Rupert Everett says if he grew up today he would be encouraged to change gender and would now be a woman after enjoying cross-dressing as a boy - but says 'I love being a gay man'

Rupert Everett has said that if he had grown up today then he would have been 'encouraged' to transition - and would now 'be a woman'.

The 64-year-old said as a child he was a 'great cross-dresser' and believed he would have 'definitely transitioned' if he had been born in a younger generation.

However, the actor said that he wouldn't have wanted to be a woman as he loves 'being a gay man'.

Everett told the Rosebud podcast: 'I was a very shy, quiet, child. I loved sitting in cupboards.

'I was a great cross-dresser, I'd be a woman if this was today because I stole one of my mother's discarded skirts and I wore it and I pretended I was Julie Andrews' daughter.

has said that if he had grown up today then he would have been 'encouraged' to transition - and would now 'be a woman'

Everett in character as Miss Fritton on the set of St Trinian's 2: The Legend of Fritton's Gold with Sarah Harding and Talulah Riley

'This was after I'd seen the Sound of Music, and Mary Poppins, and that really was one of the big changes in my life.'

The My Best Friend's Wedding actor admitted when he was aged five - he loved 'playing house in drag'.

He continued: 'I'd put on her wig, and I'd put on her dressing gown, and I'd go outside to the backdoor and come to the front door and ring the doorbell and pretend to be one of the guests.

'And, I'd have one of her handbags and the first time they'd go "Oh hello, what's your name".

'And, I'd come in and sit in the drawing room for a second and then after about five minutes they'd say "Okay darling, time to go to bed now".

Everett on set as his character Miss Fritton for the filming of St Trinian's 2: The Legend of Fritton's Gold

'I'd go upstairs, and as soon as I was in bed, and as soon as they'd gone downstairs, I'd jump up again, go put on something else, go round the back, go to the front door, ring the doorbell, and do it all again.'

Everett said when he was older, and had moved to London, he was having a 'fantastic time'.

He added: 'I went to drama school in diamanté earrings, I mean I would have definitely transitioned if it had been now.

'I think now, I would have been encouraged to and probably would have done.'

Despite this, Everett admitted he 'didn't' want to be a woman.

'No, I like being a man, I love being a gay man.'