Comic. Feminist. Champion of LGBT rights. Belly dancer. Margaret Cho wears many hats, and they all fit her just fine. She recently spoke to AfterEllen.com about playing her mom for her recent film Bam Bam and Celeste (which will be available on DVD on Aug. 14), hosting the True Colors tour and being a gay icon.
AfterEllen.com: In your new feature film, Bam Bam and Celeste, you wear a wig and makeup to play your mother. Did she like the way you made her look?
Margaret Cho: She thinks she looked old. She looked older than she actually is, which is true because she actually has totally black hair and not so many wrinkles. I needed to make it look different from me, and that was the main thing. I loved wearing the wig and doing the age makeup. It was hilarious.
AE: Your impression of your mom is hysterical, but there’s also something touching and sweet about it.
MC: I think it’s honest. It’s real. It’s not a caricature. It’s a totally honest portrayal.
AE: Does your dad ever get jealous he doesn’t get equal time?
MC: I don’t think so. He doesn’t have an accent; he doesn’t have the same personality. It’s not the same.
AE: How fun was it hanging around with Cyndi Lauper while hosting the True Colors tour?
Margaret Cho: I [was] really excited to be able to do it.
AE: Did you get up there and sing with Debbie Harry? Is that a dream of yours?
MC: I don’t really want to do that. I [was] really excited because I [got] to see the show every night and be a part of it.
AE: You could have played a cow bell.
MC: Or the triangle.
AE: Or you could’ve just twirled around like Stevie Nicks.
MC: That would [have been] great.
AE: Speaking of dancing, one of your hobbies is belly dancing. Are you still doing that?
MC: Yeah. I love it. It’s great. It’s totally a workout. It’s kind of expanded [and] I’m doing some more hula, which is really cool.
AE: I read there’s a resurgence of hula hooping going on right now.
MC: Oh yeah, yeah, yeah. I haven’t done that yet. I have one, but I haven’t done it really.
AE: You were recently added to the board at the women-owned sex toy company, Good Vibrations. What in the world are the duties of a board member there?
MC: I don’t know yet exactly, because I just started. I haven’t really been presented with anything, so I’ll let you know.
AE: Maybe you’ll be testing new toys?
MC: Yeah, it should be cool.
AE: Which means more to you, being a gay icon or an Asian icon?
MC: Oh, I don’t know. I think they’re equally exciting and important. I think it’s trippy to even think of myself as an icon. That is totally weird. But I think it’s great, and I like them both.
AE: In a girl fight to the death for the title of Ultimate Gay Icon, who would win: you, Cher, Liza or Madonna?
MC: Oh, my God, I think it would have to be Cher.
AE: Why?
MC: Cher is the greatest.
AE: No, I mean a knock-down, drag-out.
MC: Oh, I don’t know. I think Cher could really kick ass. Or Madonna.
AE: Sure. Madonna has some serious guns.
MC: She works out. But then again, Liza Minnelli beat the s— out of David Guest.
AE: But he’s an easy take-down.
MC: Yeah.
Watch the trailer for Bam Bam and Celeste here:
For more on Margaret Cho, visit her official website.
Watch the trailer for Bam Bam and Celeste here:
For more on Margaret Cho, visit her official website.
