The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert
Updated: 12/11/2025, 1:44:09 PM Wikipedia source
The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert is a 1994 Australian road comedy film written and directed by Stephan Elliott. The plot follows two drag queens (played by Hugo Weaving and Guy Pearce) and a transgender woman (Terence Stamp), as they journey across the Australian Outback on a tour bus named Priscilla, along the way encountering various groups and individuals. The film was based upon the lives of three actual drag queens—Cindy Pastel, Strykermyer, and Lady Bump—who were to play themselves but were later replaced with what the studio considered "bankable" actors. Priscilla, Queen of the Desert premiered at the 1994 Cannes Film Festival, in the Un Certain Regard section. Upon its wide release, it became a surprise worldwide hit and its positive portrayal of LGBT individuals helped to introduce queer themes to a mainstream audience. It received predominantly positive reviews and won Best Costume Design at the 67th Academy Awards. The film is one of only three films set in contemporary times to win the award for Best Costume Design. It became a cult classic both in Australia and abroad. The film provided the basis for a musical, Priscilla, Queen of the Desert, which opened in 2006 in Sydney. A sequel, Priscilla Queen of the Desert 2, is currently filming.
Infobox
Directed by
Stephan Elliott
Written by
Stephan Elliott
Produced by
mw- Al Clark Michael Hamlyn
Starring
Terence Stamp Hugo Weaving Guy Pearce Bill Hunter
Cinematography
Brian J. Breheny
Edited by
Sue Blainey
Music by
Guy Gross
Productioncompanies
Gramercy Pictures Latent Image Productions Specific Films
Distributed by
Roadshow Film DistributorsPolyGram Filmed Entertainment
Release dates
15 May 1994 (1994-05-15) (Cannes) 8 September 1994 (1994-09-08) (Australia)
Running time
103 minutes
Country
Australia
Language
English
Budget
A$1.8 million (US$1.3 million)
Box office
$29.7 million
Tables
· Release › Accolades › Awards
AACTA Award
AACTA Award
Award
AACTA Award
Category
Best Film
Subject
Al Clark, Michael Hamlyn
Result
Nominated
Best Direction
Best Direction
Award
Best Direction
Category
Stephan Elliott
Subject
Nominated
Best Original Screenplay
Best Original Screenplay
Award
Best Original Screenplay
Category
Nominated
Best Actor
Best Actor
Award
Best Actor
Category
Terence Stamp
Subject
Nominated
Hugo Weaving
Hugo Weaving
Award
Hugo Weaving
Category
Nominated
Best Cinematography
Best Cinematography
Award
Best Cinematography
Category
Brian J. Breheny
Subject
Nominated
Best Original Music Score
Best Original Music Score
Award
Best Original Music Score
Category
Guy Gross
Subject
Nominated
Best Production Design
Best Production Design
Award
Best Production Design
Category
Owen Paterson
Subject
Won
Best Costume Design
Best Costume Design
Award
Best Costume Design
Category
Tim Chappel, Lizzy Gardiner
Subject
Won
Academy Awards
Academy Awards
Award
Academy Awards
Category
Best Costume Design
Subject
Won
BAFTA Awards
BAFTA Awards
Award
BAFTA Awards
Category
Best Costume Design
Subject
Won
Best Original Screenplay
Best Original Screenplay
Award
Best Original Screenplay
Category
Stephan Elliott
Subject
Nominated
Best Actor
Best Actor
Award
Best Actor
Category
Terence Stamp
Subject
Nominated
Best Production Design
Best Production Design
Award
Best Production Design
Category
Colin Gibson, Owen Paterson
Subject
Nominated
Best Makeup and Hair
Best Makeup and Hair
Award
Best Makeup and Hair
Category
Angela Conte, Cassie Hanlon, Strykermeyer
Subject
Won
Best Cinematography
Best Cinematography
Award
Best Cinematography
Category
Brian J. Breheny
Subject
Nominated
GLAAD Media Award
GLAAD Media Award
Award
GLAAD Media Award
Category
Outstanding Film – Wide Release
Subject
Won
Golden Globe Awards
Golden Globe Awards
Award
Golden Globe Awards
