Legendary stage and screen actor Ian McKellen has teamed up with Ru Paul’s Drag Race UK star Divina De Campo to share the titular role in the upcoming stop-motion animated film, Dragfox. McKellen will voice Ginger Snap the Fox, while De Campo (Owen Farrow) will lend her impressive vocal range to the character’s drag musical number.
The short film centers on Sam (voiced by newcomer Aidan Gale), a child struggling on a journey with their identity, only to be interrupted by a charismatic and mysterious neighborhood fox. Together, this unlikely duo embarks on a magical musical adventure where they discover surprising commonalities and learn to embrace the beauty of their differences
Dragfox is directed by Lisa Ott and produced by Owen Thomas, as part of their master’s programs at the National Film and Television School. “It was important for us to celebrate Sam and reflect to the world that if we truly sit down and listen to someone, we have the power to make the world a little bit less scary for them,” the filmmakers explained. “Who better to deliver that message than the utterly captivating and innately kind, Sir Ian McKellen?”
McKellen shared how the film resonates with his journey: “When I was a kid growing up in South Lancashire just after the war, there were lots of things that preoccupied us, nobody really had time to wonder what it was like to be a little gay boy growing up at a time when that word hadn’t really been invented. We were ‘queers.’ We were looked at from other people’s points of view, and what’s important about growing up — as this film says — is to be yourself. Not in a selfish way, but just in a life-affirming way.
“There was a total lack of that for me, as I suppose there is for trans people today. And often the best way to get a message over is not to make a speech or write a book, but to make people smile. Lead them in. Persuade them there’s nothing frightening going on. Which is exactly what this film does.”
Ian McKellen is an actor and activist, who has received over 60 major international awards for his performances on screen, stage and television. He has been a leading man with the Royal Shakespeare Company and starred in numerous plays. Oscar-nominated for his performance in Gods and Monsters, he is best known to younger audiences for his roles in the X-Men franchise and The Lord of the Rings trilogy, which includes another Oscar nomination for The Fellowship of the Ring. He has been an eloquent advocate for gay rights since he came out in 1988 and co-founded Stonewall, a charity which lobbies for legal and social equality for gay people. Ian was knighted for his contribution to the performing arts and was appointed Companion of Honour ‘for services to Drama and Equality’ by the Queen in 2007.
“Being a part of Dragfox is a dream come true. I get to share a role with an absolute hero and icon!” De Campo enthused. “More importantly, this film is not just a celebration of identity and diversity, but also a beacon of hope for anyone struggling to find their place in the world. For a trans kid, it’s a seminal moment to see yourself reflected in films or TV. The story of Sam and Ginger Snap reminds us all that our uniqueness is our greatest strength, and that love and acceptance can be found in the most unexpected places.”
Drag superstar of stage and screen, and finalist in RuPaul’s Drag Race UK, Divina De Campo is renowned for her high soprano and four-octave range, which have earned her leading roles in various productions. These include Chicago the Musical and the stage adaptation of Hedwig and the Angry Inch, for which she won Best Performer in a Musical at the 2022 UK Theatre Awards. She also stars in The SpongeBob Musical, playing the role of Plankton. When she isn’t performing or filming, Divina can be found making music or raising awareness for one of the many charities she supports.
In addition to its shining voice stars, Dragfox features a score recorded by The London Gay Big Band, a jazz orchestra composed of LGBTQ+ community members. The film was selected by Creative Artists Agency (CAA) for their Moebius Showcase 2024, and has been longlisted for the 2024 Yugo BAFTA Animation Award.
Follow the film’s journey on Instagram @dragfox_animation for festival updates, behind-the-scenes content with the cast and distribution news.
