10 questions with Francesca Martinez

Interview by: Ann Mehigan

Ahead of her Dublin tour date, we caught up with one of the most successful female comedians working the UK circuit right now, Francesca Martinez. We caught up to talk beauty treatments, Ricky Gervais and Guinness.

Welcome to Dublin Francesca! Is this your first time playing in Ireland - any Irish connections to brag about/hide we should know about?
No, but it's the first time I've performed here as part of my tour so I'm really looking forward to doing my full show here and not just a set! My partner is from Dublin and I brag about that a lot! My perfect man has always been a poor Irish poet. I love the accent! My boyfriend has the accent but he's not a poet. One out of two isn't bad! We have a lot of friends and family here so it feels like home to me. If it didn't rain as much, I could live here!

Despite having CP (Cerebral Palsy), your diary seems jam-packed constantly! Do you ever stop working? Or are you one of these lucky people who love their job so much its not like work?! (what's that like???!)
I do love my job but performing can be tiring so I've learned to respect that and build in breaks. I've realised I can do more if I'm sensible in my planning. After the Dublin show, I'm actually on holiday and am flying over to Spain so you shouldn't feel too sorry for me! I've taken July and August off which is a real novelty and it actually feels weird not to be gearing up for the Edinburgh Fringe. But I've been touring since February so lying on a beach seems very appealing. I also sleep a lot, which means I usually have just enough energy to make strangers laugh! That's my tip on how to be productive - sleep more!

If you had to go without ONE beauty treatment FOREVER - what would you sacrifice?
a. Any kind of hair removal
b. Make-up
c. Haircuts
Ooh, tough! Probably make-up because if I was covered in hair, the make-up wouldn't make much difference!

You have worked with some amazing comedians, Ricky Gervais to name but one, he is a hero of mine, were you star-struck? Do you get star-struck? If so, who made your heart go all a-flutter?!
I'm a huge fan of The Office so it was amazing to work with Ricky! I get star-struck with people I admire a lot. I met the Dalai Lama once and I was so nervous, I ruined all the photos because I just looked terrified!

Funniest moment in your life so far? (you can only pick one!)
When I hosted an event for Unilever. I thought it was an organisation for people who'd just left university. I kept asking people what degree they'd done!! Very embarrassing.

Trick for combatting nerves before a big show? Do you get nervous? How do you handle hecklers? I realise thats 3 questions in one but I talk a lot.
I think it's all about mindset. I tell myself that I'm just a tiny insignificant speck in the universe and that what I do doesn't really matter. It seems to work! I also feel very lucky that strangers pay to listen to me and I think it's a real privilege so I try and enjoy it. Ultimately I'm too lazy to get nervous. I just want to love what I've chosen to do so I tell myself to be glad I don't have to do a real job for a living! With hecklers I try and keep the atmosphere light and then they usually calm down. If that doesn't work, my boyfriend beats them up. Not really.

If you could shoot someone in the face and not get caught, who would it be? You can't say me.
You. See what I did there?

Any romance?! Go on. You can tell us. We won't tell a soul.
You've already heard about my dreamy Irish man. We met 6 years ago at a party and he's been the love of my life ever since. Despite being held captive in my basement.

Do you like Guinness? if so, I would heartily recommend the Guinness Storehouse tour, great pint there.
I don't drink Guinness because I don't drink alcohol! It took me a while to explain that to my partner but I think he understands it now. Just. But my dad loves it. And it may or may not make an appearance in my show...

Finally, for those who are attending your show in Dublin on 30th June, should they expect the unexpected?!
Yes. It's a show which explores the myth of normality. So of course it can't be normal. But it is funny. Which is normal for comedy. I guess I hope it's abnormally funny!

Story by EI Team | 09:00 | Wednesday 27th June 2012 | Comedy

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