Luisa Omielan has always done things her own way. She put on her first show What Would Beyonce Do?! without a manager and turned it into a huge hit. She followed it up with Am I Right Ladies?! and proved that the debut was no fluke. One of the routines in her second show, about the thigh gap, went viral and has had over 30 million views. Omielan’s shows clearly touch a nerve. They are high energy fun, but also passionate, powerful pieces about female empowerment. They are as much about feminism as Bridget Christie’s work. Omielan has now taken her D-I-Y ethic and applied it to the DVD market. She crowd-funded the release of Am I Right Ladies?! and hired Sarah Townsend, who directed Eddie Izzard's Believe, to film it. You can download the DVD from her website here. See her live dates and what else she is up to here.
1. What is the last thing you do before you go onstage (apart from check your flies and/or check your knickers aren't sticking out of your skirt and check for spinach between your teeth)?
I love doing the ritual of my make up and hair, I like having songs on that I can dance to and I like a hug from my tech if I'm doing a solo show. The usual, who doesn't want a hug from their tech?
2. What irritates you?
Complacency and people not being good at their jobs, especially if their job is in customer service or in the arts. I love people that pay attention to detail and care, it bugs me when people don't care.
3. What is the most dangerous thing you have ever done?
Probably paragliding last year at Altitude festival. I'm doing it again next year, I can't ski so am probably gonna do it again next year, it's such a high #yolo
4. What is the most stupid thing you have ever done?
Pursued people that aren't good for me
5. What has surprised you the most during your career in comedy?
The admin, SO MUCH ADMIN. How beautiful people respond to honesty and how even when you have something good, it is still such hard work because of all the unintentional but very much there hoops.
Interview continues here.
