‘I’ve never met anyone who doesn’t have a story’: Life according to… actress and comedian Juliet Cowan

Actor and comedian Juliet Cowan on looking back, working with Eddie Marsan and her Edinburgh festival show.

You were a finalist in So You Think You’re Funny in 1999 – the stand-up contest at the Fringe for new comedians. What do you remember about it?

It was a shock to be there. I was so nervous. I remember going over my set and feeling like I didn’t know one word of it. But it was a brilliant experience.

You’re finally bringing your own show to the Fringe this summer. Why has it taken you 25 years?

Ten years ago, I left my husband and the split was difficult. I felt the only way I could make sense of it was to write a show about it. I only did it for three nights and realised what I was actually trying to talk about was what it was like to be a middle-aged woman, and how that relates to the person I was at the start of my career. I wrote that show, and I was encouraged to bring it to Edinburgh. My kids are old enough now, so here I am.

What’s it like looking at your teenage years for the show?

I’m quite fond of my teenage self. I think about her quite warmly. She had a difficult time and was quite odd. I don’t feel different inside now, but I have more tools to deal with my life. When you’re older, you’ve been through more stuff, and that stabilises you.

Do you think everyone should take time to reflect on their past?

It’s such a brilliant thing to do. It’s a really good exercise. If you think your life is dull and nothing has ever happened, that’s not true. I’ve never met anyone who doesn’t have a story.

What made you get into stand-up in the ‘90s?

I did it because I wanted to be an actor. I didn’t go to drama school, so stand-up seemed a good way to get into acting. I didn’t realise I would love it so much. But you have to put all your energy into it and I already had a kid, so acting felt like a more manageable thing to do rather than travelling all over the place doing comedy.

You’ve acted in so many TV comedies, from Cuckoo to Shameless to Motherland. What’s that been like?

I’ve worked with some amazing people. What I want to do, though, is sad, intricate acting. I think a lot of comedians do. Most stand-ups feel a bit sad a lot of the time.

You played Janis, Amy Winehouse’s mum, in the recent biopic Back To Black. How did it feel to be involved in that project?

It felt a real responsibility. She’s had to live through not only being the mother of a famous singer but losing her child and then being vilified. I think when someone dies in those circumstances, people like to blame someone and the parents seem to be the first port of call. I feel she’s misunderstood. She’s very clever. It was important to me that she saw the film and felt seen and respected.

You worked opposite one of Britain’s best character actors, Eddie Marsan, in Back To Black and streaming series The Power. What’s it like working with him?

I loved it. He has this force of energy and he’s so clever as an actor. I wish he could be my husband or ex-partner in everything I do.

What else do you have coming?

I’m in new BBC sitcom Spent, which started last week. Doing that was brilliant. I also have more Brassic coming and I’ve just finished the second series of Am I Being Unreasonable? I have a small part in a feature called Falling Into Place and another film coming later in the year, a comedy-horror called Members’ Club.

Do you hope to juggle acting and stand-up moving forward?

I think so. I see other people doing it. I’d also like to write more. I’m a character actor, and the roles I play are quite different to me, especially me as a stand-up.

Juliet Cowan: F*** Off & Leave Me Alone, Pleasance Dome – Jack Dome, July 31-Aug 25 (except 12)