Boys will be girls - The best drag queens in movie history - God Save the Drag Queen!

Boys will be girls... 

These are my personal picks for the best drag queens in cinema history.  There are so many more performances that are amazing and list worthy but these are the ones that stood out as particularly brilliant and different in some way.  Enjoy and God Save the Drag Queen!

1.  Jaye Davidson in The Crying Game

Jaye Davidson was the most beautiful boy-man/woman in drag film history. The only giveaway that he was a man in this brilliantly written, acted and directed film is the character, Dil’s over-the-top diva-ness which is typical of drag queen characters. Jaye’s Dil was all woman, fragile and feisty. Under that façade of her tough, devil-may-care attitude, she was honest, devoted, heart broken and complex. Her determination to keep her dignity against all adversity and her willingness to fully trust her lover, no matter what the request, made her the number one drag queen on this list.

2.  Phillip Seymour Hoffman in Flawless

This is a movie that has been overlooked and should not have been. As always, Phillip Seymour Hoffman was brilliant and stole the show, even against a Robert DeNiro portraying a stroke victim. Phillip’s character was a drag queen that worked at a NYC drag club and was aware that she/he was not attractive as either sex, yet she held her head high and made herself loveable through wonderfully dry humor. His/her line “It costs a lot to look this cheap.” embodies her outlook on life and her constant reference to classic movie glamour queens was her way to deal with everything that came her way. As she is climbing up a high fire escape, in heels, in the pouring rain, with thugs shooting at her, she gathers the strength to face her fears and keep climbing as she inspirationally says “Grace Kelly in Rear Window, Honey.” She is the most interesting of all of the drag queens on this list but Jaye won out by a thread of a fish-net stocking. “Marilyn Monroe in Bus Stop, Honey”.

3.  Patrick Swayze - To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything! Julie Newmar

Regardless of his natural, rugged handsomeness, Patrick Swayze embodied the soul of a woman, better than any other on this list. Although he was an attractive female, he was not the most externally convincing woman; however, his performance got him on this list. His character showed a sweet, womanly sister-ship love and maternal nature, and this made him one of the truest women “on the inside” as well as on the outside. He personified the strength of self-esteem and the gentleness and kindness of a real woman. He made a beautiful woman, inside and out.

4.  Divine in Everything by John Waters
Hairspray, Pink Flamingos, etc.

Thanks to the fearless John Waters, the world was introduced to the most lovable drag queen of all time. No, not Mink Stole, she’s actually female…but Miss Divine! She was a horrible actor/actress and fans couldn’t get enough of her tasteless and fearless delivery of her performances. To give her credit, by the time she was in the original musical, Hairspray, her acting had improved immensely but so had Water’s budgets. The ultra-low budget, no rules film-making of John Waters let us get to see Divine in all her Divinity and for that, we thank you John Waters. To quote a dear friend, Divine was more woman than you could ever be and more man than you could handle!”

In addition, on a personal note, I once read a line John Waters wrote in one of his quirky books that would have been great for Divine to deliver, had she still been with us and it was “I wish I was a woman, so I could have an abortion” as she drives by the abortion clinic screaming at the protestors. Rest in peace, Miss Divine, you are missed.

5.  Tim Curry in Rocky Horror Picture Show

Tim Curry was the hottest, sexiest and least attractive drag queen on this list but was he/she sassy, powerful and on fire! His freakiness, his brilliance, his unstoppable libido and gigantic …ego, makes the audience want to “Come on up to the lab, and see what’s on the slab…with great antici………..ppppation.”

Honorable Mentions
Some Like It Hot – both Jack Lemmon and Tony Curtis
Priscilla Queen of the Desert
Tootsie
Mrs. Doubtfire

Hedwig and the Angry Inch did not make this list because Hedwig was not a drag queen but a transgender, albeit, one with a botched sex-change job, but nonetheless, mostly female.

If you would like to see my review of Hedwig, in which the film and she are both lifted on a very high sequined pedistal, please go to:

www.examiner.com/x-14288-Norfolk-Movie-Examiner~y2009m8d5-Hedwig-and-the-Angry-Inch-is-not-just-a-gay-love-story--or-about-a-botched-sex-change--more-here