Samantha Baines talks about her new show 1 Woman, a Dwarf Planet and 2 Cox.
1 Tell us about your Fringe show
It all started when I wrote Professor Brian Cox a poem and tweeted it to him (six times!!) and he didn't reply. We all love someone who plays hard to get, so I decided to learn about the universe to impress Brian. My fringe show is basically when an obsession goes too far ... with jokes.
2 How does it feel to be playing the Fringe for the first time?
I have actually done seven Edinburgh Fringes but mainly as an actor so it is brilliant to finally be doing my own show. I will be saying words I have written for an hour and that feels wonderful and horrific all at once. I love doing the Fringe perhaps because I have never had a fringe of my own due to some strong words from my hairdresser and an incredibly small forehead.
3 Live act most looking forward to seeing at Fringe?
Gosh there are loads. Probably Bridget Christie closely followed by Katherine Ryan, Sofie Hagen and John Hastings.
4 If you were not a performer/comedian what would you be doing?
I'd be on holiday or enjoying London without all the comedians.
5 How do you combat pre-gig nerves?
I have a cup of Earl Grey tea with soya milk and think about how the audience must like me because we are all made of the same stuff: protons, neutrons and electrons and quarks and then I imagine a posh duck quacking: "quark, quark, quark". Then I search the internet for posh duck videos. Yep, that happens before every gig.
6 Worst on stage experience?
I was once in a play with several comedians at the Edinburgh Fringe and a man sort of keeled over in his seat in the middle of the audience and we had to stop the play and carry him out. He survived, well he survived our play at least.
7 How do you recover from a hefty heckle? Do you have a set of stock replies?
My heckles tend to be odd rather than rude so I mainly investigate the heckle's origin, find out which of the heckler's parents is to blame to for not loving them enough and then I check if said heckler needs counselling and or a hug. The evening normally ends in selfies with said heckler.
8 What do you love about Scotland?
The no-nonsense people, the amazing Scottish sense of humour, the hills.
9 What do you like about Edinburgh?
The baked potato shop with no seats, the castle I have still never been to but looks awesome, the incredibly long but informative walking tours, Arthurs Seat which I climbed last year and probably never will again - well not in gold sandals. I also got engaged in Edinburgh so I have lots of fond memories.
10 What’s the most Scottish thing you’ve done?
Sheltered under a tartan scarf at the top of Arthur's Seat.
11 Who’s your favourite Scottish comedian?
Susan Calman.
12 Favourite joke?
I like this one by Gary Delaney: "Dave drowned. So at the funeral we got him a wreath in the shape of a lifebelt. Well, it's what he would have wanted." - Gary Delaney (2010)
13 Favourite Scottish food/drink?
Battered mars bar - it is genuinely delicious.
Samantha Baines will perform 1 Woman, a Dwarf Planet and 2 Cox at Pleasance Courtyard until August 29.
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