What do your parents think of your job?
They are very happy for me now, but at the beginning it was hard. I quit so many good jobs and of course, they were concerned. However, recently, my father had a little part in my TV show in Italy and then proceeded to show off to the rest of the family, pretending that he is a star now. He also keeps saying that he is funnier than me. He’s probably right.
What’s the worst thing about being a comedian?
Narcissism. Self-centred nature. Ambition. Insecurity. Obsessions. I wonder why comedians are so bad in relationships. Isn't that the description of a great person?
I think you are very good at what you do (that’s why I’m asking these questions). What do you think of you?
It's a tricky question, because for a comedian, it’s hard to evaluate him/herself. People say that all comedians are depressed but that’s generally not true; truth is that we are just never happy. And when you reach one goal, instead of enjoying it, you immediately find the next one. It's the way to get better, but also the way to never feeling contented. So, if you say that I'm very good, I think I should be very very good. It's a nightmare!
How much do you earn and how much would you like to earn?
I'm good at the moment. I just want to double my earnings and work the same amount of time. Or, ideally, work less!
How important is luck in terms of career success – have you had lucky breaks?
Yes, I’ve had many lucky breaks. I believe in luck, but I don't believe in bad luck. Italy is a very superstitious country, especially in show business. There are people that ask you not to dress in violet or not to open an umbrella in a TV studio due to their superstition, and you can lose your job if you do it. I think it's very stupid, even if I do agree that if you open an umbrella in a TV studio maybe there's something weird about you and maybe you don't deserve that job.
Alan Davies has said that comedians fall into two categories - golfers and self-harmers. The former just get on with life, the latter are tortured artists. Which are you – or do you think you fit into a third category?
I keep going from one category to the other. It's a roller-coaster on a daily basis. My mood changes so quickly. I would add another category: comedians hurting other people feelings. This job is very hard, and it tends to make you selfish so we should be aware that we can hurt our best friends or loved ones in our private life. There are tens of thousands of comedians in the world and we have a great impact on the social environment. We are like plastic for the planet. And we talk a lot! So, there’s lot of CO2 emissions! So, let's be good and save the planet.
Who is your favourite person ever and why – not including family or friends or other comedians?
David Attenborough. I think that my English got better thanks to listening to his voice and through documentaries. The problem now, is that I use words like "breed" or "mating" totally out of context.
Do you keep your drawers tidy and if not why not? (Please think long and hard about this question, it's to settle an argument with my girlfriend. The future of our relationship could depend on your response).
Obviously I keep tidy drawers. It's very simple to keep them tidy and it's a form of respect to the person you are living together with. I know that it’s hard, but we all need to grow up eventually. (Good luck with your girlfriend now!)
Comfort Zone is at Soho Theatre from May 17 - 19. Buy tickets here.
