Charlie Hides is in Perth appearing at Connections Nightclub until Saturday. The star of London’s night life has been impersonating Cher, Kylie and Madonna for years and does a lot more than lypsyncing a tune.
Recently Cher named you as her favourite Cher impersonator – how did you react when you saw that quote?
When I picked myself up off the floor I was speechless for about 10 minutes.. I was vaguely aware that she might be watching my videos because I knew she followed me on Twitter.. it was surreal to see in print that she actually enjoys what I do. I still don’t actually believe she said it.
When did you first start doing drag?
In my teens, the drinking age in Massachusetts was 21 but my best friend Chris told that the gay bars didn’t ask to see ID’s if you were in drag. So we’d tell our parents we were going to the library to study or the movies and get into very crude drag in the car on the way to the bar… thankfully we didn’t have cameras in our phones back then so there’s no incriminating evidence of my early crimes against glamour.
You’ve found a huge audience through YouTube, do you think you’ll branch out into your own TV series in the future?
Yes, I’ve had some very interesting meeting in the past year and it looks like a pilot is about to be commissioned… as a matter of fact the contract might be signed between now and when I arrive in Perth! stay tuned.
Online you’ve been Madonna,Cher, Bieber – have you ever come across someone who you just couldn’t impersonate?
I’ve avoided doing Kylie because I just can’t capture her hybrid accent. I’d never be able to do Oprah unless I had a huge SFX team helping with prosthetics… It took three different test runs to be able to do Britney Spears so maybe I just have to keep trying.
How would you describe the show you’re bringing to Connections?
It’s a comedy show with lots of music, celebrity impersonations, song parodies and sequins.. oh and It’s also got the bootylicous Laquisha Jonz so hold on to your weaves Perth!
Charlie Hides is performing at Connections Nightclub until Saturday 22nd February. Find out all the details at Fringe World.
