Comic Sofie Hagen Speaks Out
Right now, talented, female comics are revolutionising British comedy. One of those leading the way, Sofie Hagen, tells Sarah Sinclair why she is challenging the patriarchy.
Sofie Hagen is furious. The other day, watching a Disney film with her younger cousin, despite having done so much work to promote body positivity and being, in her own words, a “fat activist”, she found herself feeling bad about her body. Naturally, the 28 year old, Danish comic turned to Twitter, announcing that what we need, in fact, is a “fat Disney princess”.
Sofie explained: “We need to have accountability, for everything from the fashion industry, to Hollywood. In the same way as with racism and transphobia, we need to be think, who is making sure we have these images and thoughts in our heads? And that’s usually the media.”
Sofie is fat positive now, but she hasn’t always been. As a former host of the Guilty Feminist podcast, alongside Deborah Frances-White, Sofie has spoken of her struggles with overeating and self harming as a teenager.
She said: “When I realised that the voice in my head, in most people’s heads, that says fat is bad and thin is good, is not based on fact…it kind of clicked in my head. I had to learn that I can choose to love my body, I can choose to believe I am attractive and no one can do a thing about it.”
Since releasing this for herself, Sofie is letting others in on the secret, she said: “I think I’ve reached a point where I want people to be angry. It’s hard not being a white, straight man. We want to be sad about it, of course we do, but I think we’ve reached a point where it’s time to be f*****g furious.”
But despite this, Sofie believes that feminism in the UK is actually 10 to 15 years ahead of what she was used to back in Denmark. Male comics, promoters and a surge of women’s events are all playing a part in revolutionising the British comedy scene. Sofie and fellow comics such as Josie Long, Shazia Mirza and Katherine Ryan are finally having their moment.
Sofie, who admire all of the above, said: “It’s so lovely when I look at my social media and I see how many male comics are supporting and helping female comics. At the moment it feels like the right people are doing the right things. But I think being a female comic in the UK is the same as being a woman in the UK, we are slowly progressing, whereas Denmark still feels very far behind.”
However, Sofie feels overly protective of other women who tell her she has inspired them to take to the stage, she explained: “Comedy is really, really, really, hard, regardless of gender. It’s a bit harder because you’re a women, in the same way that it’s a bit harder if you’re not white, it’s harder if you’re anything other than a white straight man. But it has to be hard that’s why I chose it, if you go into comedy because you hope that it’s easy, then that’s not for you.”
It is unusual how Sofie, a self-confessed introvert, who hates being the centre of attention ended up under the spotlight herself. She tried her hand at seven different degrees before taking up comedy. She said: “I write a lot, that’s my main thing, but I’m the most impatient person in the world, so comedy was a way to go up and talk and get an immediate reaction and that was what excited me. I need things to happen right now.”
Her comedy certainly does get a reaction, which might have something to do with the fact her material is drawn from her most personal experiences. Her stand-up is honest and raw, whether she’s talking about her body or her dad walking out when she was four.
She said: “For some people it’s easier to write jokes that are about politics, one-liners or sketches. In order for me to want to go on stage every night, it has to be something that relates to me and makes me excited to tell it.”
Her new show, Dead Baby Frog, which comes to Rosehill Theatre this November, is no different. About emotional abuse, it is based on her experiences growing up with a narcissistic, psychopathic step-grandfather – sounds hilarious, right? It no doubt will be.
On a serious note though, Sofie is one of the first comics to make her shows anxiety safe. This means that audience members can email her if, for example they need to sit in a specific seat or have any concerns or questions about the content.
This being something else she has drawn from personal experience, Sofie explained: “Anxiety is so personal and private from person to person. I have anxiety and live gigs can be the worst if you have to sit in the middle of a row or on the front row.”
She added: “It would be weird to do a gig that I couldn’t go to myself.”
The show also has gender neutral toilets and full disabled access. Email Sofie on [email protected]
Dead Baby Frog comes Rosehill Theatre in Whitehaven on Friday 20 October for tickets visit www.rosehilltheatre.co.uk
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