Reader Participation: “Mom, RuPaul doesn’t need that much makeup!”
I recently watched Kinky Boots on Netflix. I could tell it was a Miramax movie because it belonged to that strange subgenre that seems to be kept afloat solely by that one studio: the working-class-Northern-England-learns-about-the-Other movie, a la The Full Monty and Billy Elliott. Nonetheless, it was good. Really good. And best of all was Chiwetel Ejiofor, whom you’ve probably seen but never connected with a name, singing and dancing his heart out as drag queen Lola.
Which got me thinking about another subgenre: the drag queen movie. Today’s A-list males seem to steer clear of the dress-and-heels route, but there’s a healthy list of lesser-known or less of-the-moment actors who’ve seen fit to walk a mile in some pointy patent leather. So, readers, tell me: who are your favorite cinematic drag queens, and why?
Bonus question: Does Julie Andrews count?
Kinky Boots, drag queens, Julie Andrews, Chiwetel Ejiofor
August 13th, 2007 at 9:03 pm
Remember in the Disney animated Robin Hood when Robin Hood and Little John dressed as gypsy women to rob the king? Yeah, that was kinda wierd, now that I think about it. Oodelally!
August 14th, 2007 at 12:40 pm
I always appreciate a good drag movie.
Brydon: there’s a fine military tradition of men dressing up as women to confound the enemy, thank you very much! My own Civil War ancestor, General Nathaniel Lyon, was known to have dressed up as an old woman with a supply cart to get info out of the Rebs. Family honor demands it!
August 15th, 2007 at 11:13 pm
Brydon, I do indeed remember that. Who doesn’t love the Disney Robin Hood? Also, that Little John made a darn convincing woman. I think it may have been the chestal area that did it. And perhaps the huge earrings? (Though I guess that’s a gypsy thing.)
August 15th, 2007 at 11:15 pm
Heather:
Hee!
Does family by marriage count? Are you going to have to start lending Erik your scarves if we’re ever invaded? Genius!
August 17th, 2007 at 10:20 am
Divine. The ultimate drag queen, and probably the ugliest.
Also I own the Disney Robin Hood because it is awesome, and the Lady Cluck as football hero scene is one of the funniest in cinema.
Julie Andrews, that one is perplexing since she is a woman dressing up as a man dressing up as a woman, so I get confused, much like James Garner. But a similar themed movie is Connie and Carla and you should check it out.
August 19th, 2007 at 5:20 pm
I keep meaning to see Connie and Carla and then totally failing. But Toni Colette and David Duchovny! And singing! What is not to love?