Australian actress Shabana Azeez is likely to be greatest recognized to American audiences for enjoying the character Victoria Javadi on the medical drama “The Pitt,” however she’s been performing professionally on display screen since 2018, when she appeared within the TV film “F Off, We’re Full.” Azeez appeared in a number of Australian TV exhibits into the 2020s, together with “Why Are You Like This?” and “Metro Sexual.” Along with “The Pitt,” she has different Aussie TV exhibits lined up in 2026, together with “The Airport Chaplain” and an look on the panel collection “Man Montgomery’s Man Mont-Spelling Bee.”
In 2025, although, Azeez appeared in one of many yr’s greatest movies, taking part in the lead position of Saira within the delightfully crass animated movie “Lesbian House Princess.” Directed by Emma Hough Hobbs and Leel Varghese, “Lesbian House Princess” was animated in a daring, broad, colourful type, using shining blue outlines instead of animation’s standard black. The characters are square-headed and kid-friendly, even when the movie’s subject material is decidedly NC-17-rated (in a John Waters sort of means). It is one of many funniest, boldest, gayest motion pictures of its yr, and it was an utter delight.
The title is not any metaphor. Saira is a literal lesbian area princess, the daughter of her planet’s lesbian queens. Her planet’s title is Clitopolis, which is situated in an space of the galaxy often called Homosexual House. Life is protected for lesbians in Homosexual House, they usually not often enterprise exterior of it. Saira is nursing a damaged coronary heart after being dumped by her ultra-cool girlfriend Kiki (Bernie Van Tiel), who’s means too cool for the mild, wimpy Saira.
In fact, Saira has to go on a quest to rescue Kiki after she is kidnapped by a species often called the Straight White Maliens. Yeah, this flick is a hoot.
Lesbian House Princess is a blast of superb homosexual power
The Straight White Maliens reside exterior of Homosexual House and resemble rectangular items of paper. Saira has to take a Problematic Ship to rescue Kiki, and the Vessel, geared up with synthetic intelligence, is itself a straight man (performed by Richard Roxburgh) with no idea of queerness. Its bridge seems to be like a dingy bachelor’s condo, and the ship needs to be slowly launched to the notion that some women like women. The ship wonders why Saira needs to fly a ship when she’d in all probability be happier at, I dunno, the nail salon or one thing.
Lesbians in “Lesbian House Princess” even have magical powers. After they attain a sure degree of lesbian power, they’ll mentally summon a magical two-bladed axe referred to as a labrys. Those that know queer symbolism will immediately grok the labrys image, typically seen on lesbian satisfaction gear. The Straight White Malians intend to get Saira to summon her labrys to energy their Chick Magnet, which is able to presumably make them enticing to girls; their online game trivia abilities aren’t doing the trick.
On the way in which to rescue Kiki, Saira makes a companion in Willow (Gemma Chua-Tran), a delicate, form nonbinary pop star who was deserted on a crystal planet. By means of numerous adventures (together with a drag queen efficiency), Willow and Saira start discovering themselves attracted to 1 one other, and Saira begins to think about that Kiki was really merciless to her from the beginning. It is all very candy, even because the crass jokes fly quick and livid. It is a whimsical and pleasant movie, comfortable to be as queer as doable, and criticizing trendy homophobia and misogyny with a shocking degree of ease.
What did critics consider Lesbian House Princess?
Based mostly on 50 opinions, “Lesbian House Princess” has a 98% approval score on Rotten Tomatoes. Some critics famous that the solid was filled with notable Australian queer celebrities, together with Jordan Raskopoulos, Madeline Sami, Reuben Kaye, and Kween Kong. Many critics responded effectively to the movie’s low-fi appeal and queerpunk attitudes. Cassie Tongue, writing for the Guardian, cherished the movie’s wit, chuckling in any respect the intentionally dumb puns the screenwriters threw in:
“For each gag that’ll make you groan or cringe (April is ‘Gaypril’; Saira lives in […] Clitopolis, which characters typically comment is tough to search out; there is a literal dancing ‘royal p****’), there is a stronger, stealthier joke developing. The script indulges in wordplay (the outdated thespian/lesbian joke will get an important new runner right here) and performs fast-and-loose with viewers expectations (at one level, Saira consults the script to verify a zany plot level is definitely actual).”
Carlos Aguilar, writing for Selection, was additionally tickled by “Princess,” noting that the story was fairly primary, however the earnest queer power was infectious. He wrote:
“Whereas this model of offbeat, hyperaware comedy that engages with each popular culture and bigger societal points is way from uncharted territory, the queer lens by which each and every aspect is noticed right here reads like a robust assertion by itself, even when a few of its components would possibly really feel superficially conceived.”
“Lesbian House Princess” has a fairly Tiffany Blu-ray launch from Umbrella Leisure, and could be rented on Prime Video and on Apple TV. It is also accessible without spending a dime on Kanopy and Hoopla. You haven’t any excuse for not watching this pleasant flick. Joyful Pleasure.
