INTERVIEW: West End Queen Portia De Fosse on stage life, Charlie Hides' wisdom and her wish to “go back and give Nigel Farage’s dad a condom.”
Ladies and gentleman, theys and thems, welcome to the Brighton & Hove residents' community corner series celebrating our city’s bold drag artists, boundary breaking performers and a new category unlocked for 2026: Brighton & Hove based queer/LGBTQ+ owned businesses.
In 2025 I decided that I wanted to create a series that goes beyond the glam with our legendary, local queer performers (and now queer owned businesses too) so we can all get to know them more because like Lady Gaga said on ARTPOP, "Do you wanna see the girl who lives behind the aura?" so erm, why not?!
If you’re looking to put your hard earned money where your queer mouth is then I think supporting queer/LGBTQ+ owned businesses is a statement of solidarity. These businesses often operate at the intersection of creativity, resilience and community, bringing fresh perspectives while navigating unique challenges. Their success strengthens our community economically and helps pave the way for future queer entrepreneurs.
This week though, we’re joined by West End Queen, PORTIA DE FOSSE.
If this is your first time stumbling across my centrestage series and you want to catch up on previous interviews, don't panic hun! Catch up HERE and come back here next Saturday to see who else I'll be yapping with but right now, it's all eyes on Portia so let's dive in....head first!
DALEYPOP: Heyyyy Portia, how's your day going so far?
PORTIA DE FOSSE: Fine thank you, I’ve just got back from a great holiday so now just enjoying a bit of time off before the next load as they say.
DALEYPOP: For our readers who might not have been to a Portia De Fosse show yet, can you introduce yourself and what are your pronouns in and out of drag?
PORTIA DE FOSSE: Well my name is Portia De Fosse and my pronouns are she/her in drag he/him out of drag.
DALEYPOP: How did you first discover drag and how long have you been working your magic on stage?
PORTIA DE FOSSE: I grew up watching Saturday night television which in those days were dominated by the legend that was Lily Savage aka Paul O’Grady. That was my introduction I would say to drag although as a little boy in Swindon I just assumed that Lily was a working class mum like mine except without the Swindon accent. I was lucky enough to meet Paul a few times and got to perform on The Paul O’Grady Show. Mum still has her nodding Buster. I first discovered drag for myself when I appeared in the original revival of La Cage aux Folles at the Menier Chocolate Factory before it transferred to its West End run. From the first time I put my make up on, I knew that something just fit. After I had finished playing Young Bernadette and Farrah in Priscilla, I went one day to the Two Brewers to ask Charlie Hides for advice of how to become a drag queen.
Charlie (Hides) gave me the best advice “always take the piss out of yourself before you take the piss out of someone in the audience, then you’ve got them on your side”.
Rose Garden gave me one of my first solo spots at Halfway To Heaven. Not long after I was a member of some lip sync groups moving on to join The Supreme Fabulettes which was the live singing drag girl group put together by Kylie Minogue’s creative team William Baker and Steve Anderson with Terry Ronald responsible for the script, and choreography by Ashley Wallen who choreographed the film The Greatest Showman. It toured around the UK and abroad. After that as they say the rest is sort of history.
DALEYPOP: And tell us….where did the fabulous name Portia come from?!
PORTIA DE FOSSE: So I had always wanted to be called Portia, I knew that much. At the time I was “baptised” I was working in Priscilla Queen of The Desert in the West End with an incredible Australian drag queen called Vanity Faire who you might know as Wigs by Vanity. She came up with Portia De Fussy as a play on Portia De Rossi. I then decided to go with Portia De Fosse so there was a dance connection. I now just go by Portia. Vanity taught me a lot about drag. She was essentially my drag mother. She also gave me a lot of wigs and told me not to tell Courtney (Act), so SHHHHHH don’t tell Courtney!
DALEYPOP: Is there one performance you’ll never forget, the kind that changed you or....?
PORTIA DE FOSSE: There’s been a few. I think Brighton Pride last year was pretty special. During the street party, myself, Emma Lindars and Karla Bear (who are both Priscilla alumni) sang songs from the show as the sunset happened on the Saturday night. It was just stunning. I would say a particular career highlight and venue for me personally is the Royal Albert Hall. I’ve performed in two operas, and a musical there and every curtain call at the Albert Hall is special. Especially in the round.
A standing ovation from 5,000 plus people is just a pinch me moment.
DALEYPOP: Ooooh now that you've mentioned Pride, what feelings or moments come to mind, both on stage and in your everyday life when you think of Pride? Oh and how do you think your 10 year old self would react to what you do now?!
PORTIA DE FOSSE: Realistically when I think about Pride I think about exhaustion. It’s quite a busy weekend!
Although Pride is a celebration, it’s also a protest and we need to remember that right now because we are living in extremely uncertain times.
Our rights could be taken away from us at any moment. I grew up in a time where Section 28 was a thing and AIDS adverts were on television. I do not want to go back to that uncertainty I had when I was growing up. It’s terrifying. We need to move forwards not backwards.
DALEYPOP: Drag is more visible than ever, but what still feels radical or thrilling about stepping on stage as Portia?
PORTIA DE FOSSE: Drag is visible now, it was considered the lowest form of art back in the day. I guess it’s more visible because of RuPaul‘s Drag Race. I’m fortunate to have known a time before it. That to me isn’t traditional UK drag. People need to remember that in this industry it’s a talent to be able to hold an audience for an hour on stage. It’s hard.
When I’m onstage I love the unpredictability of the audience, and I mean that in the nicest way possible.
