I think acting is overrated. I'm not sure I enjoyed it. You never get to write your own roles. It's wonderful for some people, but I found it nerve-wracking. I was too busy worrying that no one would give me their words to speak. Nina Conti actbusyenjoy 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
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
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
My puppets are far more liberated than I am. Ventriloquism is a useful way of expressing myself. Nina Conti expressliberatepuppet Change image and share on social
I do laugh when I hear myself saying, 'I am a ventriloquist.' I am definitely suited to it, though. I took it and ran with it quite hungrily. It is not for everyone, but it is just the chance to write for a character. Nina Conti chancecharacterhear share on social