In one of the strangest reports in recent memory, the Huffington Post reports that legendary Hollywood beauty Raquel Welch still suspects Mae West was a male drag queen.
The two met and spent a lot of time together during filming of the 1970 film Myra Breckinridge but hadn't really been mentioned until now. During a Raquel Welch film retrospective in New York, Welch stated, "When I went over to say hello to her (one day) I said, 'Hi, it's Raquel, remember?' She sort of extended her hand to me and I went to kiss the ring and one false fingernail painted silver fell to the floor. I looked at the hand and I thought, 'Oh, I'm getting a vibe'. I really think she's a man!
"At this point in her life all bets are off and you're not going to be able to doll it (appearance) up that much. I would say it's pretty accurate that she resembled a dock worker in drag."
Could this be the truth? The second half of the story makes one wonder.
While Welch said it was a thrill to work with West, she also told a story about a gorgeous dress she wasn't initially allowed to wear because West forbade it; there was evidently room for only one beauty on this set, and no matter her age West was going to be sure it was her. An outraged Welch stormed off the set and refused to work until the dress was back in her closet. It was returned, but the two women never shot their scenes together after that.
So while the drag suspicions could be true, perhaps the sensational statement was just a case of sour grapes that has lasted more than 40 years.
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