“I find myself still in the tide”
Billy Porter will perform in Manchester Pride this weekend in 2025 – He is excited about the stage he brings(Picture: BAFTA's Getty image)
Billy Porter didn't mention his name. He appears on Broadway, on the West Side, and on the Hollywood Celebrity Tour, knocked down along the Metropolitan event, played the role of fairy tale godmother, initiated his own makeup line, and now he is just a faraway person from the person rated egot.
The 55-year-old performer was originally from Pittsburgh and is known for launching Lola's role in “The Weird Boots”. After Broadway debuted in 2013. His prayer narration of the role on the Pose of the Popular TV show further cemented his efforts as a household name around the world and won him Emmy and Golden Globe Awards.
Next, the strings that bow as his achievement will be the proud headline performance in Manchester this weekend. He will be in the lawsuit with little remix star Leigh-Anne on Saturday (August 23) at the festival’s new Mardi Gras venue at the festival’s new Depot Mayfield.
Speaking to Manchester Evening News, Billy said he was “happy to come and experience” Manchester briefly visited Manchester during a major musical performance at AO Arena earlier this year.
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Billy Porter says he is ready to show his new face with music(Picture: Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP)
Billy laughed at his performances that would work together, but Billy laughed at that there were some very special guests who would join him as he played some classic songs and tracks from his latest album of Black Mona Lisa.
“The Black Mona Lisa is one of my self,” Billy told the man behind the album's name – and since then, it has a bigger meaning for the performers. “When I showed up as Billy Porter, that was the more traditional space I occupied. But when I was doing mainstream music, I was Mona Lisa.”
Billy said that in a sense, the Black Mona Lisa was his version, his Sasha Ciervie of Beyoncé or the Lady Gaga of Stefani Germanotta. Yes, it's a stage name, but it's also other personality. He insisted that this was another version of Billy Porter.
Billy Porter releases his Black Mona Lisa album in 2023(Photo: Buchanan PR)
“I've been in this business for 35 years – I'm a polyolizer,” he explained. “People took Billy Porter's train at different times in their lives. Sometimes it can cause confusion, and sometimes it's hard to use all the audiences from different spaces.
“I have a fashion audience, I have a drama audience, I have a movie and TV audience, I have a music audience. I’m trying to blend them together like I want to climb this mountain.
“People on my theater side don’t know my album exists, they’re still talking to me about the grease from 30 years ago. Like, there are more works that they’ll love so much that they don’t even know.
Billy Porter takes part in the big night at the National Lottery in AO Arena in January(Picture: Getty image of National LO)
“What Manchester is seeing is the fusion of it. Yes, you’re seeing Billy Porter, and this version of Billy Porter is called Black Mona Lisa.
“This is exactly the legacy I want to leave on this planet. Mona Lisa is history, it’s ever been.
Between Manchester’s proud performances, Billy also portrays the role of the emcee in the current Broadway cabaret. At the end of the work, he appeared on the West Side along with former celebrity big brother star Marisha Wallace. This is historic.
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Billy is currently appearing in a cabaret with Marisha Wallace of Broadway(Picture: Wiktor Szymanowicz/Future Publish)
“I feel part of the resistance,” Billy said. “I’m at the center of my purpose – doing this kind of work at this particular time is like my ministry. I’m not lost because of all three clues in this work, which is black. It’s something that has never happened in the 60-year history of the show.
“The similarities of what is happening in America right now make it very, very real, very prescient. I feel part of the conversation through art, and that's actually my focus.”
He is also preparing to make a new Hunger Games prequel film, just launched a new beauty series (also known as Black Mona Lisa) and just directed a show on the West End. But this is music he is currently using a lot of his energy to use – he is ready to “lie there” in Manchester Pride.
Billy Porter won the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress at the 2019 Drama Series (Picture: Getty Image)
“I found myself still in the tide,” he explained. “With movies, TV and everything else, I'm there. But, in terms of music, I'm still building a reputation in the mainstream space – in the space outside the theater.”
But Billy said he still tried to stay rooted in everything and agreed that the pressure was not good for him. “No, I don't apply pressure,” he insisted. “I don't like pressure. I try to stay rational and peaceful. I try very hard not to take pressure from others.”
However, Billy is obviously frustrated by the current situation of the world. That's one of the reasons why he said pride is still important today, although he said he's hoped it has expired by now.
“When I came out in '85, we went straight to the frontline to fight for our lives, and pride was where we were together,” he explained. “We can all get together in one space and remind ourselves that we won. I never thought we would be back here.”
Billy Porter will perform in Manchester Pride on Saturday(Picture: Getty Image)
“We have to show each other and show and understand that we can conquer evil only when we unite. What is happening now is evil. It is evil.”
Billy said it was actually very simple what it means to him. “Pride is the community,” he explained. “Pride is love, pride is a protest, and pride is a political party.
“I’m so happy to experience pride in Manchester.”
Manchester Pride 2025 takes place from Friday to Monday (August 22-25). Billy Porter will perform on the Carnival stage at Mayfield Warehouse on Saturday (August 23).