Katherine Ryan reflects on her early role in Campus, motherhood’s impact on her career, and her candid views on money.
Comedian and writer Katherine Ryan has spoken candidly about her early career struggles, motherhood, and her unapologetic relationship with money, revealing that she considers herself “the worst thing” in one of her first television roles but remains grateful for what it gave her at a crucial time in her life.
Ryan, a Canadian-born comedian who later moved to the UK, recalled how she landed a role in Victoria Pile’s semi-improvised sitcom Campus when her daughter Violet was just six months old in an interview with The Guardian. Reflecting on the experience now, Ryan admitted that while the show may not have showcased her best work, the financial stability it offered was vital. She said she was “the worst thing in it,” but the pay cheque kept her afloat for the next two years, something she views as a win in retrospect.
The comedian also spoke about how motherhood fundamentally changed her approach to auditions and career decisions. She said that knowing her daughter “deserved a really great life” pushed her to take her work more seriously and approach opportunities with confidence and intense preparation. Ryan said she would “overwrite and overprepare” for auditions, walking into casting rooms fully convinced that she belonged there, that she would improve the show, and that she deserved to be cast.
Ryan has also been outspoken about money, breaking what she calls the unspoken rule among celebrities of pretending financial success doesn’t matter. “I love money. I also think it’s provocative to talk about that,” she said, adding that discussions around wealth often make people uncomfortable. She recalled how this attitude extended into her creative work, particularly during the making of her Netflix series The Duchess, where aspects of affluence in the story were repeatedly questioned by the production team.
According to Ryan, even small details, such as her character’s daughter owning a horse, were challenged. She pushed back, saying, “Why not? My daughter has a horse.” The detail was eventually removed from the show, something Ryan has since mentioned with dry humour.
Katherine Ryan rose to prominence on British television after appearing on 8 Out of 10 Cats, a turning point she has said changed everything. “After that, the phone didn’t stop ringing,” she recalled. She went on to become a familiar face on panel shows such as Mock the Week, QI, Have I Got News for You, and Taskmaster, alongside a successful stand-up career.
In addition to her television work, Ryan has released multiple stand-up specials and created, written, and starred in Netflix’s The Duchess, which drew from elements of her own life as a single mother.
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