Orange is the New Black’s Big Boo is out of Litchfield Penitentiary, and headed to Manchester. Actress Lea DeLaria, who plays Boo on the hit Netflix series, will serve as Grand Marshal for the Manchester Pride festival’s parade on August 23. DeLaria began her career as a stand-up comic, becoming the first openly gay comic to perform on American television in 1993. Since then she’s appeared on television shows like Friends and Will and Grace, as well as on Broadway in On the Town and the revival of Rocky Horror Picture Show.
“Not only is she an incredible performer, but she’s an inspiration for the global LGBT community,” said Mark Fletcher, Chief Executive of Manchester Pride. “We know she’ll bring her unique charm and personality to really get the crowd going and kickstart the parade with a bang.”
In other Orange is the New Black news, did you know that yuppie-turned-convict Piper Chapman was almost played by… Katie Holmes! Jenji Kohan, the show’s creator, revealed that she was considering the Dawson’s Creek and Batman Begins actress for the part of Piper, and even met with Holmes about the role. In the end, Holmes took on other projects and the part went to actress Taylor Schilling. But Holmes hasn’t counted out making an appearance on the fan favorite series, and Schilling has mentioned the perfect role: the sister of love obsessed Lorna. The chance of some higher-powered stars swinging through Litchfield Penitentiary? Now that’s something we’d like to see!