Massive news for the self-proclaimed ‘accidental activist’.
Production company Playground has bought the rights to Rory O’Neill’s 2014 memoir ‘Panti: A Woman In The Making’ and will turn it into a comedy-drama series based on the his life as alter-ego Panti Bliss.
O’Neill himself will star as Panti in the series, which will be set in and around the iconic Pantibar on Dublin’s Capel Street.
“Rory is a genuinely unique voice, and we’re excited to be working with his alter-ego Panti Bliss on a series that will bring her provocative perspective on contemporary culture and the unspoken challenges that face the gay community to a mainstream television audience,” said Playground CEO Colin Callender.
Panti shot to mainstream fame with the iconic noble call at Dublin’s Abbey Theatre in early 2014.
She would go on to play a leading role in Ireland’s decision to legalise gay marriage in May 2015, and was the subject of Conor Horgan’s brilliant The Queen of Ireland.
“Watching his TED talk and his remarkable speech at the Abbey Theatre, I was utterly captivated by Rory’s ability to use the persona of Panti Bliss to talk about issues of homophobia, acceptance and tolerance in a bold, funny and very personal way that challenges all our easy preconceptions,” added Callender.
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