By: Lisa Steinberg
Q) We’re so excited to see you in the upcoming film Queens of the Dead. What was it about the film or your character Yasmine that drew you to this project?
A) There were several things that drew me to this film – first and foremost was Tina [Romero]. It was powerful to meet a creator who truly understands what representation means for our community. Her approach was deeply inclusive and I immediately connected to the richness and diversity she brought to the characters.
I’m also drawn to stories that allow our community to exist naturally – without constantly having to explain who we are or justify our presence, without being placed on a platform for judgment. That freedom is rare and it mattered deeply to me.
Finally, there was Yasmine. She lives fully in her truth and does not feel the need to explain herself. She is a woman who entertains and that alignment felt especially meaningful to me – particularly in light of the moment we knew we were heading into with the upcoming election.
Q) How was Yasmine originally described to you?
A) Yasmine was described as the life of the party as you see her. I was very insistent that she not be referred to as a “Drag Queen” because there are many trans women who enjoy performing and entertaining who should still be able to maintain autonomy over their trans identity. However, she was also described as “strong” and then as I read I realized that truthfully she was also egotistical, a bit self centered and seemingly uncaring all a way to protect herself and her journey.
Q) You have some incredible costars in this film. Were you already familiar with most of them before working with them on the movie?
A) There were a few that I already knew and some I had the pleasure of engaging and being pleasantly surprised at how hard many of us work.
Q) Does it take you slipping into a fabulous costume in order for you to become the character?
A) [laughs] The fabulous costume is actually the final seal on the deal. The character is built through long nights of research and a deep understanding of the story’s intended message.
Yasmine has a favorite color – purple. She wears Gucci Bloom Ambrosia di Fiori and is completely addicted to her phone. My interpretation of the script led me to shape her as a fulfilled loner: someone who loves one person above all else and that person is herself. Her survival isn’t calculated – it’s instinctive and, ultimately, unintentionally paramount.
Q) I love that in Queens of the Dead each person must use their unique skills to take down zombies. What skills would Dominique use in order to stay alive in this situation?
A) I have always been a fan of action movies especially Asian action and fantasy films so i would definitely fight hands on, my weapon would probably be a staff that becomes a katana.
Q) Talk about working with director and co-writer Tina Romero.
A) Working with Tina Romero was truly a gift. She fostered a fun, collaborative and familial environment on set – one where creativity felt both supported and celebrated. Tina is absolutely brilliant, directing with an openness that invites communication and encourages meaningful dialogue about each character’s journey.
She balances dedication and professionalism with a lighthearted spirit, creating a space where artists feel safe to explore. Above all, she deeply cares about how our community is represented. As a proud lesbian, Tina is wholeheartedly inclusive of the entire LGBTQIA+ spectrum and she used her directorial debut as a powerful opportunity to send a message of hope through art – especially at a time when our community is living with so much fear.
Q) What were some of your favorite scenes to film or ones you’re most proud of the work you put into?
A) My favorite scenes were the action ones.
Q) The movie won Best Narrative Film at the Tribeca Film Festival. What do you think it is about Queens of the Dead that has made it such a standout horror-comedy?
A) It is a film that centers LGBTQ+ people surviving an apocalypse not as villains, not as antagonists, and not as the cause of the chaos – but simply as people. We exist as we are, navigating the end of the world with the same humanity as anyone else.
In many ways, that mirrors the reality we’re living in now, as our community faces an onslaught of laws attempting to erase us. This film becomes both a reflection and a reminder: we are here, we endure and we survive.
Q) We’d be remiss if we didn’t celebrate your INCREDIBLE and ICONIC performance in the series “Pose.” What did you personally take away from your time working on the show?
A) Thank you. I truly put everything I had into “Pose,” though I didn’t fully realize it until the show came to an end. In the years that followed, I experienced moments of self-doubt and imposter syndrome, largely because I hadn’t yet grasped the immense impact the series had on the world – or how profoundly it would shape my own life.
Working on the show taught me that I could. It showed me that hard work and dedication do pay off – not always in financial ways, but in the strength they build and the resilience they give you to face anything. “Pose” was affirmation.
I walked away from the series fully affirmed in my truth because Mr. [Ryan] Murphy and his team stood in true alliance with the community and created history – herstory. After “Pose,”I believed in my value. I believed that my voice matters, even in moments of silence and stillness.
Q) Certainly, you’ve had so many people who not only compliment your work on “Pose,” but tell you how they resonate with your character or someone else’s. What does that mean to you, personally?
A) It means that we are normal and we do exist. It establishes how much our stories do matter.
Q) Who have you kept in touch with from your time working on the legendary and celebrated series?
A) Everyone, we really established a family, but I have not heard from Lil Papi [Angel Bismark Curiel] in a few years and I hope that he is doing amazingly.
Q) What are the other upcoming projects that you have recently been working on?
A) I am an executive producer, alongside Jonovia Chase and Mike Stratford, on the Netflix documentary I Am Your Venus, which continues the story of Venus Pellagatti Xtravaganza, whose life was tragically cut short before Paris Is Burning was released. Venus’s story was one of the central narratives in that landmark film and this documentary seeks to honor her legacy while addressing the injustice of her loss.
Our long-term goal is to purchase the home where Paris Is Burning was filmed and transform it into a space that serves our community – as transitional housing, a museum and a resource center in Jersey City for trans-identified individuals. While we work toward that vision, we are already an established program, partnering with affiliates to run support groups and host events, screenings and panel discussions. Through this work, we provide education, support and community for trans people, while continuing to uplift and preserve the legacy of house and ballroom culture.
Q) What would you like to say to everyone who are fans and supporters of the work you do on our screens?
A) I would love to express my deepest gratitude! It is because of those that see me as human and a part of this world that I feel comfortable enough to sparkle. I appreciate each and every single one of you and wish you all continued love, success and joy even in the most difficult of times.