My dad is a much more flamboyant character than I am. I think that's why I couldn't see myself going into straight acting. I always just felt daft. Nina Conti actcharacterdad Change image and share on social
Acting is seductive. It looks so much fun. I did dally with other things. I did pupillage in a law firm, but I didn't like the look of how many files the lawyer I was working with had to take home every night. It looked like a hideous amount of work, when actors were having nice lunches and discussing books. Nina Conti actactoramount share on social
The character of the monkey just grew from something out of his face and my granddad's personality. They fused, and that's what I ended up with! The monkey belonged to a friend of mine, and I saw that it had such a little beguiling face and it grew from there. Nina Conti beguilbelongcharacter share on social
I thought people would think I only wanted to be an actor because my dad was, rather than because I had an innate calling. Nina Conti actorcalldad Change image and share on social
The most satisfaction I get is from doing a good gig, which really makes you feel in control. If you've worked a room really well, it makes you feel great. TV is a bit more difficult; there are more factors that can screw it up along the way. Nina Conti bitecontroldifficult share on social
It's sad, the lottery. Good projects get funded by it, but there's an air of desperation about it. Nina Conti airdesperationfund Change image and share on social
I was really awful at auditions. There's something about sitting down and saying into the camera: 'I'm Nina and this is the name of my agent.' That makes me just die inside. Nina Conti agentauditionawful Change image and share on social
So many actors are lively-minded, creative people who just tread water in this awful way, waiting for the phone to ring and doing their hair for auditions. It feels like a bit of a dreamer's life - as opposed to a sensible ventriloquist's life. Nina Conti actorauditionawful share on social
If I have a gig in the evening, I get 'the doom' at about 5 P.M., when I think I'm getting flu. Nina Conti doomevenflu Change image and share on social
I'm training to become a giggle doctor. It's a kind of hospital clown who changes the atmosphere on the ward and helps recovery. It's about making patients laugh but also much more. Nina Conti atmosphereclowndoctor Change image and share on social