Sharon Horgan
Sharon Horgan
Sharon Horganis an Irish actor, writer, director and producer. She is known for the comedy series Pulling and Catastrophe, both of which she starred in and co-wrote. Pulling was nominated for two British Academy Television Awards, and won two British Comedy Awards. In 2016, she was awarded the BAFTA TV Award for Best Writer: Comedy, along with Rob Delaney. In July 2016, she was nominated the Primetime Emmy Award for Oustanding Writing for a Comedy Series...
NationalityIrish
ProfessionTV Actress
Date of Birth13 July 1970
CountryIreland
No matter how many frustrations come along, or how many problems arise, I never lose the feeling of how lucky I am. I'm so pleased to be doing a job that makes me laugh every day. I'm aware that it's a huge privilege.
At 27 or so I thought, you know, I actually do really want to make money and have a proper life, and I don't want to be a loser. I know! I'll go to university and get a proper degree and maybe get a job in media... I went and did an English degree.
Any big televised event that starts at the crack of dawn is worth getting up for. I've done it all my life: big boxing matches, royal weddings, even TV-A.M.'s inaugural episode was enjoyed in pyjamas in my house.
There are lots of actors, and you need a way to stand out. Writing comedy sketches was a way of doing that.
Spending way too long worrying about what people think about me is a bad habit.
Hackney gets a bit of a bad rap, but it's the only place I've ever lived that felt like a community. I know my neighbours.
Personally, my twenties were a complete waste of time. Professionally, I hope some good came of them.
I started writing sketches with Dennis Kelly, who I ended up writing 'Pulling' with. We entered a BBC competition and did quite well, then started writing bits for other people's shows. You wheedle your way in, write pilots and eventually you end up writing a sitcom.
I think the best comedy is tragicomic. Yeah, I suppose if you were to look at everything I've done, there is a bit of a black streak through all of it. It's not deliberate: it's what makes me laugh, and there's a fine tradition of it, especially in Ireland.
Comedians... they're different from actors. There's more ego there. They create the whole thing, I guess, so they're more precious.
I never used to see anything on TV where the man was in the weaker position. It was always the female showing emotion, breaking down, being emotionally torn apart by men.
I'm a massive scaredy cat. I'm scared of being in a fast car, I'm scared of being on a rollercoaster, I would never go skiing, I would never do anything that had the possibility of endangering my life in any way. I should get some therapy, really.
I always, always want to make people laugh. In every situation. Even when it's inappropriate.
I'll cry anywhere because I can do it quite subtly. Walking, that's a good time to have a cry.