pantomime dame

A pantomime dame is a comic female character in British Christmas pantomimes, traditionally played by a man in exaggerated drag.

The dame is typically a boisterous, bawdy older woman—often the hero's mother—with garish makeup, outlandish costumes, and broad physical comedy: He's been playing the pantomime dame for twenty years.

The role is central to panto tradition, distinct from serious drag performance.