Mae Martin Reveals First Celebrity Crushes Were Bette Midler in “Hocus Pocus” and Frank-N-Furter: 'Blew My Mind' (Exclusive)

Meredith WilshereSun, June 28, 2026 at 9:58 AM UTC

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Mae MartinCredit: Saty+Pratha/NETFLIX -

Mae Martin shares their pride journey, including coming out at 13 to their friends

They reflect on how their celebrity crushes, Tim Curry and Bette Midler, influenced their views on sexuality and self-expression

Martin emphasizes the importance of community, representation and embracing authenticity during Pride Month and beyond

Mae Martin remembers their first celebrity crushes like it was yesterday.

The Canadian comedian, 39, who uses they/them pronouns, tells PEOPLE that two performances stood out to them while growing up — and not just because of the talent.

“First was Tim Curry in Rocky Horror Picture Show. Frank-N-Furter, that is the sexiest performance of all time, I think, and just blew my mind," they share.

Tim Curry in 'Rocky Horror Picture Show'Credit: Movie Poster Image Art/Getty

Martin explains that their affection for the movie stemmed from the fact that their grandfather, Tom Chatto, played the narrator in the stage show when it first came out.

“Then Bette Midler in Hocus Pocus, all three of those witches I was very captivated by, and I had some sort of spicy dreams about them when I was so young, and it was very influential,” Martin adds.

The Wayward star notes that the crushes show how they gravitate towards "people who have a lust for life and a kind of a twinkle in their eye and don't take everything so seriously, maybe because I do take things pretty seriously sometimes.”

“So, I'm really in awe of people like Frank-N-Furter or Bette Midler who just kind of wield their sexuality and their sense of fun in a really contagious way like that," they add.

Bette Midler as Winifred Sanderson in 'Hocus Pocus'Credit: Snap/Shutterstock

Martin says their own pride journey began when they came out to their best friends around age 13.

“They knew before I did, I remember saying, 'Oh, I have a crush on this woman,' but I was like, 'but everybody does,'" they reflect.

However, they say it was a “huge blessing” that they "never had to come out to my parents.”

“It just wasn't a thing. It was a liberal utopia that I grew up in where there wasn't an assumption that I was straight ever or I didn't feel that way, and I never had to have that conversation, which is great because what an anxiety-inducing thing," Martin shares.

They note that “it's the only thing that you have to declare in your teens and then stick with it.”

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“You don't have to say what your favorite band is when you're 13 and then stick with it the rest of your life. Things change," they explain. "I've always been very actively bisexual and brought girls and boys home and my parents never asked and it was great. I'm very lucky. I think that's a rare experience.”

Martin tells PEOPLE that they celebrated Pride Month with their pals.

Mae MartinCredit: Saty+Pratha/NETFLIX

“Community does feel important these days. I really felt it on tour. I'm trying to support businesses in my area and not just stay home and watch reruns of Survivor and World Cup soccer," they say. "I'm trying to get out there and be involved more in my community because it feels more important than it maybe has in the past. I'm lucky I have a great group of friends here in L.A."

Pride felt especially important to them, as they just finished their North American tour, traveling across the United States.

“Regardless of sexuality or gender identity, it takes courage in our society to be your full self and to embrace all of the different components that make up who you are and to really tap into your authentic identity," Martin shares. "I'm proud that I've been able to do that and I think that should be everybody's mission in life, to find out who they really are."

“It's such a tricky thing because in general, the banner I've tried to wave is the fact that I'm trans or my sexuality, it's no bigger a part of my identity than anyone else's, someone being straight or not trans, it's just who I am," they continue. "I always worry about having to defend those aspects because of the recent onslaught of legislation and public scrutiny and debate. I worry that it becomes an inflated part of my identity, or is perceived that way when really I don't think about it. I'd prefer not to think about it that much because it's just one part and not the most interesting part of me."

Mae MartinCredit: Saty+Pratha/NETFLIX

Still, they emphasize that Pride Month is "the time to be vocal and to recognize the importance of representation."

“It's nice to be able to celebrate those things. And I think a lot about young queer people and want them to know that there's community out there and support and that they're not alone. Pride, it's not the time to be in any way sheepish," Martin says.

While Pride Month may be coming to a close, they emphasize the importance of leading with love and acceptance every day, sharing a message to queer youth and their parents.

“I'm so much happier now that I know who I am. I was 35 when I had top surgery, and I am such a more productive member of society," Martin shares. "I'm so much happier, and all of this space has been freed up in my mind to focus on other things."

“That's a really wonderful thing, and everybody should be allowed to access comfort and freedom,” they add.

on People

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