Blu del Barrio(born September 15, 1997) is an American actor, best known for playing Adira Tal inStar Trek: Discovery.They are the first openlynon-binaryactor, playing the first non-binary role inStar Trek.Del Barrio has studied and engaged in the performing arts since childhood, graduating from theLondon Academy of Music and Dramatic Art(LAMDA) in 2019. They are outspoken in support oftransgendervisibility 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 inTopanga.[3][2]Theycame outasnon-binaryin 2019 and as of February 2022[update]usesthey/them/theirspronouns.[3][4]Through their whole life, they had difficulty with their gender,[5][6]realizing they might be non-binary after seeingLachlan Watsonon television.[5][6]Being cast as a non-binary character inStar Trek: Discoveryhelped them come out publicly as non-binary.[2][4]They chose the first nameBluin 2019, in honor of their favorite color from childhood.[5][6]
They have referred to themself as anintrovertednerdwho likes being alone, loves watching movies, video games, photography and playingDungeons & Dragons(DnD) with friends.[5][6]Cast members ofStar Trek: Discovery,[7]including del Barrio and the regularNoah Averbach-Katz(thedungeon master),Anthony RappandIan Alexander,and guests includingMary Wiseman,Emily Couttsand Rapp's fiancé Ken Ithiphol started playing DnD together during the filming of the fourth season ofDiscoveryand, by request, stream their sessions asDisco Does DnDviaTwitch.[3][8][9][10]Upon joining the cast ofStar Trek: Discoverywith fellow actor Alexander, del Barrio felt a little overwhelmed,[2]in part due to feelingimpostor 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 fortranspeople,[2]telling Nick Adams, director of transgender representation atGLAAD(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 skilledpaddleboarder.[13]
Career
Del Barrio studied ballet and theater in California before moving to the UK to study at theLondon Academy of Music and Dramatic Art(LAMDA), graduating in 2019.[3][14]They are highly skilled in the art ofstage 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 ofStar Trek: Discoveryas 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 inStar Trek,and Adira isStar 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 forVarietyin 2020,Discoveryco-showrunnersAlex KurtzmanandMichelle Paradiseexplained 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 thetrillGray Tal (although originally auditioning for the role of Adira),[3]a species Vary described as "avatars for LGBTQ representation onStar 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 namedLachlan Watson,Indya Moore,Bex Taylor-Klaus,Theo Germaine,Asia Kate Dillon,andBrigette Lundy-Paineas non-binary role models for their career.[4][5][6]
Del Barrio has expressed a desire for a role in anyTim Burtonfilm 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 ofOrpheus and Eurydicecreated 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
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).Archivedfrom the original on January 1, 2023.RetrievedJanuary 1,2023– viaTwitter.
- ^abcdeGuglielmi, Jodi (October 29, 2020)."Blu del Barrio on Becoming Star Trek's First Non-Binary Star — and How It Helped Them Come Out".People.Archivedfrom the original on May 5, 2021.RetrievedDecember 29,2022.
- ^abcdefghEnnis, Dawn (February 7, 2022)."Star Trek's Blu del Barrio & Ian Alexander: Transgalactic Heroes".Out.Archivedfrom the original on February 7, 2022.RetrievedDecember 30,2022.
- ^abcdefghAdams, Nick (September 2, 2020)."Meet Star Trek: Discovery's Blu del Barrio".GLAAD.Archivedfrom the original on September 2, 2020.RetrievedDecember 29,2022.
- ^abcdefghdel Barrio, Blu (October 26, 2020)."Blu del Barrio Interview"(Interview). Interviewed by Dawn Ennis.RetrievedDecember 29,2022– viaYouTube.
- ^abcdefghEnnis, Dawn (October 29, 2020)."This 'Star Trek' Actor Came Out After Their Character Did".Forbes.Archivedfrom the original on December 29, 2022.RetrievedDecember 29,2022.
- ^Meehan, Alex (September 20, 2021)."Star Trek actor Anthony Rapp featured in official D&D musical event".Dicebreaker.Archivedfrom the original on September 21, 2021.RetrievedDecember 29,2022.
- ^"The Cast of 'Star Trek: Discovery' Plays Dungeons and Dragons: Watch".gaynrd.January 30, 2022.Archivedfrom the original on December 29, 2022.RetrievedDecember 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.Archivedfrom the original on November 10, 2020.RetrievedDecember 29,2022.
- ^Pitt, Alison (February 11, 2021)."Follow the Star Trek: Discovery crew's Dungeons & Dragons campaign with #DiscoDoesDnD".Daily Star Trek News.Archivedfrom the original on February 11, 2021.RetrievedDecember 29,2022.
- ^abcVary, Adam B. (November 6, 2020)."Inside the Groundbreaking 'Star Trek: Discovery' Episode With Trans and Non-Binary Characters".Variety.Archivedfrom the original on November 6, 2020.RetrievedDecember 29,2022.
- ^abdel Barrio, Blu (October 29, 2020)."Star Trek's New Non-Binary Star Blu del Barrio Talks Their Debut".Syfy(Interview). Interviewed by Riley Silverman.Archivedfrom the original on October 21, 2021.RetrievedDecember 30,2022.
- ^abcdefghijk"Blu del Barrio".Spotlight.Archivedfrom the original on December 28, 2022.RetrievedDecember 31,2022.
- ^"2019 graduates".Lamda.Archivedfrom the original on September 18, 2020.RetrievedDecember 29,2022.
- ^"'Star Trek: Discovery' Season 3 Will Introduce Non-Binary And Transgender Characters ".TrekMovie.com.September 2, 2020.Archivedfrom the original on September 3, 2020.RetrievedDecember 29,2022.
- ^Joest, Mick (June 20, 2022)."Star Trek: Strange New Worlds' Jesse James Keitel Explains Why Playing Angel Was 'Refreshing'".Cinemablend.Future US.Archivedfrom the original on June 19, 2022.RetrievedDecember 29,2022.
- ^"Otis & Eunice".Royal College of Music.Archivedfrom the original on June 24, 2021.RetrievedDecember 30,2022.
- ^"Virtual Conservatoire delivers simultaneous performances of Otis and Eunice across two cities".Royal College of Music.April 1, 2019.Archivedfrom the original on August 14, 2020.RetrievedDecember 30,2022.
- ^"In the Service of the Queen".Lamda.Archivedfrom the original on May 17, 2021.RetrievedDecember 29,2022.
- ^D'Alessandro, Anthony (August 23, 2022)."TIFF Industry Selects Section Includes Steve Buscemi'sThe Listener', Bill Pohlad'sDreamin' Wild;Jason Reitman's Live Read Returns ".Deadline Hollywood.Archivedfrom the original on August 23, 2022.RetrievedDecember 29,2022.
- ^"The Owl House (2020) Credits".Behind the Voice Actors.RetrievedDecember 30,2022.
- ^Lovejoy, Hannah (July 25, 2021)."Disney introduces first non-binary character in TV series The Owl House".Digital Spy.Archivedfrom the original on July 25, 2021.RetrievedDecember 31,2022.
- ^"Dirty Laundry, Who Hid $20,000 Inside a Bowflex?".Dropout.