“Outrageous Misfits: Female Impersonator Craig Russell and His Wife, Lori Russell Eadie” by Brian Bradley is a captivating exploration of a life lived in defiance of convention, a story where glamour, audacity, and vulnerability intertwine in a complex portrait of love and performance. Craig Russell was a Canadian entertainer whose fame spanned continents, renowned for his dazzling impersonations of Hollywood icons such as Mae West, Judy Garland, Bette Midler, and Barbra Streisand. He became a symbol of the flamboyance and courage that marked the early drag scene, taking female impersonation from niche clubs to international stages in cities like Las Vegas, Berlin, London, and Paris. The book traces his rise from a Toronto teenager enthralled with Mae West to a stage sensation whose talents captivated audiences across the globe, detailing his work in theaters, film, and television, including his groundbreaking role in the cult classic film Outrageous!, which earned him the Silver Bear for Best Actor at the Berlin International Film Festival.
