Tom Hanks had this to say about dressing in drag during his time on Bosom Buddies
There are some Hollywood names that almost everyone knows—the kind that sparks a conversation the moment they’re mentioned. Tom Hanks is one of those names.
Whether it’s his megahit movie Forrest Gump, his award-winning film Cast Away, or his role as the voice of Woody, a childhood favorite for many kids in Toy Story, Hanks is no stranger to success in the entertainment industry.
But before all his leading roles and award-winning movies, Hanks started in Hollywood like everyone else—at the bottom. Luckily, we can thank Bosom Buddies for introducing us to Hanks—and for putting him in a dress.
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Bosom Buddies is loosely based on the 1966 film Some Like It Hot, which starred Tony Curtis and Jack Lemmon. The series follows two New Yorkers struggling with a housing shortage who find an available apartment in a women-only hotel.
To live there, they must disguise themselves as women—or at least close enough to pass.
According to a 1981 interview with Quad-City Times, Hanks said he enjoyed playing the part of Buffy Wilson but hoped the drag aspect of the role would eventually be toned down.
"That's the way I'd like it because getting dressed up in women's clothing is not much fun," Hanks said.
Hanks' then-wife, Susan Dillingham, was a big help to him with the technical aspects of wearing women’s clothing and moving in them the way a woman would.
As expected, it was quite the learning curve for Hanks, who didn’t have much experience wearing a skirt before the role. However, sometimes it takes a pair of high heels to reach great heights.
"It’s very difficult to walk in a tight skirt, and it’s almost impossible to move while wearing a pair of high-heeled shoes," Hanks said.
Despite his hesitation about wearing women’s clothing, he embraced the challenge. This role led to others, and eventually, a few big breaks landed him an important place in our everyday lives.