David Walliams has revealed that he would “probably” identify as non-binary if he were younger, and suggested that his life might have been simpler if he were gay.
The former Britain’s Got Talent judge, 57, spoke candidly about his gender identity and sexuality during an honest interview on the Uncomfortable Conversations with Josh Szeps podcast, released on Monday.
Reflecting on his past, the Little Britain star shared that, had he had access to the language and understanding of gender we have today, he would "probably" identify as non-binary.
“I think it’s interesting. I find change interesting,” the Little Britain star said when asked about how gender identity has evolved in the last decade.
He added: “And I mean, you know, I wrote a book called ‘The Boy in the Dress’ 15 years ago, which was sort of seen as a bit more daring then, and it's always something - I've always sort of felt like celebrating difference on, so I've always thought it's exciting.”
Later on in the conversation, the comedian said of his own identity: “I sort of think, where would I be positioning myself maybe, if I was now 19 or 20. Because I went to Bristol University and did a drama degree. And I think that course is where you're probably… if there's a group of people who are going to be most interested in that sort of area, most drawn to that area, it’s probably going to be drama students.”
“What do you think you would be doing if you were 19?” host Szeps asked.
To which, he responded: “I don't know. I mean, I think in a way I'd probably say I'm non-binary, I think. Probably. I don't know exactly.
“But I mean, it’s interesting. So I had this girlfriend at the end of university and we used to go out - I used to go out - we used to go to like gay clubs and dance for like six hours and I'd be wearing like a skirt or stuff like that.”
After discussing his clubbing experiences, the Aussie host probed further into Walliams’ sexuality, referencing how the BBC star described himself as “Britain’s most famous bi-curious comedian” and asked, “was that a true reflection of your adolescence? Did you experiment with guys?”
“Yeah, I’d say so,” he responded. “But again, it almost feels strange because these things were such a big deal to talk about back then.”
Walliams went on to explain his connection to gay culture, comparing himself to his BBC co-star Matt Lucas, 50.
“Yeah, I’ve always been comfortable with it,” he said. “Sometimes I think my life would’ve been easier if I were just gay. I’m really drawn to gay things. I love gay culture.
“It’s funny because Matt Lucas is gay, and he’s into football and musicals too… but yeah, I’d say I’m probably more camp than him. It’s hard to say, I don’t know.”
The British TV star summed up his views on sexuality by suggesting that it's not always a clear-cut, black-and-white matter.
“I think probably most - not everybody - but a lot of people probably are somewhere on the kind of spectrum, aren’t they? … I think men are more wound up about it than girls are,” he explained.
