Rare Polaroids of Steve Buscemi in Drag on the Set of “Somebody to Love” (1994)

Somebody to Love, directed by Alexandre Rockwell, is a romantic drama that explores the intertwined lives of struggling artists and dreamers in Los Angeles. It is inspired by Federico Fellini’s Nights of Cabiria. The film features a notable ensemble cast, including Rosie Perez, Harvey Keitel, Anthony Quinn, and Stanley Tucci, with Quentin Tarantino making a cameo appearance.

In the 1994 film, Steve Buscemi delivers a memorable performance as Mickey, a transvestite character who works in the same bar as the protagonist, Mercedes, portrayed by Rosie Perez. His portrayal was noted for its authenticity and depth, with critic Roger Ebert commenting that Buscemi did “a surprisingly convincing job” in the role.

For a visual glimpse of Buscemi in character, some behind the scenes Polaroids taken by artist Scott Williams showcases him in full makeup and costume. The images highlighting Buscemi’s striking transformation for the role.