Tag Archive for 'The Adventures of Priscilla Queen of the Desert'

Couch Potato Pickings - Mrs Doubtfire

Personally, I think this is Robin Williams’s best film. It’s certainly his most memorable role.

To be an actor surely it’s essential to drag up at least once? Maybe it’s not so important for women, but for men, yes. Let’s face it, in Shakespeare’s day all the female roles were played by men.

I’m sure there are benefits to doing this too because I reckon that dragging up is possibly the key to success for an actor, what do you think?

The curiosity factor is certainly a box office pull. It’s also likely to get the film fingered for awards, usually for hair and make-up but often for the actor as well. And, by playing an opposite sex role, it guarantees the actor a place in film history. I mean, who can forget these other fantastic drag roles:

Charles Chaplin

A woman? No, it’s Charlie Chaplin.

Joe E Brown & Jack Lemmon

Jack Lemmon was Oscar-nominated for playing this hot girl.

Eddie Murphy

Eddie’s big momma role is certainly a memorable one, and the film was Oscar-nominated for best make-up. It’s also on TV today.

Tim Curry

Don’t judge a book by its cover.

Dustin Hoffman

He was America’s hottest new actress back in the 1980s and was nominated for an Oscar.

Victor/Victoria: James Garner & Julie Andrews

Julie looks jazz hot as a man impersonating a woman in this movie and was nominated for an Oscar

The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert: Terence Stamp

Stamp’s BAFTA-nominated role in this was a far cry from his madding crowd days.

She’s the Man: Amanda Bynes

Amanda Bynes pretends to be her twin brother in this teen romcom loosely based on Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night.

To Wong Fu, Thanks for Everything! Julie Newmar: Patrick Swayze

Forget Dirty Dancing, Swayze looks far more fabulous in drag and was nominated for a Golden Globe for this movie.

Robin Williams

Yes, dear, it’s Robin Williams with a bad Scottish accent. This film won him a Golden Globe.

John Travolta

Pink Ladies reject? No it’s John Travolta. He was nominated for a Golden Globe for this film.

Whoopi Goldberg

Making Whoopi look like this must have been a great challenge.

Big Momma’s House 2: Martin Lawrence

Martin Lawrence doesn’t look too happy about that wig.

Felicity Huffman

Huffman was playing a man becoming a woman which is perhaps even more difficult than straight drag. It saw her nominated for an Oscar anyway.

Boys Don’t Cry: Hilary Swank

Swank won an Oscar for this gender swapping role

Linda Hunt & Mel Gibson

Linda Hunt was the first actor ever to win an Oscar for playing a character of the opposite sex.

On Channel 4 this afternoon at 5.15pm

Couch Potato Pickings - The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert


The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert: Terence Stamp, Hugo Weaving, Guy Pearce

Last week it was Transamerica, this week it’s The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert - transsexuals are all the rage on TV at the moment it seems, and there’s more to come on Thursday. This road movie is the story of a transsexual drag artist and her two drag artist friends who travel from Sydney to a gig in Alice Springs, crossing the Australian Outback in a flamboyantly decorated second-hand bus they affectionately name Priscilla.

The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert

Australia really does produce some fabulous comedy. This is one of my favourite films of all time. It has everything that’s enjoyable about a great drag act (humour, sarcasm, self-deprecation, bitchiness, fabulous wigs, costumes and great songs) and sets it against the stunning scenery of the Australian outback. And, on top of all of that there’s an extremely moving story about friendship and identity that entertains on a deeper human level.

The costumes won an Oscar, the film was nominated for loads of BAFTAs and the soundtrack is fantastic (it includes I Will Survive, I Don’t Care if the Sun Don’t Shine, I Love the Nightlife, Finally, Save the Best for Last, Fernando and Mamma Mia).

The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert: Terence Stamp, Hugo Weaving, Guy Pearce

Here’s a taste of the movie played out to the film’s opening song, I’ve Never Been to Me.

I’ve been to me, as well as Georgia, the Isle of Greece and paradise. I’ve probably seen some things a woman ain’t supposed to see too, but I’d better not say too much about that.