Hannah Gadsby
USA- Hannah Gadsby: Trailblazing Comedian, Artist, and Advocate
- Early Life and Education
- Career
- Art Lectures
- Television
- Personal Life
Hannah Gadsby: Trailblazing Comedian, Artist, and Advocate
Hannah Gadsby, an Australian comedian, writer, and actress, rose to fame after winning the national Raw Comedy competition for young comedians in 2006. She has performed internationally, appearing on Australian and New Zealand television. Her 2018 Netflix special, "Nanette," catapulted her to global recognition.
Early Life and Education
Gadsby was born in Smithton, Tasmania, and was the youngest of five children. She attended Smithton High School from 1990 to 1995, then Launceston College and the University of Tasmania in Hobart. In 2003, she graduated from the Australian National University with a Bachelor of Arts in the History of Art and Curatorship.
Career
ComedyPrior to becoming a comedian, Gadsby worked as a projectionist and a farmhand. As a comedian, she has performed extensively on both local and international stages for over a decade. Her 2018 special, "Nanette," garnered critical acclaim and international recognition.
Art Lectures
Despite being best known for her comedic performances, Gadsby also leverages her qualifications in art (she holds a degree in the history of art) to provide entertaining art tours in partnership with the National Gallery of Victoria. Since 2009, Gadsby has led tours on topics such as Madonna imagery, Dadaism, Modernism, Impressionism, and nudity in art. She also participates in art discussions and exhibition openings.
Television
Gadsby appeared on the ABC show "Adam Hills Tonight" (also known as "Adam Hills in Gordon Street Tonight"). She had regular segments called "On This Day" and "Hannah Tries," and contributed to interviews with host Adam Hills and his guests. The show concluded after its third season in July 2013.
She has also made guest appearances on "Good News Week," "Spicks and Specks," and "7 Days" on New Zealand television. She wrote and presented a three-part series called "Hannah Gadsby's Oz," which screened on ABC in March 2014.
In 2015, she appeared as Hannah, a fictionalized version of herself, in the second, third, and fourth seasons of fellow comedian Josh Thomas' series "Please Like Me."
Personal Life
Gadsby is a lesbian and often explores her sexuality in her stand-up routines.
She is actively involved in supporting various charities, including Big Brothers Big Sisters, Edmund Rice Camps, and Sacred Heart Mission.
Gadsby was diagnosed with both ADHD and autism spectrum disorder later in life.
In June 2019, Gadsby disclosed that she had been raped, which led to a pregnancy and an abortion.
