Top 10 Cross-Gender Acting on TV and Movies

2 John Travolta in Hairspray (2007)

John Travolta is a well-known actor in Hollywood. He’s a manly performer, despite his tight leather pants and musicals. He played Edna Turnblad in Hairspray. Similar to Peter Pan’s role, Edna was traditionally played by a man actor. In 1988, the role was also played by an actor (which we’ll discuss later).

Travolta, who was a lighthearted, happy musical character, wore a 30-pound, fat suit and a wig to portray Edna Turnblad (a work-from-home mom). He was a constant workhorse for makeup artists, who had to do his makeup every day for five hours. Travolta said in interviews that he enjoyed the role.