John Cameron Mitchell on the role of Joe Exotic: “I didn’t want to imitate”

John Cameron Mitchell is a multi-talented man who has worked on stage and screen as an actor, writer and director. He is best known for co-writing and starring in the musical Gender Rocker. Hedwig and angry inch – First on Broadway, then in the 2001 film adaptation, and later in the Broadway revival of Tony – Mitchell is one of the most prolific and beloved stone performers of his generation. This year, Mitchell got a mullet and lots of eyeliner to play the infamous Joe Exotic in the Peacock miniseries. Against Joe CarrollCompared to Kate McKinnon as Joe’s nemesis, Carol Baskin. mitchell sat down THR Consider your approach to a character being too demanding and meeting an angry person.

I read that you said you didn’t watch Netflix tiger king. Do you know Joe Exotic Story?

Yes, vaguely. I didn’t want to imitate my audience because I think it’s karaoke or something. Katie and I were probably 50% real people and 50% our performance, which would free you up for more emotional scenes. We don’t know what it’s like personally. He also knew he was changing his accent and his voice depending on who he was talking to. Much is left to the imagination. I didn’t really say [anyone who knew Joe]But I watched a lot of your videos to get you in. A lot of things allow you to be who you are with your uncle and you start with your uncle.

Is this your typical process?

I’m not a pretend person, but it’s fun to find. I used to move around a lot as a kid, so I changed my approach a lot. I got used to it. I grew up where he grew up: Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas. It is us [were born] Six weeks apart. I know where he was, what music he was listening to. I was a gay kid too, not on a farm like him, but the boys I had a crush on were.

It is beyond the mainstream, the study of which interested you in the works you have written. Was it an appeal?

Definitely. I love all kinds of character games, but lately it’s getting weirder. and i can relate [a bit to him]I’m a bit of an entrepreneur with different types of projects, bringing people together, in his case, sometimes dominating, and for me, I hope he’s more benevolent. His primitive wounds never healed, so he began to latch them onto Carol and did the same to her. They mistakenly threw themselves at the people who had hurt them in the past.

Given their long-standing animosity, the crazy thing is that they usually don’t know each other in real life.

They could have been friends had they noticed anything, but he decided these owners, who are mostly men, were using cats, and he was wrong. He was considered a hypocrite and was likely compared to the many men who beat him. What it wasn’t. Of course, he got away more when he tried to kill her. It’s hard to relate to him. But I can relate to other topics. I lost a boyfriend to addiction; She lost two husbands. I could really draw on these things. And perhaps he somehow imitated his oppressor and overcame them. He was as much Drag King as Hedwig Drag Quinn.

How much does a costume, hairstyle and makeup add to your performance?

Found my hearing mullet on Amazon – within 24 hours [of Tiger King‘s premiere] Everywhere Joe Exotic Kefala was available. I had these jeans from someone in London who wore them in the back. I broke my ass auditioning. Showers can be a little conservative. He was saying, “Come on, we can do this.” We saw several penises [on TV] now but [we draw the line at] defraud.

As a person who is also a director, is it hard to resist the director’s urge when you’re there strictly as an actor?

Ცოტა. We had this ritual where he would go in front of every scene. [the writers] With ideas, often cutting things or playing. The last episode is a great scene where Joe has a fantastic speech in front of an audience and [showrunner Etan Frankel] Let me rewrite, block, show on Broadway. TV movie directors don’t always cultivate; They focus more on their reality than the big picture. And that’s something I always know. But I was so happy with my directors that they actually asked me to freak out. I always tried to be respectful and give the showman what he wanted, but also give me what he needed.

Joe wasn’t happy you turned him in for the show.

He wrote something on Twitter when he saw my picture. [in costume]”He’s like a hot fag to me when I’m just a working gay man.” I like a lot. Femininity is a major flaw in the rocky world of that time and place. It was sad because despite all his pride, he was really fighting for his own love.

While weirdness isn’t the main focus of this show, it is ONE Approach. How has the strange narrative changed over the course of your career?

None of the creators of this show were strangers, but Kate and I embodied our personalities. I don’t think he was played by a man of stone – Nicolas Cage could have been as crazy as Joe. I don’t think there should be a hard and fast rule, but maybe weird people should pay attention. But it works. I’m still going to play directly with people.

The interview is edited for length and clarity.

The story first appeared in a separate June issue of The Hollywood Reporter. Click here to subscribe to the magazine.