Who is Panti Bliss?
Pandora “Panti” Bliss is an aging drag queen, raconteur, gender discombobulist and a National Fucking Treasure
What would you do differently from what you do now?
I’m spending the Northern Hemisphere’s February in the Southern Hemisphere’s February so… absolutely nothing. I’ve played this perfectly!
Who inspires you and why?
Panti is an amalgam of influences. Maggie Smith in The Prime Of Miss Jean Brodie, Dolly Parton, Farrah Fawcett, and my glamorous American aunty who would arrive to the West of Ireland every few years in pantsuits and a haze of menthol cigarettes, accompanied by the clink-clank of chunky jewellery, and bearing exciting gifts. Those women inspired me first by being exactly who they intended to be.
What would you do to make a difference in the world?
Abolish billionaires immediately and roll the internet back to 2010 when it still worked.
Favourite holiday destination and why?
Sitges in Spain for a quick getaway of sun and sea and eating and boozy nights. Tokyo for everything else.
When friends come to town, what attraction would you take them to, and why?
I take them to the two best bars in Dublin of course! – Pantibar and its sister bar Pennylane. Why? Because the owner is the most beautiful and talented aging drag queen in the world. That’s what many people say anyway!
What are you currently reading?
The Hundred-Year-Old Man who Climbed Out the Window and Disappeared by Jonas Jonasson. It’s a really charming and funny book about an old Swedish man who climbs out the window of his old-folks home and goes on a kinda accidental murderous crime spree.
What are you currently listening to?
The radio. I’m writing this in Dublin the day after we had a record breaking storm hit the whole country and currently all of my siblings who live in the West of the country have been without power for over 24hrs and looks like it might be days before things are back up and running. We really need to stop burning fossil fuels.
Happiness is?
Full belly, friends, family, and my stoopid cat.
What does the future hold for you?
Hopefully a lot more fun. I’m good at fun!
Panti Bliss stars in If These Wigs Could Talk – which will be presented in the Fairfax Studio – Arts Centre Melbourne from 4 – 9 February, as part of the 2025 Midsumma Festival. For more information, visit: www.artscentremelbourne.com.au for details.
Image: Panti Bliss – photo by Patricio Cassinoni & Niall Sweeney