From an episode of SmartArtsPresented by Richard Watts

Interview

SmartArts: Panti Bliss Is The Queen Of Ireland

Richard Watts speaks with beloved drag queen, activist and entertainer Panti Bliss (aka Rory O’Neill), ahead of her return to Australia for If These Wigs Could Talk at Arts Centre Melbourne as part of Midsumma Festival.

Richard talks with Panti about her long-running career and her work in helping bring LBGTQIA+ reforms to Ireland – particularly the Marriage Equality campaign in 2015.

“I got into drag originally because it’s stupid and ridiculous and brilliant and punk and underground and transgressive and now people want me to be some elder stateslady… it’s such a weird place to find yourself in.”

Photo credit: Niall Sweeney

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Listen to SmartArts: Panti Bliss Is The Queen Of Ireland38:0223 January 2025