I've started running three or four times a week, which prompts millions of sketch ideas. Nina Conti haveideamillion Change image and share on social
When I'm gigging, there's an uneasy shift when I pull a puppet out. People look at me aghast and I feel I have about 20 seconds to win them over. You even get the prejudice among other people in your own profession. Nina Conti aghastfeelgig share on social
I feel Scottish when with English people, and when I'm with Scottish people, I realise I'm English. Nina Conti englishfeelpeople Change image and share on social
I had a terrible dream when I was pregnant; I dreamt the baby had a ventriloquial mouth, but there was no hand hole; I had to flick the mouth down to get words out. Nina Conti babydreamflick Change image and share on social
I looked into studying psychoanalysis, wrote to the governing body and was about to start the year where they psychoanalyse you, four times a week, before you get to do it yourself. I just thought I'd taken the ventriloquism as far as I could. My act is so deconstructive, and I'd made all the monkey jokes anyone wanted to hear. Nina Conti actbodydeconstructive 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
If I'm on my own, I'll speak to 'Monkey' to generate new stuff for the act. I mean, I don't do it for moral support, although I wouldn't say that's out of the question. In fact, I could do it, I might do it... yes, I think I should actually start doing it more. Nina Conti actfactgenerate 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
I make napkins talk in restaurants, socks talk on car journeys. There is an awful lot of puppetry going on in the house. Nina Conti awfulcarhouse Change image and share on social