Page 54 - Esquire - USA (Winter 2020)
P. 54
the Big Bite
That’s a humble way of put-
ting it. For nearly half a century,
he’s been one of the coolest actors
ever to appear onscreen. As Lando
Calrissian, the suave, cape-wearing
hero of the Star Wars universe,
he’s immortalized as the quintes-
sential figure of intergalactic chic.
But beyond the sci-fi saga that has
captivated generations, he’s a pro-
lific actor and artist—he even de-
signs his own clothes, showing up to
our early-October photo shoot in a
beautiful brown belted overcoat he
made himself.
When he starts telling me about
what it takes to be cool, we’re at
the beginning of our interview at
the Russian Tea Room in midtown
Manhattan. He’s already had a long
day of graciously appeasing legions
of fans at New York Comic Con.
Williams hasn’t been to the restau-
rant in “a hundred years,” he says,
but it was a regular haunt of his as a
20-something Broadway actor. (He
F I L M
SMOOTH
OPERATOR
As the legendary Billy Dee Williams
returns to Star Wars,
he talks to Matt Miller about his
After a 36-year absence,
masculine and feminine sides, Lando reemerges his effortless charm. In a simple tan
the legacy of Lando, and how after this month in Star Wars: button-up, with his hair slicked back, Williams contin-
The Rise of Skywalker. ues his analysis of cool: “And you see I say ‘himself’ and
82 years he’s never lost his style ‘herself,’ because I also see myself as feminine as well
as masculine. I’m a very soft person. I’m not afraid to
Billy Dee Williams’s guide to being cool in- show that side of myself.”
volves one simple step: “Be yourself.” He tells When I point out that Donald Glover talked about
me this while sipping a Tito’s vodka neat with a lit- that type of gender fluidity when playing a young Lando
tle bit of Emergen-C sprinkled into it (a healthier in 2018’s Solo, Williams lights up. “Really? That kid is
choice than the Colt 45 with which he will be eter- brilliant—just look at those videos,” he says, referenc-
nally associated). “I never tried to be anything ex- ing Glover’s “This Is America” (as Childish Gambino).
cept myself. I think of myself as a relatively color- Although he will forever be known as Lando,
ful character who doesn’t take himself or herself Williams is proudest of his Emmy-nominated perfor-
too seriously.” mance as Gale Sayers in the 1971 TV movie Brian’s
46 Winter 2020_Esquire Coat ($6,650) by Berluti; shirt by Serj Custom Suits & Tailoring; ring by John Hardy. photographs: Aaron Richter
