Rose McGowan: 'I grew up with drag queens'

Rose McGowan has revealed that she spent her formative years being raised by a group of drag queens.

The Conan the Barbarian actress was born in Italy and was a member of the Church of God cult before returning to the US at 10 and running away from home three years later.

"At 13, when I was a runaway, I was taken in by the most amazing drag queens in Portland, Oregon," McGowan told The Advocate.

"We didn't always know where our next meal was coming from, but there was so much camaraderie and love. Not to mention, those girls could paint a face, and I learned how because of them."

McGowan went on to say that her experience with the drag queens is largely responsible for her love and respect for the LGBT community to this day.

"I could finagle my way into lots of different places. Whether it was how I danced or the way I looked, I was always quite celebrated in the gay clubs," she recalled.

"To this day, I only go to gay clubs. I'm perfectly at home there. I also like watching hot boys and hot girls who can dance."

> Rose McGowan 'tracks down cyber criminal'