Luisa Omielan is a comedic force of nature. The first stand-up to receive a BAFTA Breakthrough accolade, with four consecutive smash hit shows, she is credited with creating ‘genre-defining’ one-woman shows. Most recently, a self-produced special called ‘God is a Woman’. With over a dozen sell-out runs at Soho Theatre and star of Live at the Apollo and twice nominated at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival for best show.

She’s been described as masterminding ‘one of the biggest stand-up hits of the decade’ with her debut ‘What Would Beyonce Do?!’  Her show Politics For Bitches spawned a BBC3 series. In 2024, Luisa will return with a brand-new touring show: Bitter. Blazing Minds caught up with Luisa for a chat…

Your Thigh Gap routine has been viewed 50 Million times – was it quite nerve-wracking to stand on stage in your knickers? (thanks for being body-positive and shaming those calorie-counting restaurant folk, by the way!)

Hahaha not at all. It was a routine I know women in the audience especially, LOVED and so it’s always fun to do. The routine is old now though, it’s been about 9 years so if anything, it’s kinda sad it’s still relevant. 

50 Million! Does that blow your mind?

Yes, very much so, and to know that would open doors to a Netflix special and a management team. At the time though, this was before TikTok and Instagram so people didn’t really know what to do with it, apart from say: ‘yeah it’s great’. It was never on YouTube so never monetized, but it’s nice to know I went viral before viral was a thing!

If you could share some life advice with our readers, what would that be?

To thine own self be true always. 

You said you’d gone speed dating in a wedding dress on your podcast! Did you get any matches, and where did you get the dress?

Haha no – no matches, go figure! And the dress was from a charity shop. I think wedding dresses in charity shops are such a sad sight, a dress for what’s meant to be such a wonderful day, sat in a shop waiting for another chance. 

Your new tour is called ‘Bitter’ – in the current climate, it’s difficult NOT to feel that way; what would you say you are most bitter about?

The game feeling rigged, the UK being abhorrent, the lack of global leadership with empathy, kindness and love. The PR spin and polarisation of our communities. Having loads of comedy specials but still trying to work out how to survive in this industry, decades of qualifications and experience in live work but feeling in probation mode trying to navigate it online. It’s a whole new world. Grab a spoon. 

Will your dog Bernie be on tour with you, and does she ever join you on stage (or perhaps for meet & greets after the show!)?

Bernie has been on stage with me since she was a pup. She is very much intrinsic to the show and will always come with me where possible. And I have always done a meet and greet, Bernie not so much, you have to pay extra for that shit, and no one can afford it. 

For tickets: www.luisaomielan.com/shows/

Follow Luisa on Instagram www.instagram.com/luisaomielan/?hl=en-gb

Karen Woodham

Karen Woodham is the founder and owner of the Blazing Minds. She is also a Cinema reviewer and works with RealD 3D reviewing the latest 3D releases and IMAX, she has also had several articles published in various publications including the first edition of SFW Magazine. In 2015 she became an Award Winning Blogger and also has her website listed as one of the UK’s Top 10 Film Blogs.

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