Skip to main content
  • TotalFilm
  • Edge
  • Newsarama
  • Retrogamer
GamesRadar+ GamesRadar+
US EditionUS CA EditionCanada UK EditionUK AU EditionAustralia
Sign in
  • View Profile
  • Sign out
  • News
  • Reviews
  • Features
  • More
    • PS5
    • Xbox Series X
    • Nintendo Switch
    • Nintendo Switch 2
    • PC
    • Platforms
    • Tabletop Gaming
    • Comics
    • Toys & Collectibles
    • Newsarama
    • Retro Gamer
    • Newsletters
    • About us
    • Features
Trending
  • Best Netflix Movies
  • Movie Release Dates
  • Best movies on Disney Plus
  • Best Netflix Shows
Don't miss these
Hero Fiennes Tiffin as Sherlock Holmes during the new show, Young Sherlock.
Streaming Services 6 new movies and shows to watch this weekend on Netflix, Prime, Disney Plus, and more (March 6-8)
Where winds meet character codes
Action RPGs The best Where Winds Meet character creation codes
Cillian Murphy as Tommy in Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man.
Movies The 25 best movies on Netflix to watch right now
(L to R) Steven Yeun as Detective Mike Ro, Matt Damon as Lieutenant Dane Dumars, Ben Affleck as Detective Sergeant J.D. Byrne, and Kyle Chandler as DEA Agent Mateo 'Matty' Nix in The Rip.
Action Movies The 25 best Netflix action movies to watch right now
One Piece
Netflix The 25 best shows on Netflix to watch in 2026
The Lion King is undoubtedly one of the best movies on Disney Plus
Movies The 30 best movies on Disney Plus to watch right now
Jessie Buckley in The Bride
Horror Movies The Bride first reactions say Jessie Buckley's new Frankenstein movie is "what Joker 2 desperately wished it was"
Marlon Brando as Vito Corleone in The Godfather.
Streaming Services The 20 best movies on Paramount Plus to watch right now
Walton Goggins as the Ghoul in Fallout season 2
TV The 25 best shows on Amazon Prime Video to watch right now
Jessie Buckley as Ida/Penny in The Bride
Horror Movies The Bride's violence was "pulled back" after test screenings, but director Maggie Gyllenhaal stands by what was kept in
Sonic, Tails, and Knuckles in Sonic 3
Amazon Prime Video The 25 best movies on Prime Video to watch right now
David Lynch as Gordon Cole and Laura Dern as Diane in Twin Peaks: The Return.
Streaming Services The 25 best shows on Paramount Plus to watch right now
Rumi, Mira, and Zoey in KPop Demon Hunters
Fantasy Movies The 10 best fantasy movies on Netflix to watch right now
Jacob Elordi as the Creature in Frankenstein
Horror Movies The 25 best Netflix horror movies to watch right now
Penelope Cruz as Myrna in The Bride
Horror Movies Penelope Cruz says it was "a pleasure" to "express a lot of rage" in new horror-romance The Bride
  1. Entertainment
  2. Movies

30 Most Memorable Movie Cross-Dressers

Features
By Jen published 15 October 2013

It takes more than just a man in a dress...

When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.

  • Facebook
  • X
  • Pinterest
  • Flipboard
  • Email
Share this article
Join the conversation
Follow us
Add us as a preferred source on Google
Get the GamesRadar+ Newsletter

Bringing all the latest movie news, features, and reviews to your inbox


By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.

You are now subscribed

Your newsletter sign-up was successful


An account already exists for this email address, please log in.
Subscribe to our newsletter

Noxeema, Vida & Chi-Chi - To Wong Foo, Thanks For Everything! Julie Newmar (1995)

It's that old-fashioned tale of three drag queens on a road trip who end up stranded in a small-minded hick town.

Patrick Swayze, Wesley Snipes and John Leguizamo put in stellar turns as the sequin-clad hopefuls travelling to the 'Miss Drag Queen of America Pageant', and the film shines a light on the abuse faced by those who dare to be different. Major kudos for the emotional Spartacus -esque ending as well.

Film Actor - The Masquerader (1914)

In what is now seen as the original Tootsie , Chaplin's The Masquerader sees him portraying a bumbling actor whose constant gaffes get him booted offset.

