This story originally appeared on Them.
Jinkx Monsoon believes that there’s a reason she’s the perfect performer to play iconic entertainment titan Judy Garland: The two share a unique je ne sais quoi.
Much to the joy of Drag Race fans everywhere, it was announced in November of last year that Monsoon would be starring as Garland in End of The Rainbow, Peter Quilter’s musical about the final months of the Wizard of Oz star’s life as she prepares for a five-week run of shows at a London nightclub. In an interview ahead of the play’s revival on May 15 at London’s Soho Theatre, the 38-year-old actress told The Guardian that she grew up watching The Wizard of Oz on repeat.
Throughout her illustrious career on Broadway and in Hollywood, Garland dealt with addiction, abuse from the industry, and difficult relationships with several romantic partners. Monsoon tells The Guardian that she believes one of Garland’s defining characteristics was a “complete candour” toward her life experience with fame and substance use — elements of which she can relate to given her background.
“My whole family were very liberal. The women in my life saw who I was at an early age and told the men in my life: ‘You will accept this kid or you won’t be here,’” Monsoon said int he interview. “[There was] a lot of addiction, a lot of trauma [in my family], but when it comes to loving each other we’ve got that part down.”
The stage play isn’t Monsoon’s first stint as Garland. In RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars season 7, her impersonation of Garland was so spot on, that the viral clip still makes the rounds online regularly. Her role in End of The Rainbow, however, is the first time Monsoon will explore Garland as a dramatic figure with vast interiority.
“I know people know me for impressions and imitations — but I’m thrilled for this chance to explore beyond the laughter and into the heart of why we still think so much about Judy today,” Monsoon wrote on X in November 2025. “Her tale is one that we can’t forget, especially as women in entertainment are *still fighting for autonomy and agency in their own careers.”
Her role as Garland marks another notch on Monsoon’s growing list of theatrical performances, including her run as Matron “Mama” Morton in Chicago, Mary Todd Lincoln in Cole Escola’s Oh, Mary!, and Ruth in Broadway’s Pirates! The Penzance Musical.
