The original Lando Calrissian in “Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back,”Billy Dee Williams has now come out as “gender fluid.” In a recent interview withEsquire, the 82-year-old said, “I think of myself as a relatively colorful character who doesn’t take himself or herself too seriously.” I say ‘himself’ and ‘herself’ because I also see myself as feminine as well as masculine.” He added, “I’m a very soft person. I’m not afraid to show that side of myself.”
Williams said the most memorable role of his career was playing Gale Sayers, a 1971 Emmy award winning film about two football players who were roommates and best friends. “It was a love story, really," he says. "Between two guys. Without sex. It ended up being a kind of breakthrough in terms of racial division.”
When Billy Dee was told that Donald Glover – who played a young Lando in “Solo” in 2018 – spoke about that same type of gender fluidity when he was in the role, he said, “Really? That kid is brilliant—just look at those videos,” referencing “This is America” by Glover’s musical alter ego,Childish Gambino.