You may like
  • Shelley Duvall as Wendy Torrance in The Shining The Shining may be Stephen King's least favorite adaptation of his work, but it's my favorite
  • Sonic, Tails, and Knuckles in Sonic 3 The 25 best movies on Prime Video to watch right now
  • Amy Madigan as Aunt Gladys in Weapons. Weapons' Aunt Gladys is an instant horror icon – and 2025's best movie villain

Determined to get his screen-time, he realises his only option is to return as Mrs Chaplin and use his feminine wiles to charm the director.

This wasn't Charlie's only appearance as a lady - he pops the dress back on in both A Woman and A Busy Day.

Evelyn Salt - Salt (2010)

Hunted by her former friends and peers, Angelina Jolie's Eva Salt is forced to 'man-up' in order to retain her freedom and clear her name. This also proves to us that one of the world's most beautiful women does NOT make one of the world's most attractive men. Shudder.

Daniel Hillard - Mrs Doubtfire (1993)

Some say that rather than being a heart-warming family comedy, Mrs Doubtfire is actually a terrifying story of obsession, deceit and attempted murder, but we know that there's nothing creepy about a deadbeat dad disguising himself as a woman in order to gain illegal access to his children and poison his estranged wife new beau. Nothing creepy at all...

Sign up for the Total Film Newsletter

Bringing all the latest movie news, features, and reviews to your inbox

By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.

Viola Hastings - She's The Man (2006)

She's The Man featured Amanda Bynes in her teen movie heyday, and this not-horrendous modern-day adaptation of Shakespeare's Twelfth Night saw her take centre stage to play a girl who dresses up as her own twin brother in order to attend football camp.

We're not quite convinced at the believability of her gender-swap, but apparently it was authentic enough for the campus hottie to fall head over heels, so what do we know?

Kevin & Marcus - White Chicks (2004)

Ok, so it's not what you'd call a 'classic', but the this tale of two bumbling FBI agents who find themselves needing to dress up as two scrawny blonde socialites brought a different level to movie cross-dressing- if you've never seen Marlon Wayans dressed as Anne Dudek then prepare yourself for something reaaally special.

You may like
  • Shelley Duvall as Wendy Torrance in The Shining The Shining may be Stephen King's least favorite adaptation of his work, but it's my favorite
  • Sonic, Tails, and Knuckles in Sonic 3 The 25 best movies on Prime Video to watch right now
  • Amy Madigan as Aunt Gladys in Weapons. Weapons' Aunt Gladys is an instant horror icon – and 2025's best movie villain

But there are happy endings all round, as the lads realise that wearing heels WHILST shopping isn't as easy as it looks, and feminism gains two new supporters. Hurrah!

Brandon Teena - Boys Don't Cry (1999)

Proving that cross-dressing in movies doesn't always have to mean a bloke in a pair of over-sized fake knockers and dodgy wig, Hilary Swank won critical acclaim (and an Academy Award) when she played real-life trans man Brandon Teena in Boys Don't Cry .

Swank fully immersed herself in the role, wrapping her chest in bandages and stuffing her trousers just as Teena had done - it was convincing enough that her neighbours believed the 'young man' coming to and from Swank's apartment was her visiting brother.

The Stoners - The Life Of Brian (1979)

So you think cross-dressing + Monty Python, and chances are your mind goes straight to a robed Terry Jones croaking 'He's not the Messiah, he's a very naughty boy!' out of a window.

However, our favourite moment has to be the gaggle of frustrated Biblical ladies who stick on unconvincing fake beards in order to attend the stoning of a blasphemous old fella.

Mulan - Mulan (1998)

Not only did Mulan disguise herself as a dude in order to infiltrate the Chinese Army & fight for her father's honour, she did it whilst singing angsty songs about her reflection. Talk about multi-tasking.

She also managed to save the Emperor's life, defeat the Huns and single-handedly convince the entire Chinese Empire that women could do more than cook dinner and have babies. The originator of girl power? We think so.

The Joker - The Dark Knight (2008)

Heath Ledger's dad, Kim Ledger, said about this scene: “The hospital scene is interesting because when he was a kid, his sister Kate liked to dress him up as a nurse."

“He looked pretty funny like that. He looked pretty funny in the film, too.”

