S Poddar
David Walliams, the comedian and beloved children’s author, has opened up about his thoughts on gender and sexuality, describing himself as “probably non-binary.” During an insightful conversation on the Uncomfortable Conversations podcast hosted by Australian presenter Josh Szeps, the former Britain’s Got Talent judge shared candid reflections about identity and societal expectations.
When gender politics came up, the star of Little Britain admitted that if he were growing up today, he’d probably identify as non-binary. Questioned how he might describe himself as a teenager in the current climate, he said, “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.”
Walliams said that the experience he had studying drama at Bristol University encouraged him to explore and experiment. “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,” he shared. “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.”
Speaking on recalling his university days, the 53-year-old reflected fondly on how he would go attend gay clubs with his then girlfriend. “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,” he reminisced.
When host Josh Szeps brought up his sexuality, asking if he had explored relationships with men in his adolescence, Walliams responded honestly. “Yeah, I’d say so, but again it seems odd because these things were a big deal to talk about,” he said.
He went on to reflect on the fluidity of sexuality and how it doesn’t have to fit into fixed labels. He compared himself to his previous Little Britain co-star Matt Lucas who is gay, and said: “Sometimes I think my life would be a lot easier if I was just gay. Because I’m really drawn to gay things. I really like gay culture. It’s interesting because Matt Lucas is gay”. And he’s like into football and he’s into musicals as well, actually… But yeah, I’d say I’m probably sort of camper than him. It’s hard, I don’t know.”
Walliams has enjoyed a multi-decade career in show business, transitioning from sketch comedy to becoming one of the UK’s best-selling children’s authors. His debut novel, The Boy in the Dress, explored themes of identity and acceptance, and he now views it as ahead of its time. “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,” he said.
Although he is very open in public, Walliams maintains his private life. The celebrity is a father to 11-year-old son, Alfred, whom he has with his ex-wife, model Lara Stone. The couple married in 2010 in a lavish ceremony at Claridge’s in London but divorced in 2015 after five years of marriage.
Walliams’ reflections on identity provide a highly insightful look into how societal norms and the conversations of gender and sexuality have changed with time. While none of his life’s experiences may neatly fit into one category, one may say that his openness is an avenue toward embracing greater understanding in individuality and expression.
