Being an actor is a wonderful job, for it allows actors to become a variety of different persons and take up roles that allow them to do all sorts of things and get experiences that a normal human being cannot, even with an unimaginable amount of money. Hollywood star Huge Weaving probably knows how it feels, seeing the range of characters and roles he has taken in his decades-long and very prolific career.
From being part of The Matrix films to The Lord of the Rings and voicing several animated characters, Weaving has received widespread acclaim for his acting chops. Yet, before he became the sinister Agent Smith or Elrond, the actor’s best role was as a drag queen.
Before Agent Smith, Hugo Weaving was known best for playing a Drag Queen
Hugo Weaving has enjoyed a successful career so far, both in big production blockbusters and small, indie films. It is thanks to him that iconic characters like Elrond from the Lord of the Rings and Hobbit franchise, the cold and calculating Agent Smith from The Matrix, and the terrifying Red Skull from the MCU became a part of pop culture today.
However, before he made a name for himself in Hollywood and established himself as an actor worthy of praise and acclaim, he was best known for playing a Drag Queen. Weaving, alongside Guy Pearce and Terence Stamp, starred as Mitzi/Tick in the film The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert.
The 1994 film was a hugely successful feature despite the time it was released. A true game-changer for LGBTQ+ representation in cinema, it followed three drag performers on a road trip in a bus named Priscilla across the Australian Outback, navigating both personal struggles and societal prejudices along the way.
Weaving’s performance was no less than a revelation, as he brought a mix of humor, vulnerability, and charm to the character who reconnects with his son while on the trip. Also a breakthrough feature for his career, it helped prove that he was more than an average actor out there, capturing hearts with sequins, sass, and soul.
Hugo Weaving wanted Priscilla to have a sequel
Hugo Weaving’s performance as the Drag Queen Mitzi/Tick remains one of his most heartfelt and iconic performances of all time. While he moved on to a range of varied roles, his love for The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert did not end there.
Over the years, the actor has expressed his deep appreciation for the Oscar-winning film, revealing to Gay Times back in 2018 about how fascinating and fun it was to make. In the same interview, Weaving remarked that he wanted the film to have a sequel.
We had ideas at the time. Come on, my idea was that the girls should build a space rocket and we were trying to go to the moon. You start doing all this terrible, bad (Georges) Méliès brothers shitty moon rocket. You can go out to that territory with poor animation, and the girls up on the moon meeting funny monsters. I thought that would be a good idea.
Stated the LOTR star, giving his crazy idea for a sequel. While he also remarked that a remake is possible now, Weaving believes there is still more to tell about the ‘queens.’ However, a sequel has never materialized, and the film is now heralded as a cultural phenomenon, inspiring stage adaptations and remaining a staple in LGBTQ+ cinema.
The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert is available to be streamed on Amazon Prime Video.
This post belongs to FandomWire and first appeared on FandomWire
