12 Celebs Who Shine At Both Extremes Of The Gender Spectrum

Jessica Wilson
Jun 06, 2022
Jun 06, 2022

Cross-dressing in acting is a centuries-old tradition. Over the years, many actors do the unthinkable to fulfill their roles, from shaving their hair to starting an extreme journey of weight gain or loss. Although it’s not easy to transform from the feminine to the masculine side or vice versa, many have given a masterful performance.
For example, Martin Lawrence stars as an FBI agent and as a master of disguises in the comedy film “Big Momma’s House”. He goes on a tough undercover mission: he becomes Big Momma, a Southern grandmother of ample girth and reputation to capture criminal Lester Vesco. The image of a flatulent fat old woman seemingly sticks in many viewers’ minds.
Here are 12 celebs who immerse themselves in their character of the opposite gender.

#1 Jared Leto as Rayon in “Dallas Buyers Club”

Source: © Tinseltown / shutterstock.com, © Dallas buyers club / Voltage Pictures

Jared Leto earned a Golden Globe and Academy Award for his role as Rayon, a transgender woman who was HIV-positive and struggling with a drug habit in “Dallas Buyers Club”. During the filming of the movie, the actor “had to a wig on, a dress and put on some lipstick”. The makeup was just one thing, he had dropped about 30 pounds and waxed his body from head to toe.

#2 Woody Harrelson as Galaxia in “Anger Management”

Source: © Tinseltown / shutterstock.com, © Anger Management / Revolution Studios

Anger Management is a 2003 comedy film, portraying the life of a businessman who is sentenced to an anger management program. In the movie, Woody Harrelson played a tranvestite prostitute, a small part but he made viewers remember his character.

#3 Jude Law as Minx in “Rage”

Source: © BAKOUNINE / shutterstock.com, © Rage / Sally Potter

Jude Law certainly gets in touch with his feminine side for his role of Minx in “Rage”. The actor played a transvestite supermodel living in New York, the centre of a fashion murder mystery. He put on a black wig with heavy black eyeliner to fulfill his role.

#4 Eddie Murphy as Mama Klump in “The Nutty Professor”

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In “The Nutty Professor” (1996), Eddie Murphy played seven characters at the same time, including Mama Klump. The film received positive reviews and many critics praised Murphy’s makeup and performance.

#5 Martin Lawrence as Big Momma in “Big Momma’s House”

Source: © Kathy Hutchins / shutterstock.com, © Big momma's house / 20th Century Studios

Big Momma’s House is a 2000 comedy that makes many people laugh with its humorous scenes. In the movie, Martin Lawrence portrayed an FBI agent who dressed as a fat old lady, Big Momma, to catch the notorious criminal Lester Vesco.

#6 Glenn Close as Albert Nobbs in “Albert Nobbs”

Source: © Debby Wong/ shutterstock.com, © Albert nobbs / Mockingbird Pictures

The Award-winning actress Glenn Close was in the role of Albert Nobbs, a woman disguised as a man to survive and work in 19th century Ireland. The character is quiet and stiff, with cropped hair and a low, halting voice.

#7 Meryl Streep as The Rabbi in “Angels in America”

Source: © Featureflash Photo Agency / shutterstock.com, © Angels in America/HBO

Meryl's talent knows no bounds. Many people didn't realize her role as The Rabbi in “Angles in America”. She portrayed an elderly rabbi who visits the bedridden protagonist to hear his confession. The role earned her an Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress.

#8 Tyler Perry as Madea in “A Madea Homecoming”

Source: © Tinseltown/ shutterstock.com, © A madea homecoming / Netflix

Tyler Perry played Madea, a gun-toting elderly lady who cursed and found herself at odds with the law. The movie marked the debut of the iconic character in Tyler Perry’s stage productions.

#9 Michael J. Fox as Marlene McFly in “Back To The Future”

Michael J. Fox was in the role of Marlene McFly, the future daughter of Marty McFly and Jennifer Parker in “Back To The Future”. Fox's Marlene is pretty convincingly female with simple outfits.

#10 Tilda Swinton as Orlando in “Orlando”

The filmmaker Sally Potter released a classic adaptation of Virginia Woolf's classic novel. The strongest image is Orlando, played by Tilda Swinton, who had red hair, pale skin, and intense eyes. It was a surprise that the actress used no tricks to transform into a man: no mustache, no sideburns, no deep voice.

#11 John Lithgow as Roberta Muldoon in “The World According To Garp”

Lithgow’s film breakthrough came after playing a transgender woman, Roberta Muldoon, who was a former football player in the comedy-drama “The World According To Garp”. The actor was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his role.

#12 Taylor Swift as a man in “The Man”

“The Man” is a song recorded by American singer Taylor Swift. In the music video, she played a manspreading, cigar smoking, strip-club-going male business executive. Her makeup artist revealed that her transformation took four to six hours.

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