Although I trained in musical theatre professionally, you can never really train for this job. In a musical you know at this time of night I’m gonna say this particular line, or sing this song. In drag it's something different every time, and you learn as you go. It’s good to make mistakes, and learn from them. What really helps is the audience though, you essentially feed off of them. I still get nervous before I go on and I've been doing drag for 18 years.
DALEYPOP: Which causes or charities are closest to your heart and how do they inspire your work in drag?
PORTIA DE FOSSE: The Sussex Beacon has a special place in my heart. I’ve been working quite closely with the Queens Arms recently helping them by directing their musicals once a month. I also write the script and choreograph. The cast turn up and we have five and a 1/2 hours to put it on before an audience come through the doors at 6pm. So far we’ve raised over £8000 which is incredible. After doing six months back to back. I’ve taken a small rest period at the moment. I try to do as much as I can though for the Sussex Beacon as they do such incredible work.
DALEYPOP: They really do! Do you have any West End shows lined up that we should be keeping our diaries free for or do you not do them anymore?!
PORTIA DE FOSSE: My dancing days are well and truly over now! I did panto last Christmas at the Capitol Theatre in New Horsham though, which was my first time in pantomime playing the pantomime dame. I enjoyed it but remembered how hard the theatre is!
I think, if you want to go see something right now you should go and see the revival of The Producers at Garrick Theatre in London. We all need a little cheering up at the moment. I made my West End debut when I was 20 in the original production at Drury Lane Theatre and it was an honour to be in such an incredible cast. I went onto tour the UK with the production where Peter Kay was our Roger De Bris in Manchester for 3 months. He was hilarious. Mel Brooks’ writing and comedy genius is just timeless.
DALEYPOP: You absolutely slay as a live vocalist, have you ever thought about recording and uploading music onto streaming platforms?
PORTIA DE FOSSE: Thank you I really appreciate that. I was always in the mindset that I was a dancer and I used to hate singing at college. As I’ve got older I’ve learned to really enjoy it. I sing songs that I like, I try to not sing songs that you would expect. I’ve never have aspired to be a recording artist, I mean anyone can put out a cover nowadays! I think if you write songs that is incredible, that is an absolute talent. Shout out to Alex Fincher who produces their own tracks and original material. I prefer a live audience any day.
DALEYPOP: What does a typical day look like for you when you’re not performing?
PORTIA DE FOSSE: I’ve recently really got into gardening. I know it sounds so boring, but there’s something about being outside that I really enjoy. I’m lucky to have a garden in Brighton and I’m trying to make the most of it for the summer.
I’ve been very green fingered and broken a couple of nails cutting stuff back.
I even bought a chainsaw, which is not a threat! It’s just a warning.
DALEYPOP: I love insider tips, do you have any favourite spots in Brighton or Hove? Cafés, restaurants, hidden gems? Oh and have you popped into the new Brighton IKEA yet?!
PORTIA DE FOSSE: I have popped into the new IKEA. I popped in when there was too many people the first time and I really did not enjoy it. I then decided to give it another go and bought a lamp. Now that lamp has failed to work properly since I bought it and I can’t be bothered to take it back so it’s just sat there now for ornamental purposes. If I’m honest with you, I prefer Homesense. I think every drag queen in Brighton loves it. I like to find new coffee shops in the lanes recently every time I go, if I’m looking for a good night out I’ll always go to the: Queen Arms, Legends, Charles Street, Affinity Bar, The Bedford Tavern and The Grosvenor.
DALEYPOP: If you had three wishes, what would they be?
PORTIA DE FOSSE: I would wish for a time machine to go back and give Nigel Farage’s dad a condom. Certain venues in Brighton to pay their drag queens on time. Now that would be wish number 2. And of course the last has to be world peace. Just to keep congenial.
DALEYPOP: What's a common misconception people have about you?
PORTIA DE FOSSE: That I give a fuck. I honestly don’t have time for what anyone thinks about me. I’m 40 years of age and have a pretty good sense of who I am now. I’m quite bulletproof in that sense.
Everyone needs to understand that you're born naked and the rest is bullshit. I think that’s a RuPaul quote or a Dave Lynn quote.
PORTIA DE FOSSE: Who's your crush of the day? (Jonathan Bailey is dominating my tally chart at the moment, Marsha Mallow, Lady Red Velvet, Amy LaQueefa, Dawn the Drag Queen and Allan Jay are all team JB and so am I ha).
DALEYPOP: I think, if I’m honest with you. I’ve got a real crush on Kevin Costner, Yellowstone is what started it for me. He’s a mature man and he looks good for his age and is there anything more sexier than a man on a horse? Well one that’s hung like one. I’ve also got quite a thing for Vernon Kaye phwoar!
PORTIA DE FOSSE: If you could steal one skill or talent from another performer in the industry, what would it be?
DALEYPOP: I have incredible respect for drag icons like David Dale, Dave Lynn, Sandra and Rose Garden I look up to them, to me they are stars and I feel incredibly blessed to be able to call them friends. I grew up watching them. Ummmm I don't think I’d steal a skill or talent....what I would do instead is offer advice. Always stay humble.
DALEYPOP: Got any holidays or mini breaks planned this year?
PORTIA DE FOSSE: I’ve actually just got back from one, I went to Gran Canaria and performed at Ricky’s Cabaret Bar for Spring Fling. It’s one of my favourite times of the year.
DALEYPOP: Last question! Do you have anything else you'd love to share with our readers?
PORTIA DE FOSSE: Thank you it’s been a pleasure talking to you today. You can catch me at my residencies at Queens Arms Brighton every Sunday, the Two Brewers in Clapham every other Sunday, and once a month at Legends in Brighton for Portia N’ Pals. Otherwise, you can check out my socials.
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