Shea Couleé Teases Leaving Her Drag “Print” On Her Mystery Marvel Role

When it was announced last week that Drag Race star Shea Couleé was joining the Marvel Cinematic Universe, it immediately felt very correct. After all, she’s the epitome of charisma, uniqueness, nerve, and, most of all, talent.

While Shea’s role remains a mystery, what we do know is that she’ll be appearing in Ironheart, which focuses on the character Riri Williams (Dominique Thorne)  an inventor who, like Ironman, creates her own super armor suit. The character will be introduced in the upcoming Black Panther: Wakanda Forever.

According to speculation, Shea will be playing the role of Darkveil, a drag queen-inspired villain whose creator Sina Grace says she took inspiration from various queens including none other than Shea herself.

While Shea didn’t confirm if she’s indeed playing Darveil, the superstar did drop some tantalizing clues about what fans can expect when she does arrive in the MCU — including that drag is a part of the character.

Shea, speaking with E! News, shared that she was able to make the role her own and leave her trademark stamp on the mystery character. “Everyone at Marvel has been so unbelievably open and receptive to my experiences and my expertise about drag,” she said. “They’ve allowed me to really come into the MCU and put my very specific Shea Coulee print on the Marvel Universe.”

She teases that her role is one fans won’t soon forget. “It’s going to be really impactful,” she said of Ironheart, which is currently filming, adding, “It’s going to be so smart and creative and clever and funny, and sexy. And so, so, so, so Chicago.”

That Shea’s not only the first drag queen to join the MCU but to also be able to showcase her art is a huge deal, and she knows it.

“It’s really so humbling to be able to crossover into a much more mainstream avenue, and push the needle forward as far as drag is concerned, in the way that it’s consumed and in pop culture,” Shea said. “I’m so deeply excited for everyone to see what this role is, what it entails and everything it is.”

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