“I wanted to write about a time in my life which was a bit difficult because I felt like all my friends were growing up without me, so I chose my late 20s and early 30s. It’s always better to write about times where things haven’t been simple,” explains Isy Suttie when asked about the inspiration behind her book The Actual One, which her new tour is named after. “The show is based around the book, so it’s lots of stories about dating, housemates, my mum, and thoughts on whether there is just one ‘One’ for people.”
Isy is a renaissance woman, and is not only an accomplished comedian, but also a musician, actress, and writer. “It was inevitable that I was going to do music in my comedy as I’ve been doing it since such a young age, and it really came before anything else, but I wanted to learn how to be myself on stage when I started comedy so I didn’t do songs for a year or so. Then when I started doing them, it seemed a lot better and I wondered why I hadn’t been doing them all along!”
To many, Isy is best known for her role as Dobby in the sitcom Peep Show. “I was nervous when I first joined as I was a big fan and I didn’t want to mess it up,” she explains. “Everyone was so welcoming. I thought it ended well because it didn’t outstay its welcome, and the writing was as funny as ever.” She then talks about her other projects: “I’ve just finished filming a new sitcom for Channel 4 called Damned, written by Jo Brand and Morwenna Banks, which is set in a social work office. Alan Davies is also in it and it was a lot of fun to film with lots of improvisation. I’ll also write another book. So I’ll probably start on that when my brain’s had a bit of a rest after this tour.”
Since meeting her Welsh speaking partner, fellow comic Elis James, in 2010, Isy has been learning Welsh. “I find the mutations very difficult, but I’m determined to carry on,” she says. “Especially as Elis is teaching our daughter so I need to know that they’re not talking about me behind my back!”
Isy Suttie: The Actual One, Glee Club, Cardiff, Sun 18 Sept. Tickets: £14. Info: 0871 4720400 / www.glee.co.uk
GARETH ELLIS