Owen Thiele, an L.A.-based actor, has kicked off Pride Month with notable roles in two TV shows: 'Overcompensating' and 'Adults.' He attributes much of his confidence and artistic influence to Brandy's iconic portrayal of Cinderella, which he relates to his own experiences as a performer. Thiele emphasizes the impact of seeing someone who looked like him in a Disney film, shaping his identity. He discusses his early aspirations in acting, singling out key moments of inspiration from Brandy's music and performances throughout his childhood, ultimately aiming to embody her poise in his career.
Cinderella with Brandy and Whitney Houston was the first time I saw somebody who remotely looked like me in a Disney movie - and growing up wanting to be a performer, Disney was the all-time dream. Seeing Brandy, I was like, 'Oh my God, that can be me. If a beautiful Black woman can be a princess, I can be gay!' Cinderella is still a yearly watch for me.
I was very, very young when I realized I wanted to act. In first grade, my teachers would let me have 'talent show time,' where I would sing or act or dance, and that was my way of letting off steam. One year, for Halloween, I dressed as Brandy's Cinderella.
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