In the upcoming comedy Stage Mother, Jacki Weaver plays a small-town conservative choir director who discovers that her son, who had been ostracized from his family for being gay, has passed away. Upon arriving in San Francisco to pay her respects and close down his life, she learns that he was the owner of a drag bar and now she’s in charge of it. Determined to quickly sell it, she recognizes she must first revitalize it to make it desirable for a sale and along the way, gets to know her son and the people important to him in ways she never knew about.

For the Sydney native, who’s been nominated for Golden Globes and Oscars, the experience of being in a drag bar was certainly nothing new. Weaver was first introduced to the spectacle back in 1962 as a 15-year-old by her then rock-and-roll boyfriend. Dazzled by the glitz and glamour of the club Les Girls, it has continued to be a part of her entertainment options. In non-pandemic times she goes with her husband to local clubs in West Hollywood.

For a lot of famous actresses, they say that a true reflection of their success is seeing a drag performer portray them. Have you had that honor yet?

That’s interesting but no. It would have to be a really small drag queen. I am 4’11 and ¾ so it would have to be a tiny man!

The film chronicles parental expectations and then acceptance of their child. Maybelline had to go on this journey to almost fall back in love with her son.

I don’t think she was ever out of love with her child. She just came from a sheltered background, a small town in Texas. Here was this choir director at her church with a very domineering husband. In the flashbacks of the film, you can see her love for her son. But when he comes out as gay, the husband lets go of him and is so domineering, Maybelline relents but is heartbroken. This is a journey for her. She never stops loving him and defies her husband by going to San Francisco. It proves to be a great transformation. She becomes more tolerant and empathetic. She was always a decent person but her life becomes richer as she makes these new friends. The tragedy she has been through helps make her a more joyful person.

She has quite the interesting roommate in Lucy Liu. Have you ever had an interesting roommate?

I had some great roommates back then in the hippie days of the ‘70s in Sydney. I did have some weirdos.

Part of the charm of drag clubs is the over-the-top costumes and music. If you had to perform, what song would that be?

“I Will Survive.” “Once I was afraid, I was petrified.” That was me. It applies to me.

Would you make a good club manager?

I would be a terrible manager of anything. I am not a follower but I am not a leader. I am an observer. I wouldn’t be able to manage anything. But I do like a bit of glitz, tinsel. I would make sure there would be tinsel!

You came to prominence with your award recognized turn in Animal Kingdom. Looking back, how much did that film affect your career?

I guess that is true. I did my first stage performance at age 15 playing Cinderella and then I got TV and film work in Australia. I had a small walk-on in the 1966 film They’re a Weird Mob, directed by the late great Michael Powell. It speaks to what a kind person he was. He gave this 19-year-old bit-part player a chance and sent me a written note saying how good I was in what was basically this walk on. He said he foresaw great things for me. Well, it only took 50 years!  I did 73 plays and 25 films in Australia before I came to America and have done more than 20 here. Funny though, I always play American. So, everyone thinks I am American.