Laura Smyth (comedian)
{{Short description|British comedian}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Laura Smyth
| image =
| image_size =
| caption =
| birth_name =
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1981|11|15|df=y}}
| birth_place = London, England
| death_date =
| death_place =
| death_cause =
| other_names =
| known_for =
| nationality = British
| education =
| employer =
| occupation = {{hlist|Comedian|writer}}
| spouse =
| partner =
| children =
| parents =
| relatives =
| signature =
| website = {{URL|laurasmyth.com}}
}}
Laura Smyth (born 15 November 1981) is an English comedian and writer. She won the Funny Women award in 2019.{{Cite web |date=2019-09-20 |title=Funny Women Awards 2019 winners |url=https://www.comedy.co.uk/news/5493/funny_women_awards_2019/ |access-date=2022-08-08 |website=British Comedy Guide |language=en}}
Biography
Smyth was born on 15 November 1981 and was brought up in East London.{{cite web |title=Happy Birthday to me. 42. |url=https://www.instagram.com/p/CzqaJCus6z0/?igsh=ZjA0Y2VyMnRsbXBk |website=Instagram |access-date=3 May 2024}} She worked as an English teacher until 2021, when she became a full-time comedian.{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/5dTM2PpF51M8LsQhJk0tb0G/the-success-feels-like-a-reward-for-bravery-five-inspirational-women-who-won-big-in-2019|title=BBC Radio 4 - Woman's Hour - 'The success feels like a reward for bravery': Five inspirational women who won big in 2019|website=BBC}} She entered the Funny Women awards and after proceeding through the heats she won the main stage award in 2019.{{Cite web |date=2016-04-18 |title=Funny Women Awards |url=https://www.comedy.co.uk/live/feature/funny_woman_awards/ |access-date=2022-08-08 |website=British Comedy Guide |language=en}}
She appeared on Jonathan Ross' Comedy Club on ITV in the second episode{{Cite web|url=https://www.comedy.co.uk/tv/jonathan-ross-comedy-club/episodes/1/2/|title=Jonathan Ross' Comedy Club Series 1, Episode 2|website=British Comedy Guide}} and was invited to Alan Davies: As Yet Untitled where she joined Davies, Tez Ilyas, Sara Pascoe and Ade Edmondson for a chat.{{Cite web |title=Alan Davies: As Yet Untitled Series 6, Episode 3 |url=https://www.comedy.co.uk/tv/alan_davies_as_yet_untitled/episodes/6/3/ |access-date=2022-08-08 |website=British Comedy Guide |language=en}}
In 2022 it was announced that the BBC comedy Bad Education was to return for a new series. The writing team included Smyth, Nathan Bryon, Leila Navabi, Priya Hall and Ciaran Bartlett.{{Cite web |last=Bennett |first=Steve |title=Bad Education to return : News 2022 : Chortle : The UK Comedy Guide |url=https://www.chortle.co.uk/news/2022/05/11/50763/bad_education_to_return |access-date=2022-08-08 |website=Chortle|language=en}}
In 2024 Smyth appeared as comedy emcee Glenda in an episode of the Netflix miniseries Baby Reindeer.{{cite web |last1=McMullen |first1=Chris |title=All Major Actors & Cast for Netflix's Baby Reindeer |url=https://www.escapistmagazine.com/all-major-actors-cast-for-netflixs-baby-reindeer/ |website=Escapist Magazine |date=13 April 2024 |access-date=22 April 2024}}
Personal life
Smyth is married and has three children.{{cite web |last1=Smyth |first1=Laura |title='Cancer made me face life': Laura Smyth on finding comedy, fame – and herself |url=https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2023/dec/10/cancer-made-me-face-life-laura-smyth-on-finding-comedy-fame-herself-after-diagnosis |website=The Guardian |date=10 December 2023 |access-date=26 April 2024}} In September 2021 she was diagnosed with stage 3 breast cancer. She performed on Live at the Apollo two weeks after her cancer treatment concluded.
References
{{reflist|2}}
External links
- [https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2023/dec/10/cancer-made-me-face-life-laura-smyth-on-finding-comedy-fame-herself-after-diagnosis December 2023 interview with The Guardian]
{{DEFAULTSORT:Smyth, Laura}}
Category:21st-century English comedians
Category:21st-century English screenwriters
Category:Comedians from London
Category:English stand-up comedians