When the Canadian comedian first arrived in the UK, she says she was instantly poor. But her career soon began to take off. She discusses provocation, perfectionism and telling people her se…
In the Royal Court's Porn Play, Ambika Mod stars as an academic hiding a damaging addiction. She and the drama's creators discuss the challenges of staging masturbation, and getting audience…
She was Saturday Night Live's oldest hire, then faced a torrent of abuse after her role in the Ghostbusters reboot. She talks about the deaths of her mum, dad and brother " and why she's giv…
She is one of the world's most acclaimed performers " going stratospheric as Elphaba in the hit film adaptation of Wicked. Now she's up for a best actress Oscar. What next for Britain's brig…
After watching the glitziest pantomime in London, I had a night out at a hilarious 'adult' show. It was a good reminder that you don't need big money to deliver big laughs They call the Pall…
The role of Charlotte 'Big Jugs' Hinchcliffe made her a star " then she spent years trying to get the respect and the roles she deserved. Now, at the age of 34, she's been having the time of…
Barrino entered American Idol in 2004 as a young single mother who struggled to read, and won over the nation with her powerhouse voice and personality. Now she is starring in her first film…
Comedians will say anything for a laugh " and I've given her years of material Two years ago, my sister was about to turn 50 and I called her spouse to see what he was getting her. He rattle…
For years the world saw Putin as almost a figure of fun " while in Russia he was already meting out brutality to dissidents and LGBTQ+ activists Last night I saw Pussy Riot, on the London le…
After more than 40 years in film and TV, the star of Our Friends in the North is about to share the screen with Harry Styles. She talks about 90s sexism, her start in drama and playing the v…
The actor, who has starred in everything from sitcoms to Shakespeare, talks about his family rows over Brexit, having his phone hacked " and why he did not want to be like Laurence Olivier R…
The Strictly Come Dancing star has left the show that made her name in the UK but her creative, competitive spirit loves a challenge " with three projects on the go, she's not standing still…
The prolific playwright behind the soaraway hit Dinner, Netflix's The Dig and Harlots reflects on coming up in the 1990s, her new play Manor and putting her characters 'through a grinder' "I…
The award-winning standup is known for his exuberance, but, as he writes in his memoir, he has had to dodge snobbery throughout his career. He discusses family, fame and being funny Rob Beck…
Trans actors, Palestine, Tony Blair, typecasting, socialists with multiple houses … as she stars in Rose, a play that covers everything from the Holocaust to the six-day war, the actor let…
The first woman to win the UK's biggest comedy prize has written a guide to the menopause. She discusses HRT, getting sacked and how much she liked her female comedy peers " until their fame…
Whose Line Is It Anyway? made her a household name. But, more than 30 years on, does the queen of improv also think it held her back? She talks about ambition, sexism and her lucky escape fr…
The star of Father Ted and Death in Paradise on his 'unstable' personality, his revealing new standup show " and the terrifying bomb scare he endured as a child Ardal O'Hanlon is too embarra…
He was standing around, minding his own business, Julian Rhind-Tutt tells Zoe Williams, when he got 'very, very lucky' and became an actor. Couldn't talent, she asks, have had something to d…
The world's anxieties are bleeding into her personal life, but the comedian is done with political despair. Ahead of her new tour, she explains why it's time to bring something new to the ta…
It's got a plane, a submarine and hair-frazzling explosions. As the Fast and Furious phenomenon spawns a live show, we go behind the scenes to meet the drivers and crew at the wheelThe Liver…
He escaped from prison, fled to Russia and " unlike the posh Cambridge spies " didn't end up a miserable alcoholic. The revival of Cell Mates, the play about George Blake's betrayal of Brita…
It's hard to poke fun at politicians in an era when they're held in contempt and every joke is policed for offence, say top television writersIt has become a commonplace to remark on the hyp…
He flies, he flips, he falls! Bear Grylls is going on tour " with Endeavour, an acrobatics spectacular celebrating great survivors. But first he gives our writer a crash course on his wall o…
The reaction to actor Rhys Ifans's joke at an anti-slavery benefit concert really irks me.Actor Rhys Ifans. Photograph: Dave Hogan/Getty ImagesRhys Ifans' joke at the anti-slavery benefit co…