10 Questions for comedian and former EastEnders star Josie Lawrence

Josie Lawrence (Tim P. Whitby/Getty Images)

FORMER Eastenders star Josie is an award-winning actress whose stage roles have led to critical acclaim with the Royal Shakespeare Company.

She’s also known for improvised comedy and will be starring at the Edinburgh Festival in three productions – The Glenda J Collective, Radio 4’s Just A Minute, and the return of the improvised comedy Whose Line Is It Anyway?

Does the stage act as therapy for you?

Well I believe in Doctor Theatre so my understudies rarely get to go on even when I’m ill. Waves of laughter or applause are great medicine and I’ll keep taking it for a long time.

After 30 years why does ‘Whose Line Is It?’ endure?

It’s just adults refusing to grow up. Plain and simple.

Do you help each other if one of you is struggling?

Definitely. We’re a team and we all want it to work, so we wouldn’t deliberately try to make someone fail, though it’s always fun to make them look silly of course.

Have you ever done stand-up comedy?

For years people called wanting to book my stand-up show, but I just don’t have one. I never have. I’m an actress who’s lucky enough to do impro. The only awards I’ve won have been for Shakespeare, not comedy.

When are you nervous?

Years ago, when we toured with Whose Line Is It? I’d look through the curtain at 3000 people in the audience and I’d be thinking: “Help, I don’t know what I’m doing.” We’d all nervously pace up and down backstage then run on like rock stars.

Ever felt like packing it all in?

Well, years ago I did my own TV show and some of the reviews lambasted me and made me feel very poorly. But you carry on, you know? Now I know who to listen to and who to ignore.

What cheers you up and what drags you down?

Performing cheers me up, and people with a good sense of humour. The usual stuff gets me down like folk being unkind to one another. Humanity can be a bit depressing, can’t it?

How many honorary doctorates do you have now?

I have three, and they’re a great honour. I also have the freedom of Sandwell which means I can carry a sword, take sheep through the town, and if I get hanged I have the right to choose a silk noose.

What’s after Edinburgh for you?

I have a great new theatre role coming up but I’m sworn to secrecy, which annoys me.

You have 24 hours left to live. How do you spend it?

I’d go snorkelling in the Maldives, then have cocktails with all my friends. When my time’s up I’d swim out alone in to the big blue. Alternatively, there are lots of drawers I need to tidy at home.