Katherine Ryan, the 42-year-old Canadian comedian who has made her home in the UK for nearly 20 years, arrived at a recent interview with her fourth child, Holland, in tow. Known for her unapologetic style, she discussed success, feminism and the role she believes she has played in British comedy.
Ryan said that when she first came to the UK she was 'instantly poor' but her career soon took off. Reflecting on the early 2010s comedy scene, she recalled that being glamorous was seen as 'man-pleasing' and that self-deprecation was the trend. She chose to wear glamorous outfits and heels, declaring, 'I think I'm stunning.'
Her material, she said, aimed to reassure women that they could be feminists and have breast implants, or be 'a bit of a slag' and imperfect as mothers or partners. She also insisted on honesty, saying she is not currently on weight-loss drugs but would consider them after breastfeeding.
Ryan said she is not deliberately provocative but enjoys sharing secrets and mistakes. She grew up in Sarnia, Ontario, where her father ran an engineering company and her mother worked in IT. She wanted to escape from the age of seven.
While filming Who Do You Think You Are? she reconnected with her teenage sweetheart, Bobby Kootstra. They now have three children together, alongside her daughter Violet, 16, from a previous relationship. Ryan mused that in another life she and Violet might have remained 'chic, cosmopolitan, portable.'
