The recipient of three Emmys, a Grammy and three Tonys, he is currently making his London directorial debut staging This Bitter Earth by Harrison David Rivers.
From a poor and strongly religious upbringing in Pittsburgh, gay icon, theatre maker and activist Billy Porter’s journey is probably unique and equally fabulous. The recipient of three Emmys, a Grammy and three Tonys, he is currently making his London directorial debut staging This Bitter Earth by Harrison David Rivers.
I caught up with him and his cast of two - Omari Douglas (It’s A Sin, Black Doves) and Alexander Lincoln (Emmerdale and In From the Side) in a break in rehearsals for the play which opens at the Soho Theatre on 18 June.
At the Million Hoodie March in 2012, Jesse, a young black man encounters Neil, a young white man, who has unwittingly found himself at the front of the crowd with a megaphone in his hand. Fast forward several weeks and Jesse (Omari Douglas) and Neil (Alexander Lincoln) have begun dating. As months pass and Neil works his way into activism, Jess never enters it. Over the years their complex relationship is set against the backdrop of political demos and discord, which they cannot remain untouched by.
I wondered why this particular play for his debut in London as a director, and Billy replied: "It was offered to me. I knew the writer but not the play. It happens to be an amazing play, resonant right now with what’s going on in the USA and the world.”
Billy pointed to the publicity strapline for the play - “Love. Unconditionally.”
“It’s an interracial queer story - beautiful men in an intimate embrace in a different kind of way- it’s beyond being just a gay work.”
The audience, Billy told me, are asked to think what love unconditionally means - “how we embrace it individually and collectively.”
Omari said of his role; "He’s in his '30s and wrestling with being a black man in the USA in the 21st century and how to survive; how he can be himself and love another person, whilst giving up and losing some of the walls the world has created for him - it’s about a survival mechanism.”
Billy added: “we’re in a world where violence against black bodies is constant and on purpose; never-ending. To be black and gay in the USA is a death warrant - you have a mark on your back when you leave home.”
Alexander said of his character: “he’s of a similar age to Jesse, but a very different background. He’s on a journey of learning and discovery - like the whole play is.”
Billy said: “this play and the characters make uncomfortable connections, which so many of us in real life refuse to have or cannot have. The journey is beautiful to watch.”
Both actors agreed that the play is about the uncomfortability of activism coming up against inaction.
I asked all three for their views on whether gay characters should always be played by gay actors. Billy said: “It’s a case by case basis. My knee-jerk reaction is yes. But for me it’s about opportunities. I’m 55. I grew up and for a long time the only thing I was told at auditions was ‘too flamboyant.’
“I got no call back (a second audition) and no job , and the role would go to somebody straight. He added that Ncuti Gatwa as a black, gay Doctor Who was “a big deal.”
Omari, who’s had two central roles as gay black men in hit TV series - It’s A Sin and Black Doves - said:”I want to continue playing black gay men - but you don’t ask Judi Dench why she only plays straight white women, do you? We have to normalise the idea - my two TV characters were entirely different experiences.”
Billy added: “I don’t want to play a straight person. I’m In love with myself: I want to keep revealing this to the world.” Alexander added: “fundamentally for me it’s about acting - gay and straight - I am both and have played both. I am much more than my sexuality; it depends on the basis of the piece.”
Asked to give advice to his younger self, Billy said: “keep your head up - do the work; keep going, just keep going. I say it every day." Omari agreed.
Billy added: “I had no idea how poor I was, and I had no role models; all the big black actors like Poitier and Washington were straight. I was told my queerness would be my liability. I said: no!” This last remark with a palpable energy that filled the room.
“God has better plans for you than you can think of - that’s what my mother said. I never thought that I’d be living in the centre of that.”
Alexander added: “I didn’t go to drama school. I’d say you don’t need any other validation - it’s all yours.”
Billy has overcome mainly obstacles and continues to do so. His Broadway role of Lola in Kinky Boots won him a Tony, and he’s the only black gay actor to win a Primetime Emmy for his mesmerising role as Pray Tell in the TV series Pose. In fact he won three for its three seasons. If you haven’t seen this depiction of AIDS-era New York and its unique Black and Latino ball community, check it out. For some reason BBC has deleted series 1 and 2 but series 3 with its staggering denouement, featuring Billy, is still there. Catch it - it will take your breath away.
So Billy is only one trophy away from being an EGOT - having an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and Tony. But you know what? If anyone can be the first black gay actor to win an Oscar, it’s got to be Billy. As he said to me: “I want to be a villain in an action movie like Mission Impossible.” What a self-validation that would be.
This Bitter Earth runs at The Soho Theatre, 18 June - 26 July.
