Harriet Kemsley's Journey from Shyness to Standup Stardom
Born in Canterbury in 1987, Harriet Kemsley has carved out a notable career as a comedian and podcaster. She embarked on her standup journey in 2011, swiftly garnering best newcomer awards. Her television appearances include shows like 8 Out of 10 Cats and LOL: Last One Laughing UK. In 2017, she starred in the Viceland reality series Bobby & Harriet Get Married with fellow comedian Bobby Mair, with whom she shares a four-year-old daughter named Mabel. Additionally, she co-hosts the podcast Single Ladies in Your Area with Amy Gledhill and is set to launch her new show, Floozy, in October.
Early Years and Childhood Memories
Reflecting on her childhood, Kemsley recalls a thick fringe that defined her early years, though she now finds maintaining it too demanding. A cherished photo from her youth shows her with an ice-cream, radiating pure joy. Her parents describe her as a conscientious and well-behaved child, but she notes this behaviour has steadily declined over time. Growing up incredibly shy, she often struggled in social situations, panicking when asked simple questions like how she was doing. Despite being the eldest sibling, she never seemed responsible enough to fit that role.
Raised on a farm, Kemsley enjoyed fresh raspberries and pears as a child, ironic given her later development of an allergy to raw fruits and vegetables. At age eight, the death of her pet chicken led her to connect dead animals with meat, prompting her to become a vegetarian—an unusual choice for a farmer's daughter.
Overcoming Challenges and Discovering Comedy
Kemsley's mother often remarked that funny things always happened to her, a trait she now attributes partly to her dyspraxia. This condition made simple tasks like sitting through a meal without spilling a glass difficult, and she frequently found herself in absurd situations, such as being urinated on by a rhino at the zoo. These incidents compounded her natural embarrassment, making her the centre of attention in uncomfortable ways.
Attending an all-girls school, Kemsley focused on her passion for acting, though audiences often laughed at her earnest performances, such as playing the grandma in Red Riding Hood. Her teenage years were marked by underage clubbing, using alcohol to boost her confidence, as shyness hindered her ambitions, including rejection from drama schools due to introversion and lack of life experience.
To overcome this, she spent a year at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York, living in a cockroach-infested hotel in Manhattan, an experience she describes as brilliant. Upon returning, she still faced drama school rejections, leading her to study English Literature at Kingston University while working part-time at the Rose theatre. After graduation, she took a job transcribing news in a Shoreditch basement, where sleep deprivation and exposure to grim global events inspired her early, dark standup material.
Secret Standup Beginnings and Career Breakthrough
Her parents surprisingly suggested she try standup, a move she found unconventional yet touching. She Googled "standup" and found a gig above a pub in Green Park, signing up with her first and middle names to avoid seeming arrogant. Despite feeling sick with nerves for weeks, her debut went well, and she instantly knew standup was her lifelong calling.
Kemsley kept her comedy pursuits secret for months until her media agency discovered it, relieving their suspicions that she had a drug problem due to her exhausted demeanor. At an early show, she was confused about whether she would be paid £10 or had to pay it, but her mother advised bringing the money just in case. To her amazement, she was paid £10 after the performance, a sum she has kept as a memento through financial hardships.
Healing Through Humour and Personal Growth
Using comedy to process emotions has been key to Kemsley's healing. After a sexual assault early in her career, she addressed it in her show Slutty Joan, finding agency and catharsis by speaking out. This process, combined with therapy, helped her overcome shame and guilt, transforming daily nightmares into a source of comedic material.
Becoming a mother to Mabel four years ago profoundly changed her, instilling a sense of capability she never felt before. Co-parenting with ex-husband Bobby Mair while managing a night-time career is overwhelming, but she relies on a supportive network of babysitters and fellow parents. She humorously notes the awkwardness of sharing a Google calendar with her ex, where personal details like laser hair removal appointments become shared knowledge.
Embracing Chaos and Gratitude
Despite life's challenges, Kemsley expresses deep gratitude for her career, which allows her to frame experiences and connect with audiences. She remains a magnet for chaotic incidents, such as a recent snowboarding mishap with Lou Sanders that involved getting stuck in a fence and knocking over skis like dominoes. While some chaos is better left offstage, it fuels her unique perspective on life.
Through resilience and humour, Harriet Kemsley has transformed from a shy child into a celebrated comedian, proving that even the most chaotic moments can lead to meaningful connections and personal fulfilment.
