Star Wars actor Billy Dee Williams embraces gender fluidity
Best known for his role as Lando Calrissian in Star Wars, actor Billy Dee Williams has confirmed that he uses both he/him and she/her pronouns.
Billy Dee Williams, who plays the role of gambler and con artist Lando Calrissian in the original Star Wars films, has come out as gender fluid. In a recent interview with Esquire, the actor confirmed that he uses both he/him and she/her pronouns, embracing gender fluidity and emphasizing that he perceives himself as having both feminine and masculine traits.
“I say ‘himself’ and ‘herself,’ because I also see myself as feminine as well as masculine,” Williams said during the interview. “I’m a very soft person. I’m not afraid to show that side of myself.”
It’s a bold and progressive statement for the 82-year-old actor to make, and it’s the kind we’d love to see more of in Hollywood. After all, if big names like Billy Dee Williams can be comfortable identifying with multiple genders, so can the fans who look up to them. And from the interview, it’s clear that Williams is a big advocate for people accepting themselves.
“Be yourself,” he said. “I never tried to be anything except myself. I think of myself as a relatively colorful character who doesn’t take himself or herself too seriously.”
That perception of himself seems to have carried over to his character, who is unapologetic about who he is from his first appearance back in The Empire Strikes Back. And Williams isn’t the only actor to bring that open honesty to Lando’s character; Donald Glover, who portrayed a younger version of the character in Solo: A Star Wars Story also spoke about embracing gender fluidity prior to his own entry into the Star Wars universe.
Williams was happy to hear about Glover’s acceptance, responding with, “Really? That kid is brilliant. Just look at those videos.” (He’s referring to Glover’s “This Is America.”)
With franchises like Star Wars becoming increasingly diverse, it’s refreshing to see those involved with the movies embracing and accepting a nonbinary view of what gender is. Not only will it help educate those who follow them, but it might give those struggling with their own gender identities the confidence to talk about it.
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