We couldn't have said it better ourselves.

  • 1
  • 2
  • 3

Current page: Page 3

Prev Page Page 2
Jen
Read more
Shelley Duvall as Wendy Torrance in The Shining
The Shining may be Stephen King's least favorite adaptation of his work, but it's my favorite
 
 
Sonic, Tails, and Knuckles in Sonic 3
The 25 best movies on Prime Video to watch right now
 
 
Amy Madigan as Aunt Gladys in Weapons.
Weapons' Aunt Gladys is an instant horror icon – and 2025's best movie villain
 
 
Marlon Brando as Vito Corleone in The Godfather.
The 20 best movies on Paramount Plus to watch right now
 
 
Superman kisses Lois Lane in James Gunn's Superman
The 20 best movies on HBO Max to watch right now
 
 
Year in Review: The Best of 2025 main listing image for Best Movies of 2025 featuring images from Weapons, Superman, Sinners, and The Long Walk
The 25 Best Movies of 2025
 
 
Latest in Movies
Five Nights at Freddy's 2
After the first two movies were written by Scott Cawthon, Five Nights at Freddy's 3 reportedly has new screenwriters
 
 
Mortal Kombat movie
Mortal Kombat 2 star joins in with Street Fighter movie beef after Game Awards dig because he "loves a good rivalry"
 
 
Fujino and Kyomoto eating in Look Back
Live-action adaptation of Chainsaw Man creator's Look Back will escape Japanese cinemas and come to the west
 
 
Aang, Sokka and Katara standing on a stone wall during the series Avatar: The Last Airbender
Aang director confirms the next Avatar movie has wrapped, but seems to be still fighting for a theatrical release
 
 
Princess Rosalina in The Super Mario Galaxy Movie trailer
Certified Nintendo fangirl and Rosalina actor Brie Larson says Super Mario Galaxy is one of her favorite games
 
 
The Super Mario Galaxy Movie
A Nintendo Nostradamus somehow predicted Donald Glover's Yoshi casting in The Super Mario Galaxy Movie over a year ago
 
 
Latest in Features
BG3
The future of RPGs is isometric
 
 
Photo of a Mario nendoroid figure holding a microSD Express card with a Turtle Beach Switch 2 case in the background.
These Mario Day-inspired Switch 2 accessories will power up your console more than a super star
 
 
Underside of Alienware 16 Area-51 gaming laptop with glass viewing window and RGB fans
We could get a shock when 2026 gaming laptop prices are unveiled, here's what you need to know about buying this year
 
 
Emily Rudd as Nami and Iñaki Godoy as Monkey D. Luffy in Netflix's One Piece
One Piece season 2 ending explained: Who is Mr. Zero? Who dies? Will there be a season 3?
 
 
In Hitman World of Assassination, Agent 47 sits at the departure gate in an airport during the loading screen
After weeks spent locked into Hitman's Freelancer mode, I realize there's one vital thing 007 First Light needs to learn
 
 
Mario gadgets, accessories, and games on a blue background
The ultimate Mario Day starter pack, kit up for the plumber's big day
 
 
LATEST ARTICLES
  1. A lady looks shocked.
    1
    55-year industry vet made the first CRPG, got laid off, went bankrupt, but "I don't care": "Business does not love you"
  2. 2
    Pokopia's unhinged dialogue is tempting me away from Animal Crossing: "It's a pretty nice butt, don't you think?"
  3. 3
    The Asus ROG Azoth 96 HE has returned to take the magnetic crown, but that price tag is going to be a problem
  4. 4
    Dragon Quest creator says English is "a simple language," so "the flavor tends to get lost" when translating games
  5. 5
    One Piece season 2 answers a near 30-year-old manga mystery in surprisingly straightforward fashion

GamesRadar+ is part of Future US Inc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Visit our corporate site.

Add as a preferred source on Google Add as a preferred source on Google
  • Terms and conditions
  • Contact Future's experts
  • Privacy policy
  • Cookies policy
  • Accessibility statement
  • Careers
  • About us
  • Advertise with us
  • Review guidelines
  • Write for us
  • Accessibility Statement

© Future US, Inc. Full 7th Floor, 130 West 42nd Street, New York, NY 10036.

Please login or signup to comment

Please wait...