News | Entertainment
29 Mar 2024 10:30
NZCity News
NZCity CalculatorReturn to NZCity

  • Start Page
  • Personalise
  • Sport
  • Weather
  • Finance
  • Shopping
  • Jobs
  • Horoscopes
  • Lotto Results
  • Photo Gallery
  • Site Gallery
  • TVNow
  • Dating
  • SearchNZ
  • NZSearch
  • Crime.co.nz
  • RugbyLeague
  • Make Home
  • About NZCity
  • Contact NZCity
  • Your Privacy
  • Advertising
  • Login
  • Join for Free

  •   Home > News > Entertainment

    Billy Porter feels "really blessed" after becoming the first openly gay black man to receive an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Lead Actor

    The 49-year-old star has been nominated for the Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series gong thanks to his work playing ball emcee Pray Tell in Ryan Murphy's 'Pose', and is the first openly gay black man to receive the honour.


    And reflecting on his nomination, Billy said he is "thrilled" to be a part of the show, which teaks the story of a predominantly LGBT ballroom community in New York City in the late 80s and early 90s, and focuses on their fights for equality and against HIV and AIDS.

    He said: "My breath is taken away. I'm so thrilled. It's an amazing feeling.

    "I feel really blessed to have lived long enough to see this day, to see the world transform in this way, where our story gets to be told on this level with this kind of juice behind it, Ryan Murphy behind it. It's really life-altering."

    The star has been working in the industry for three decades, but doesn't feel as though his Emmy nomination is long overdue, as he believes he "would never have been ready" until now.

    He added: "Everything happens when it's supposed to happen. We're always right where we're supposed to be, and I would never have been ready before now."

    Billy - who is already a Tony and Grammy award winner - also said being gay used to handicap him in the industry, as he came out in 1985, and so he connected with Pray Tell's story in 'Pose'.

    Speaking to People magazine, he said: "I've been in this business for 30 years. My outness was always considered a liability for me and that has turned around. In my life in the business, having that flamboyant ability, very often that's where you're pigeonholed, that's where you're sort of put in a box. I'm glad to be out of that box. I'm glad that Pray Tell gets to be a really three-dimensional human being.

    "I came out in 1985, '86, around that time, and went straight to the front lines to fight for our lives. This is why I'm here. I lived for a reason. I lived to be able to tell the story on the other side, to be able to remind people that were human beings. We're real people and it's not about acceptance and it's not about tolerance, it's about demanding respect for our humanity. Stop putting our humanity up for legislation and treat us like we're human beings. That's all that I care about. And that's what this show gets to do. It's really remarkable."

    © 2024 Bang Showbiz, NZCity

     Other Entertainment News
     29 Mar: Machine Gun Kelly is said to be in "good spirits" despite Megan Fox admitting they once called off their engagement
     29 Mar: Inside Islamic State's transformation, from life support to 'slaughtering with gusto'
     29 Mar: Stephen Colbert regrets being one of the famous faces who stoked conspiracy theories about Catherine, Princess of Wales ahead of her cancer treatment announcement
     29 Mar: John Lydon felt as if he lost "half" of himself when his wife died
     29 Mar: Jessie James Decker's husband Eric has had a vasectomy
     29 Mar: Joely Richardson struggled to find an agent after she turned 50
     29 Mar: Steve Harvey could easily "get rid" of one of his daughter's boyfriends
     Top Stories

    RUGBY RUGBY
    Calls for Rugby Australia to back their women's game from Chiefs Manawa fullback Renee Holmes More...


    BUSINESS BUSINESS
    Innovative New Zealand apple producing company Rockit is focussing on its international expansion More...



     Today's News

    Law and Order:
    Cordons remain in place in Auckland's Brown's Bay as police investigate a death following an assault 10:27

    Law and Order:
    The tangi of one of the men who died after a mass brawl at a 21st birthday party in Gisborne last weekend will be held today 10:27

    Entertainment:
    Machine Gun Kelly is said to be in "good spirits" despite Megan Fox admitting they once called off their engagement 10:23

    Rugby:
    Calls for Rugby Australia to back their women's game from Chiefs Manawa fullback Renee Holmes 10:07

    Tennis:
    The men's semifinals at the Miami Open will feature a rematch of this year's Australian Open final 10:07

    Entertainment:
    Inside Islamic State's transformation, from life support to 'slaughtering with gusto' 9:57

    Entertainment:
    Stephen Colbert regrets being one of the famous faces who stoked conspiracy theories about Catherine, Princess of Wales ahead of her cancer treatment announcement 9:53

    Business:
    Innovative New Zealand apple producing company Rockit is focussing on its international expansion 9:27

    Entertainment:
    John Lydon felt as if he lost "half" of himself when his wife died 9:23

    Golf:
    To a Foxy-finish with a flourish on golf's PGA Tour.. 9:07


     News Search






    Power Search


    © 2024 New Zealand City Ltd