Category
Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy
Subject
Nominated
Best Actor - Motion Picture Musical or Comedy
Best Actor - Motion Picture Musical or Comedy
Award
Best Actor - Motion Picture Musical or Comedy
Category
Terence Stamp
Subject
Nominated
Outfest
Outfest
Award
Outfest
Category
Audience Award for Outstanding Narrative Feature
Subject
Stephan Elliott
Result
Won
Seattle International Film Festival
Seattle International Film Festival
Award
Seattle International Film Festival
Category
Golden Space Needle Award for Best Film
Subject
Won
Golden Space Needle Award for Best Actor
Golden Space Needle Award for Best Actor
Award
Golden Space Needle Award for Best Actor
Category
Terence Stamp
Subject
Won
Writers Guild of America
Writers Guild of America
Award
Writers Guild of America
Category
Best Original Screenplay
Subject
Stephan Elliott
Result
Nominated
| Award | Category | Subject | Result |
| AACTA Award | Best Film | Al Clark, Michael Hamlyn | Nominated |
| Best Direction | Stephan Elliott | Nominated | |
| Best Original Screenplay | Nominated | ||
| Best Actor | Terence Stamp | Nominated | |
| Hugo Weaving | Nominated | ||
| Best Cinematography | Brian J. Breheny | Nominated | |
| Best Original Music Score | Guy Gross | Nominated | |
| Best Production Design | Owen Paterson | Won | |
| Best Costume Design | Tim Chappel, Lizzy Gardiner | Won | |
| Academy Awards | Best Costume Design | Won | |
| BAFTA Awards | Best Costume Design | Won | |
| Best Original Screenplay | Stephan Elliott | Nominated | |
| Best Actor | Terence Stamp | Nominated | |
| Best Production Design | Colin Gibson, Owen Paterson | Nominated | |
| Best Makeup and Hair | Angela Conte, Cassie Hanlon, Strykermeyer | Won | |
| Best Cinematography | Brian J. Breheny | Nominated | |
| GLAAD Media Award | Outstanding Film – Wide Release | Won | |
| Golden Globe Awards | Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy | Nominated | |
| Best Actor - Motion Picture Musical or Comedy | Terence Stamp | Nominated | |
| Outfest | Audience Award for Outstanding Narrative Feature | Stephan Elliott | Won |
| Seattle International Film Festival | Golden Space Needle Award for Best Film | Won | |
| Golden Space Needle Award for Best Actor | Terence Stamp | Won | |
| Writers Guild of America | Best Original Screenplay | Stephan Elliott | Nominated |
References
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- "History Trust SA launches campaign to restore long-lost Priscilla, Queen of the Desert bus"https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-04-12/bid-to-restore-priscilla-queen-of-the-desert-bus/103699136
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- The Adventures Of Priscilla: Queen Of The Desert – Original Motion Picture Soundtrack Archived 1 December 2017 at the Wahttps://www.discogs.com/Various-The-Adventures-Of-Priscilla-Queen-Of-The-Desert-Original-Motion-Picture-Soundtrack/master/97970
- The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert. The Priscilla Companion: Dialogue from the film & Original Music Scorehttps://www.discogs.com/Guy-Gross-The-Adventures-of-Priscilla-Queen-of-the-Desert-The-Priscilla-Companion-Dialogue-from-the-/release/11174361
- "Priscilla, Queen of the Desert sequel announced 30 years after beloved film's original release"https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-04-21/priscilla-queen-of-the-desert-sequel/103750672
- The Guardianhttps://www.theguardian.com/film/2025/aug/18/terence-stamp-remembered-by-priscilla-director-stephan-elliott
- "Breaking Baz: Terence Stamp Pre-Shot 'Priscilla Queen of the Desert 2' Scenes Months Before He Died, Filmmaker Stephan Elliott Says Actor Had "Time Of His Life""https://deadline.com/2025/09/terence-stamp-pre-shot-priscilla-queen-of-the-desert-2-1236563340/
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