To Wong Foo for Love

Julie Newmar claws her way onto the comeback trail

Screen siren of yesterday and Catwoman forever, Julie Newmar is on the verge of a comeback—of sorts. The title of To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything, Julie Newmar (this September) is all hers. Unfortunately, she's hardly in the film, which is about three drag queens who steal her autographed photo from a Chinese restaurant and carry it cross-country with them as a sacred totem. Eager to spur this incipient wave of new Newmar lust, however, GEORGE WAYNE sought her out for an interview.

George Wayne:Don't you think it's outrageous Steven Spielberg is producing a movie about drag queens?

Julie Newmar: Why not? Today it seems the thing to do.

G.W.Do you have a cameo in the film?

J.N. Spielberg says I have "the money shot." You have to ask him what that means, but you will definitely see me.

G.W.Which of the stars [Patrick Swayze,

Wesley Snipes, John Leguizamo] made the most impressive drag queen to you?

J.N. Well, here are some secrets:

John Leguizamo will definitely be up for an Academy Award.

G.W. I thought that too from the very beginning.

J.N. And Patrick's wonderful.

G.W.Oh? I thought he'd be the worst one.

J.N. No! He has that sleekness, an extraordinary presence like Tony Curtis in Some Like It Hot. And then Wesley, oh my dear!

G.W.You seem to inspire many a drag queen in real life. Why do you think that is?

J.N. I'm still trying to find out what my answer is. But I am larger than life.

G.W.Do you still collect residuals from your stint as Catwoman on Batman?

J.N. Oh, darling, I got a residual yesterday, but not from that—it was $1.25. I wasn't sure whether to throw it in the trash or keep it. SAG must be beside themselves for the contracts they negotiated for us, but that's back then.

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G.W.Do you think you made a better Catwoman than Eartha Kitt?

J.N. She had the best purr—hers by far was the best.

G.W.Now, how old are you? In your mid-60s?

J.N. No, darling, I'm 61.

G.W.Well, you're no old maid, for sure. Do you still find time for a little roll in the hay?

J.N. Well, I can't share all the details with you.

G.W.Why not? You can tell me anything! You once claimed that Warren Beatty chased you all over Rome.

J.N. I did.

G.W.But you denied his sexual advances.

J.N. Well, that part is true.

G.W.Why did you turn down Warren?

J.N. Well, because I had a much more delicious man in New York.

G.W.Who could that have been?

J.N. Well, I'm sworn to secrecy.

G.W.Oh, come on, Julie—you've got to reveal something! And what's the naughtiest thing you've ever done in your life, Ms. Newmar?

J.N. Dancing nude somewhere, but I shouldn't tell you because it would embarrass two major countries. G.W.You mean you were a lap dancer?

*

J.N. No, of course not! How sleazy! It was highly positive—it might have moved one nation closer to another, but no names, please. [Laughing.] G.W.Thierry Mugler loves having you parade the runway of his fashion extravaganzas— J.N. Because I'm magnificent! I'm 5 feet 11 inches, and I weigh 135 pounds, and I look like a racehorse. He's the world's greatest designer.

I have never seen anything in my whole life as beautiful as his 20th-anniversary show from Paris this past March. It changes your life to be in such a show. G.W.Well, thanks for everything, Julie Newmar.

J.N. You're a sweetie.

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