August 1, 2010

STAGE | FILM | CABARET PERFORMER | Our guest this week is ALEXANDRA BILLINGS. She has won multiple awards for her work such as: "After Dark Award for Best Actress in a Comedy," in Charles Busch’s "Vampire Lesbians of Sodom." "After Dark Award for Best Actress" playing Margot Channing in "Applause" for Healthworks Theatre at The Apollo, "New York MAC Hanson Award, for New Cabaret Artist," "After Dark Award for Outstanding Cabaret Artist of the Year," Her character "Shante" at the Baton Show Lounge won her the titles of: "Miss Wisconsin," "Miss New York," "Miss Chicago," "Miss Illinois," and she was the first Chicago performer in the history of the pageants' to win the coveted "Miss Florida"contest. In 2003, Alexandra filmed her first Television Movie for ABC- TV: "Romy and Michelle - In The Beginning." She then made Television history by being the first Transgendered Female to play a Transgendered Female character on Television. Soon after, she was cast as the "Nasty Transsexual with a heart of gold" on the now defunct show "Karen Sisco." In 2004, she filmed an episode of "Grey’s Anatomy" which won a "GLAAD Award for Outstanding Episode." She’s also appeared on "E.R." and filmed the pilot "Nurses" for ABC playing opposite one of her childhood idols, Lynn Redgrave. In 2007 she completed her first film "Socket" directed by her old Chicago pal Sean Abley and completed a pilot for F/X directed by gorgeous Ryan Murphy and co-starring Joseph Fiennes and Blythe Danner called "Pretty/Handsome." As an interesting side note, it is thought that almost every role played by her on stage, has been the only time they’ve ever been recreated by a Transgendered actress in the history of theatre.