Billy Porter: podcast appearances and interviews

William Ellis Porter II, born on September 21, 1969, is an American singer, actor, writer, director, and businessperson. He gained recognition through his performances on Broadway before pursuing a solo career as a singer and actor. Porter is notably known for his role as Lola in the musical Kinky Boots, for which he received the 2013 Tony Award for Best Actor in a Musical, the Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Actor in a Musical, and the Outer Critics Circle Award for Outstanding Actor in a Musical. The role was significant in helping him confront aspects of his femininity and challenge societal notions of masculinity. He also won the 2014 Grammy Award for Best Musical Theater Album for Kinky Boots' accompanying album. Porter starred in all three seasons of the television series Pose, earning three Golden Globe nominations and winning the 2019 Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series. His success in this role marked a historic moment as he was the first gay black man to be nominated for and to win an award in any lead acting category at the Primetime Emmys. In 2020, he was listed among Time magazine's 100 most influential people in the world. His work extended into film with his directorial debut in 2022 for the romantic comedy Anything's Possible. Porter has also been recognized for his humanitarian efforts, receiving the Isabelle Stevenson Award at the 77th Tony Awards for his work with the Elizabeth Taylor AIDS Foundation and the Entertainment Community Fund.