On the breakout 1992 single “Supermodel,” RuPaul delivered a three-word commandment that has outlasted most acting manuals: “You better work.” Judging by the pioneering drag queen’s decades-long career, that philosophy yields results.
Entertainers of all stripes could take a page from multihyphenate RuPaul’s Emmy-winning playbook—especially actors. For example, she fills every scene of director Adam Shankman’s side-splitting spoof “Stop! That! Train!” (2026) with stiletto-sharp comic timing and complete commitment to the bit. Playing President Judy Gagwell, she leads a stacked cast of “RuPaul’s Drag Race” alums.
Acting inspiration doesn’t just come from dissecting Meryl Streep’s oeuvre. Here are five lessons that actors can learn from drag performers.
How to Become a Drag Queen: A Complete Guide1. Sweat the small stuff.
Believe it or not, some of the greatest drag lip syncs are master classes in subtlety. Interpreting a song through only expression and movement requires full embodiment of a text—even if that doesn’t call for a fan-favorite death drop.
Consider “Stop! That! Train!” star Latrice Royale’s transportive delivery of “(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman,” from the fourth season of “RuPaul’s Drag Race.” Her competitive lip sync opponent, Kenya Michaels, paired Aretha Franklin’s soul ballad with high-energy dance moves. Royale simply parked on the stage and let the song speak. She brought heartfelt moments to life with near-stillness, telling a powerful story of motherhood through the use of a fake pregnancy belly. (It was from the episode’s runway challenge; don’t worry about it.)
Royale’s costar Symone never lets a facial muscle go to waste as a lip sync performer. Watch her interpretation of Ariana Grande’s “No Tears Left to Cry” from Season 13 of “Drag Race.” Symone connects with every lyric, fluidly moving through a sexy snarled lip at “I like it” to a playful megawatt smile at “Shut your mouth.” Not a stunt in sight. Restraint can be sexy too.
2. Then again, sometimes bigger is better.
Knowing when to play to the back of the house is a valuable instinct too. Counterculture drag icon Divine found a creative soulmate in filmmaker John Waters, and the queen’s larger-than-life choices defined one of cinema’s greatest collaborations. Divine brought hilariously braying line deliveries and complete fearlessness to “Pink Flamingos” (1972), “Hairspray” (1988), and more of Waters’ trashy visions.
Lip syncs make great study aids here as well. In a memorable “RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars” Season 4 smackdown, Naomi Smalls recognized that Judy Garland’s “Come Rain or Come Shine” called for camp theatricality. Her broad physicality and off-kilter mugging worked perfectly with Garland’s over-the-top vocals.
3. Only you can bring you.
Actors don’t stand out by trying to be like everyone else. Leaning into your unique perspective as a performer creates richer art; those who get it, get it.
For instance, Austrian singer and drag artist Conchita Wurst won the 2014 Eurovision Song Contest—already a haven for one-of-a-kind performances—with the soaring power ballad “Rise Like a Phoenix.” But unlike so many Eurovision entries, this one didn’t rely on camp.
Sparkling in a golden gown, the bearded queen delivered triumphant lyrics with nary a wink. It’s easy to conflate drag with comedy; Wurst’s elegant sincerity might be the performance’s most subversive aspect.
4. Know your references.
Some of the best portrayals of real-life figures combine keen observation of mannerisms with an element of personal perspective. Think about Will Ferrell’s George W. Bush from “Saturday Night Live” (he played Bush for nine years, starting in 2000) or Natalie Portman playing Jackie Kennedy in Pablo Larraín’s “Jackie” (2016). Neither actor rested on basic mimicry.
Celebrity impersonation has long been a cornerstone of the drag art form, usually for comedic effect. “Snatch Game,” a staple “Drag Race” improv challenge, is built around it—and all of the show’s greats have prioritized essence over strict accuracy.
For example, “Stop! That! Train!” star Jujubee gave a memorable performance as Eartha Kitt on the fifth season of “All Stars.” No one would ever confuse this queen for the purring Catwoman of the 1960s “Batman” series, so why attempt verisimilitude? Instead, Jujubee identified Kitt’s feline sensuality and heightened it to absurd lengths.
5. Create your own opportunities.
In a highly competitive industry, perhaps the best way to keep working is to make your own work. Consider “Insecure” star Issa Rae, who started as a web series creator before making it big at HBO, or how Ben Affleck and Matt Damon wrote the screenplay for their breakout film, “Good Will Hunting” (1997).
Few performers hustle quite like drag queens. As though spending years perfecting their looks and performances weren’t impressive enough, many queens also take on any number of creative side projects. For instance, “RuPaul’s Drag Race” alums and longtime artistic collaborators BenDeLaCreme and Jinkx Monsoon write, produce, and star in an annual sellout Christmas stage show turned filmed holiday Hulu special. San Francisco LGBTQ arts scene staple Peaches Christ founded the horror movie showcase “Midnight Mass,” later transforming it into a popular podcast and live touring shows.
Discouraged by flopping an audition? Comedy duo Trixie Mattel and Katya Zamolodchikova lost Season 7 of “Drag Race.” They responded by building a RuPaul-worthy empire: multiple hit web series, an award-winning podcast, touring stage shows, a New York Times bestselling book, music albums, and more. Earlier this year, Mattel landed a guest spot on HBO’s “The Comeback,” co-created by Michael Patrick King and Lisa Kudrow. Zamolodchikova acted opposite Jean Smart on an episode of Lucia Aniello, Paul W. Downs, and Jen Statsky’s HBO Max hit “Hacks.”
You don’t have to become a media mogul to grow your acting career, of course. But there’s a lesson in these queens’ industry acumen: Don’t just wait for the work to come to you.
