La Voix, the alter ego of Chris Dennis, a 45-year-old English drag performer, has showcased versatile talents in comedy, singing, and dancing. Notably, La Voix gained recognition as a runner-up on RuPaul’s Drag Race U.K. season six and is currently captivating audiences on the BBC’s Strictly Come Dancing. However, before his television stardom, Dennis worked as a makeup artist in London and unwittingly played a role in a significant jewelry robbery in 2009.
The incident, one of the biggest heists in British history, involved two armed men in suits entering Graff Diamonds’ flagship store in London’s West End on August 6, 2009. They stole approximately £40 million ($73 million at the time) worth of jewelry pieces. Disguised with prosthetics and makeup, the thieves sought the services of Dennis, who was then a 29-year-old freelance makeup artist at Charles Fox of Covent Garden, a renowned makeup supplier for film and theatre productions.
Dennis recalled being hired to provide “ageing makeup” for the two men under the guise of a music video shoot. Despite noticing their slightly standoffish behavior, he proceeded to apply latex and makeup as requested. The men paid for the service in cash and left in a taxi. It was only the next day, when Dennis saw a newspaper featuring CCTV images of the same men, that he realized their true intentions.
Promptly contacting authorities, Dennis cooperated with the police by providing evidence such as makeup brushes, gowns, and cash for DNA testing. Subsequently, the thieves were apprehended along with their accomplices in 2010, leading to their conviction. Despite the frightening experience, Dennis humorously noted that the suspects were easily tracked down by the police, indicating their lack of sophistication.
The stolen jewels’ fate remains unclear, with reports suggesting they may have been dismantled and sold in other markets. This incident echoed a similar high-profile robbery linked to a makeup artist associated with the same studio in the past. In La Voix’s current spotlight on Strictly Come Dancing, there has been no public response from Dennis regarding the revisited account of his involvement in the Graff Diamonds heist. However, his social media posts reflect his enjoyment of participating in the dance show.