10:57am Wednesday 22nd December 2004
Meet Kerry Godliman, the actress turned comedienne who is taking the circuit by storm. ALEX KASRIEL finds out how she got here
Kerry Godliman is a positive thinker. Not wanting to get frustrated by a career starting with Casualty and ending with Holby City, she turned her talents to stand-up.
Two years on, and Kerry is signed to comedy agents Talkback; has performed in a successful Edinburgh show; and when she is not performing her act around the country, she is busy filming a new comedy show for Channel 4.
"I have always wanted to do it," says the comedian who likes to look at the roots of words and their meanings, musing for example on where the fun is in a fun-sized chocolate bar.
"I didn't have the guts for a long time. I suppose unemployment was the reason why I have been doing straight roles. Not working when you're acting is just frustrating. So I thought why not start trying other things?
"I started to say to my agent that I wanted to do more comedy roles. But the thing about acting is that you have little opportunity to show people what you can do. Most actors, including myself, are not having the careers that they fantasised about."
But Kerry's success in comedy has brought the Rose Bruford-trained actress the jobs she was looking for in the first place.
"All people saw me do was down-trodden women and drug dealers' girlfriends on Casualty and Holby City. Quite serious really. Usually I'm happy to work but I set my mind on doing sit-com. My agent said: This is acting. You don't get to choose.' Since I have been in stand-up, I have been offered lots more comedy opportunities."
It is not surprising that Kerry has done so well. The chatty, young west Londoner has a refreshingly positive but realistic view and isn't afraid of hard graft.
Where comedy clubs used to be the exclusive domain of men, these days you will normally see a woman on the bill. And because it is commonplace, women don't feel the urge to talk about periods and what is wrong with men.
"There was a time when there were hardly any women in stand-up," Kerry explains. "It's amazing that so many people are doing it at the moment, especially women. People always say they only do jokes about women's problems and slagging off men, but apart from Jo Brand, I have never heard women do that material. And I have never heard men get accused of doing too much blokey material about girlie mags and Yoda. Some women comics are really tough. But women don't have to be the Thatcher of the comedy circuit any more. You can just be a woman."
And Kerry is heartened by the idea that fellow female comedian Ria Lina brought her baby to a gig at the Comedy "She came with her baby. I was really encouraged," says Kerry. "There are three women on the circuit who have each got a baby. Maybe things are changing. I have got a boyfriend and he's really supportive. He's an actor. I wouldn't want to choose between children and comedy. It would be a bit of a Sophie's Choice.
"The lovely thing about comedy is that it's really eclectic. You can see all kinds of comedy in one night surreal gags about sheep-flinging or laddish jokes about women. Bookers are clever and give something to everyone."
Kerry's experience as a stand-up helps her to learn the tricks of the trade and she notes, with a modest admiration, the comics who have inspired her.
"I was really excited because last week I did a gig with Harry Hill at Comedy Camp," she says. "He was down there doing some comedy with Jenny Eclair these people who have been doing it for a long time. You can learn a lot by watching them.
"In acting I have done some great jobs. I acted with Diana Rigg in Murder in Mind. She was very personable and professional. She just exudes this kind of confidence. She's a star really."
But it was at Edinburgh, doing her show Bling Blush Bonk with like-minded comedians Roisin Conaty and Ava Vidal where Kerry really learned the ropes.
"It was like Boot Camp. It was the first time I had done a 20-minute show. Before that, it was just five-minute acts on open mic nights, which is like the contemporary karaoke. Until you do 20 minutes, you're not really a stand-up."
Kerry is at Roar With Laughter Comedy Club, Genotin Road, Enfield, next Thursday.
Tickets are £6 members, £7 non-members on the door or in advance on 020 8372 0836. She also performs at Downstairs at the King's Head in Crouch End Hill, Crouch End, on January 8, at 8pm. Tickets are £8 (£6 concessions) on the door or on 01920 823265.
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