Conchita Wurst: Growing up gay, Eurovision and Jane Fonda

“I’m really enjoying what I’m doing right now and I’m trying not to let things stress me out,” chuckles Conchita Wurst as we start to chat about how life has changed for the Rise Like a Phoenix singer since she stormed to victory at Eurovision last month (May).

While the world has fallen in love with Ms Wurst, behind the stage persona is a 25-year-old man who’s now dealing with newfound fame. In this candid interview, I find out more about the man behind the drag, Tom Neuwirth, who tells me about growing up gay in small-town Austria, wearing heels to the playground, and how his family are dealing with his rise to stardom…

So how did your recent performance at G-A-Y go?
“Oh, it was so great. The reaction was overwhelming. You know, since Eurovision and the weeks before, I have to say it’s really felt like singing to my friends. I just felt so welcome.”

What’s the reaction been like back in Austria? Obviously there was some controversy beforehand, but has that changed since?
“You know, of course there were always things going on in the background, and maybe there were people that didn’t want me there. I knew from the very beginning that the beard is something you don’t see every day, so people were talking. I totally get that but I don’t really care about negativity at all. And after winning Eurovision of course everyone was proud of me and I had more support and more fans, but I think most people just got my message and got what I had to say. I don’t really care if the others are honest about their intolerance because at least they’re being forced to confront it, and I think that’s the first step. It’s a step in the right direction.”

What did you make of the fact that Rise Like a Phoenix went straight to Number One on Russian iTunes?
“It was actually my first Number One ever! In the first place it felt phenomenal and was such a big surprise. I felt so happy because being Number One in Russia is obviously not the same as being Number One in somewhere like Sweden, you know? And it just goes to show that the people and the public are not on board with these laws, and that’s a very good sign.”

Looking back to your childhood, did you have a tough time growing up?
“I think as a member of the gay community all our stories are kind of similar. Of course I had a tough time being a teenager, but being a teenager is not the funnest thing for anyone! Growing up in such a small village was difficult because most people are very conservative and I had to fight against discrimination, but there are plenty of stories out there – especially among people in our community – who get it even worse so I don’t want to say ‘Boo hoo, I had such a bad childhood’. But yes, being a teenager was very tough for me. It took me a long time to realise that I’d only be happy when I started to love myself, and from that day on I’ve just had happy times.”

Were you bullied or teased at all?
“Yes, there was bullying. Going to school was a tricky situation for me. It never got physical but there was so much discrimination and people saying words and stuff – that was the main thing which made it hard.”

Were you always aware that you were ‘different’?
“You know, I was looking through my childhood pictures and I noticed that in about 80 percent of these pictures I’m wearing women’s clothes! It was quite obvious that was the look I was going for! But I’ve never wanted to be a woman – people always think I’m a trans person but I’m not, I’m just a drag artist and I really enjoy being a gay boy in my private life! But I don’t know when I first realised, because to me it always felt like such a normal thing. You wear what you want and get support from your parents and I didn’t feel weird until the day that kids learnt how to name things, if you know what mean. They now had a word for this strange boy and this boy who was different, and that’s when it started to get tough.”

And your family, were they supportive?
“Yeah totally. As I said I think it’s very brave to let your little boy walk in high-heeled shoes to the playground and stuff like that. My parents always thought I should be allowed to express myself in whatever way I wanted to, so I was very lucky with my family.”

When did you come out to them?
“I think I was about 17. Both my parents were very supportive but they had a tough time after my coming out. They ran their own business – they run this little hotel in this little village – and they thought that their happiness depended on the opinions of others. That was their way of thinking, and thankfully it changed but back then I participated in a reality show in Austria and I had an interview with a huge newspaper in Austria. They said beforehand they wanted to talk about my love life and I realised, ‘Okay, now I have to choose’ – I can either deny it or I can come out and say it and stay true to myself. And I did the second. I said, ‘Well yeah, I’m gay, so what’, and I finished the interview and I called my mum and said, ‘Mum, I’m gay.’ Because the newspaper interview was appearing the week after, I also had to tell her, ‘And people all over Austria are going to know that.’

“I think that was the hard part for them, because I didn’t give them the chance to come to terms with it at their own speed. I just said, ‘Well that’s it.’ You know, I was young, but I think for me that was the best way I could do it. My parents are tough and they needed some time but after two or three months they were totally fine with it.”

They must be very proud of you now.
“You know, they’re proud of me whether I win Eurovision or not. I think first of all of course they are proud but also they are a bit overwhelmed. I don’t realise it, I keep having to remind myself that I won the Eurovision Song Contest! It’s so surreal, and it is for them also. I talk to my mum at least every other day and I’m always like, ‘Can you believe it yet?’, and she’s like ‘No, I don’t!’. We’re all in this bubble!”

So when was your first gay experience?
“I think it was at the age of 14 or something. I think I was 13 when I first talked to my best friend about it, and I was 14 when I had my first boyfriend.”

That’s quite young!
“It is! But you know, you have to make a start!”

And you’re married now?
“Well, I take my job – actually I shouldn’t even called it a job because it doesn’t feel like working! I take Conchita very seriously and I thought that she deserved her own life, this fairytale around Columbia and her marriage and stuff. So Conchita is married to another stage persona, and these two characters are married. But as Tom, I’m single! Honey, I don’t have tiiiiime for that! Haha!”

You must be able to get a lot of anonymity when you go out as Tom. Are people surprised when they find out that you’re Conchita?
“You know, these days, Tom is pretty much just in hotel rooms! He’s not going out that often! But I have a funny story, actually, because I had a day off in Copenhagen before the Eurovision final and I went out with my friends sightseeing and we went to a hotdog stand and the lady behind the counter said, ‘You’re from Austria right?’ And we were like, ‘Yes,’ and she said, ‘Good luck tomorrow.’ And it was so weird because I had no idea if she knew or not! I was like, ‘Oh my god what just happened?!’”

What are you plans moving forward? When can we expect a Conchita album?
“Well, we’re having meetings at the moment and looking through songs. I’m not very certain at songwriting so I need someone to write them! Of course I want to make an album, but I totally know that once you’ve won the Eurovision Song Contest it’s so easy just to be stuck with this and to not have success outside of the competition. So I’m gonna make sure my songs are fabulous! That’s what I’m going for, so I need a little time and to choose my material wisely! I would love to stay [in the UK] actually, but the next week is crazy with events in Vienna and meeting people, doing this and doing that. I’ve got the honour of having dinner with Bill Clinton and stuff like that…”

Oh just stuff like that! ‘Oh, just dinner with Bill…’
“Haha! Well, you know I was at the amfAR Gala in Cannes on Thursday and it was so overwhelming just to see all these A-listers, and being in a situation where I’m talking to them! I met Jane Fonda and just being there and talking to her felt so natural because everyone was so nice and so kind, and it was just a normal conversation. I’m totally excited but I’m not fan-girling – I don’t know why though! But I don’t know what I’m doing from one week to the next so I’m just taking it step by step.”

Watch Conchita’s winning performance of Rise Like a Phoenix below: