting advice to give them?
Yeah, Goo Gone. It can get anything off your body. It can get adhesive off your body. It can get spirit gum off your body. I use it to tape almost everyday. That’s my little hidden treasure.

///BY eileen shapiro
the bunk house

Catch Willam Belli at the Bunk House on April 19 at 620 Waverly Ave. in Patchogue. For more info call (631) 506-6600