Hannah Gadsby on Embracing Their 'Messy Human' Self in New Comedy Special, Which Is 'Written to Be a Hug'
The comedian opens up to PEOPLE about finding inspiration in their "mistakes and embarrassment" and why they want to break the stigma around autism and standup: "Comedy is suited to a mind like mine"
Hannah Gadsby is ushering in the new!
After tying the knot in January 2021, Gadsby, 45, returns to Netflix for their third standup comedy special, Something Special.
The new 75-minute special, which dropped on May 9, sees Gadsby — who prefers they/them pronouns — discussing everything from their marriage to producer (and special director) Jenney Shamash to their autism diagnosis and self-growth.
Filmed at the Sydney Opera House, the Emmy and Peabody Award-winning comedian also recounts hilarious tales about their upbringing, awkward encounters with celebrities, their beloved pets and even how they ended up with a unique shark cake for their wedding.
Here, Gadsby speaks to PEOPLE about their new special, the importance of breaking the stigma around autism and why they hope viewers walk away feeling like they received "a hug."
PEOPLE: When it comes to doing standup comedy, how do you continuously find inspiration? Where or who do you go to to get these ideas for your bits?
HANNAH GADSBY: Well, I go to my life where I make lots of mistakes and embarrassment. It's an embarrassment of riches. I leave a trail of comedy in my wake. It's not comedy necessarily in the moment, but that's part of what I do is repackaging my woes. In the past, I haven't repackaged it. I said, "Here's my woe, ha, ha." But this is repackaging it and it's more lighthearted. But I always begin with a story that I know is funny and then build out from there.
In Nanette [your first Netflix comedy special], you spoke about no longer wanting to do self-deprecating humor. In turn, this one was more centered on your life experiences. Was changing your humor a difficult shift to make?
HG: Well, it's a fairly authentic show. I'm being exactly who I want to be and who I am. I feel like I'm in that moment. But doing a show that is positive is not as easy as you'd imagine. It is much easier to be miserable. So, this really did push my skills to their limit to create a show that is not smug, that is relatable, but also sharing a real sense of joy.
Have any fans approached you and said how your decision to embrace yourself through comedy has helped them with their own process of accepting themselves?
HG: I don't interact a great deal with my fans. I am on the spectrum and I find that overwhelming. But I do love my fan base. They're very respectful and I do get a lot of feedback, particularly from people on the spectrum. And that feels great for me because I don't think there's a lot of people on the spectrum being autistic, talking about being autistic, and it's kind of new territory. So, I really like that I'm able to offer a bit of solace around the traps.
You speak about how you weren't officially diagnosed with autism until later in life. When it comes to autism, there's a lot of stigma around it — especially when it pertains to doing standup comedy. Is there a message regarding this idea that you would want people to know?
HG: I feel like there's perhaps quite a few comedians who are on the spectrum, perhaps undiagnosed. Strangely enough, comedy is suited to a mind like mine. You sort of sit on the outside for most of your life, so you are watching, you're observing, and you're learning from neurotypical people. That's ultimately the difficulty of being autistic is you are always trying to learn how to be neurotypical, but neurotypical people are never trying to learn how to be atypical. It's a fairly rigid compromise. So, speaking about it and taking away the stigma... if you've met one person on the spectrum, you've met [just] one person on the spectrum. It is such a diverse community and we are really only just finding our voice as a community. And I think it's an important time to speak freely and honestly about your experience.
Did the official autism diagnosis provide clarity for you or help you a bit more with processing your daily life and career?
HG: Yeah, it certainly helped with clarity and understanding what I can and cannot do and what exhausts me. There's so much in the world that can exhaust me and there's not much that can revive me. So, I need lots of rest. I can do this [interview], for example... But tomorrow, and perhaps the next day is going to be a difficult day for me. I get overstimulated. Success also helps to protect my time and energy, but I have to be very conscious about it.
You speak a lot about your marriage and wife, Jenney Shamash, in this special. Now that you've been married for two years, what would you say has been the best part and are there any aspects that you find challenging?
HG: Look, our life, as it stands, didn't change. But we really loved getting married and sharing that [with others]. I was really thrown by how happy people were for me. It was like, "Oh, that's what this is about? Well, that's nice." But ultimately a marriage is just jewelry and paperwork. The relationship is just a day-to-day little dance.
Related:Comedian Hannah Gadbsy Reveals She Got Married in January: 'I Am Full of Very Positive Feelings'
Your special dropped on May 9, and May also happens to be Mental Health Awareness Month. When it comes to managing your mental health, what are your favorite ways to unwind and recharge?
HG: The only way I can really sensibly do that is at home in a familiar environment with my dogs. And so, that's ultimately what I try and do as often as I can.
You, of course, write your own jokes and material, so you understand how important writers are. What's your take on the Writers Guild of America strike?
HG: I believe writers should be supported better. Storytelling is the bedrock of this industry. It's no-brainer to me that we should look after the people who set the tone.
As a member of the LGBTQ community, and during a time when trans rights remain under attack in many states, do you feel a pressure to use your special and platform for good?
HG: Look, I don't necessarily feel the pressure, but I certainly take it as a responsibility. It feels like the more power you have, the more responsibility you should wield. Accountability is very important. Of course, I'm a messy human like the next one. So, mistakes will be made, but I think it is actually important to step up. Particularly if you experience success, then you are getting accommodations that other people aren't getting. So, it feels only the right thing to do is to be better than you are terrible.
What message do you hope fans take away from the comedy special?
HG: I just want them to have a good time. I want them to feel — particularly people from my community, like the queer, autistic, and there's a lot of us — to feel less anxious than when they began [watching the special]. It's written to be a hug.
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Hannah Gadsby: Something Special is now streaming on Netflix.
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