Guy Pearce Remembers Terence Stamp With Love And The Heels That Changed Cinema
The curtain has sadly closed on a screen legend. The great Terence Stamp has passed away at the age of 87. In a post on X, Guy Pearce called his The Adventures Of Priscilla, Queen Of The Desert co-star “a true inspiration, both in and out of heels,” signing off with a wink to shared memories in Kings Canyon and a cheeky nod to ABBA. “Fairwell, dear Tel,” he wrote. “Wishing you well on your way ‘Ralph’!”
The misspelt “Fairwell” makes his post feel even more human. It reads like a text to a friend he adored: a memory dump, a private joke, and a promise to keep the spirit alive. That tone, casual, tender, a little naughty, fits the movie’s legacy. It also reminds us that the work was always bigger than the costumes.
RIP 💖👑 pic.twitter.com/BICE95ZoCB
— Marilyn Schneider (@mazzie581) August 17, 2025
Why Stamp mattered to a generation.
Stamp’s turn as Bernadette Bassenger, a trans woman who takes a drag show on the road with Mitzi Del Bra (Hugo Weaving) and Felicia Jollygoodfellow (Guy Pearce), helped push a then-rare kind of visibility into the mainstream. The 1994 film remains a touchstone for many audiences who wanted to see queer lives treated with wit, warmth and respect. Stamp’s performance earned nominations from the Golden Globes and the British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA), and it still anchors conversations about how far on-screen representation has come and how far it has to go.
What we know about his passing.
News of Stamp’s death was confirmed by multiple outlets on 17 August. He was celebrated for early breakthroughs like Billy Budd and for later, defining roles including General Zod in Superman and Bernadette in Priscilla. Tributes praised a career that spanned six decades and showed a fearless range.
The sequel question that now hangs in the air.
Before his death, momentum for a Priscilla sequel had returned. Director Stephan Elliott said a follow-up was in the works, with the original trio set to come back. Stamp himself told reporters he wanted to “get it happening, get it shooting this year.” Pearce recently added that the team would only proceed “if it feels right,” stressing they did not want to tarnish the original. Will the project move ahead, and how might it honour Bernadette? Those talks will now carry extra weight.
We’re saddened to hear of the passing of Terence Stamp, aged 87. Well known for playing General Zod in the Superman films, Stamp was nominated for two BAFTAs in 1963 and 1995 for his work in Billy Budd and The Adventures Of Priscilla, Queen Of The Desert. pic.twitter.com/ALZaFfF4Ua
— BAFTA (@BAFTA) August 17, 2025
Why this story still hits home.
Priscilla didn’t just entertain. It cracked open conversations about dignity, friendship and chosen family at a time when many people felt pushed to the margins. That impact endures for viewers who saw part of their lives reflected on a big, glittering screen for the first time. Priscilla (the bus) rolled through deserts and small towns and left something kind behind: the idea that joy can be powerful, and that a good frock and a brave heart can travel far.
“Don't darling, me, darling. Look at you. You've got a face like a cat's arse.”
— Imprint Films (@imprint_films) August 18, 2025
Remembering the exemplary Terence Stamp (1938 – 2025) and their performance as Bernadette in The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert. Today, we gather the girls, pour out a baby bottle of… pic.twitter.com/ylV0axCh3s
Stamp’s career covered high art and pop culture, festival accolades, and cult favourites. Yet many will always picture Bernadette: poised, sharp, wounded, and generous. Cinema loses an icon. Communities lose a confidant. And an old bus gains another passenger.
