Billy Porter Opens Up About His 30 Years in the Business and Says It’s All ‘About the Work’

Billy Porter is talking about what being a “boss” means to him. 

On Tuesday, PureWow caught up with the Pose star on the red carpet of the New York premiere for his new movie Like A Boss. During the event, the 50-year-old actor got real about his experience in the industry for the last three decades. 

“I’ve been in this business for over 30 years, and I’ve done nothing but get up every day and put one foot in front of the other and focus on the work,” Porter said. “It’s not about the fame, it’s not about the fortune. I’m an artist, and it’s always been about the work.” 

Porter also opened up about why he got started in entertainment in the first place. 

“Inside of this industry sometimes, the by-product of being successful in this business is that you might have some modicum of fame or somebody might know your name or whatever, but that’s not why I ever did it. I did it because I have something to say. I did it because I’m an artist from the inside out.” 

Like A Boss centers on Mia (Tiffany Haddish) and Mel (Rose Byrne), two budding cosmetics entrepreneurs and BFFs. While running their makeup business together, the two lifelong friends fall into the classic start-up conundrum: They’ve burned through all their funding.  After realizing they’re $493,000 in debt, the two seek out the help of Claire Luna (Salma Hayek), an idea-stealing makeup mogul. Porter stars as Barrett, one of Mel and Mia’s employees.  

In the words of Porter himself, “No matter what other people might say—you’re a boss.”