2017 Edinburgh Fringe

Interview

Three questions with character comedian Maddy Anholt.

Which was your favourite character to develop for your show?

It was a surprising one for me because I was going to cut her quite early on but didn't on the advice of a friend. She's called Sarah Barker and is a Bristolian cleaner who finds out she's on the wrong side of the glass in a local radio studio. Sarah is the longest-running out of all my characters. I came up with her in my 3rd year of ALRA (The Academy of Live and Recorded Arts) for an exercise on studying someone over a month then becoming them for a week (all very "be a tree", I know). She's based on my uncle's friend and I still don't think she knows.

We've heard you're either completely, half or quarter Persian, can you help clear this up for us?

Well it depends who you speak to. If you speak to me, I say quarter; if you speak to Shazza, she'll tell you half. The point is, execs: Persian enough to tick that BAME box.

My Mum's side is Irish, my Dad's side is Dutch, Persian comes into the mix way before that. I just like the idea of being a Persian Princess. Yet to find my jewels, though.

A little bird tipped us off that your character Shazza is pretty fly with the freestylin' - spit us some bars on why we should see your show.

BCG I like the way you be.
You're the baddest boys on my CV.
Talkin' 'bout my new show
Come join me with your beau.
There's Sarah, Shazza, Saffron and Heather
If you sit at the front you'll get a twerk with a feather.
And yes, nominated and what?
Come on then, I'll show you what I got.
Talking crazy and funny
Don't be shy, honey.
There's a rap and a peacock
It's up there in the loch.
Baby, best come see me,
I'm playing there at Underbelly.