When Jujubee tells an unsuspecting train passenger he's “sitting next to the beautiful red-head right over there” in an early Stop! That! Train! sneak peek, only for her to turn out to be a vintage rag doll, we had a strong feeling a camp queer classic was approaching at – we’re going there – full speed. Then again, the signs were already there: the trailer gave us RuPaul's President Judy Gagwell jokingly threatening to nuke Russia, Nicole Richie's dead mother falling out of an overhead luggage rack and straight out of her casket, and Symone dragging Sarah Michelle Gellar as a “complete rando who can't stay in her seat”.

“As drag queens, we usher in the fun and the laughter and the camp and entertainment of it all,” says Symone, who plays beta-blocking first-class attendant Ayshleiygh. (No, I didn’t fall on my keyboard.) “It's a movie that’s fun – it's not serious in any way and people are craving that. For people to understand it and not roll their eyes at it is really meaningful.”

Directed by Adam Shankman (The Wedding Planner, Hairspray, Disenchanted), Stop! That! Train! stars Ginger Minj and Jujubee as Tess and DeeDee, best friends and stewardesses "who trade their dreary shifts on the Stank Rail for the glitzy Glamazonian Express." Upon release, the disaster comedy was met with acclaim, with its absurd humour and distinctly queer sensibility hailed as a breath of fresh air in the current cinematic landscape. 

With Stop! That! Train! confirmed to hit UK cinemas on 21 August, Symone speaks with Gay Times about her experience on the film, from bringing the chaotic Ayshleiygh to life and working with RuPaul and a cast of gay-icon royalty, to why the world is more than ready for a gloriously stupid drag comedy.

Symone, congratulations on the success of Stop! That! Train!, one of the most ridiculously fun films I’ve ever seen. One that truly encompasses queer joy and queer... stupidity.

Thank you so much. Isn't it? First of all, I love that you said that and I love that we got to make it. It's such a needed film right now.