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Leguizamo: Drag Movie Success Stolen
26 Jul
Summary
- John Leguizamo feels 'To Wong Foo' deserved more recognition.
- He blames 'Priscilla, Queen of the Desert' for overshadowing his film.
- The movie inspired LGBTQ+ teens to come out, Leguizamo notes.
John Leguizamo recently reflected on the legacy of the 1995 film 'To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything! Julie Newmar.' He expressed a feeling that the movie, which featured him as a drag princess alongside Wesley Snipes and Patrick Swayze, did not receive the recognition it merited upon its release.
Leguizamo attributes the initial lack of widespread acclaim to the earlier release of 'Priscilla, Queen of the Desert,' suggesting there was only room for one drag queen film at the time. Despite earning nearly $50 million, 'To Wong Foo' took decades to achieve cult classic status.
The film's cast, including Leguizamo, took their roles seriously, even working with drag coaches. Leguizamo emphasized the profound impact the movie had on the LGBTQ+ community, with many young viewers sharing how it gave them the courage to come out to their families.
He values this connection with the LGBTQ+ audience most highly, seeing it as the ultimate goal of his work: to make people feel seen and important. The film's critical reception was divided, with a 49% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, though audience scores were more favorable.
