How far will Philomena Cunk go to get a laugh? ‘If he breaks my nose, it’ll heal’
As a writer and critic, delving into the lives of artists always provides a fascinating glimpse into their unique perspectives and journeys. Dive deep into the life of Daisy May Cooper, a comedian whose career trajectory seems as unpredictable as her characters.
Cooper’s rise to fame is nothing short of remarkable, having started with small roles in television before landing her breakout character, Philomena Cunk. Her audacity to insist on playing Cunk in her own flat accent was not only refreshing but also pivotal in shaping the character’s curious and otherworldly appeal.
Her career has been a series of bold choices, from playing a profane character in “After Life” to creating the defiantly weird comedy “Mandy.” Yet, despite her success, Cooper remains grounded, finding joy in connecting with audiences who appreciate her unapologetic characters that challenge social norms.
Reflecting on her life and career, it’s clear that Cooper is a woman who refuses to conform. She’s the mom who lets her son pee in the street, the newspaper employee obsessed with Kevin Hart, and the unemployable woman skipping from one odd job to the next. And I must say, I find it refreshing to see someone who just doesn’t give a toss!
In closing, let me leave you with this thought: If life gives you lemons, make lemonade…and if life gives you a career as unpredictable as Daisy May Cooper’s, make sure to share the recipe for that unique concoction with us all. Cheers to Daisy and her unapologetic approach to comedy!
In various towns and cities, some youngsters dream of becoming doctors, astronauts, teachers, or firefighters. However, Diane Morgan from Bolton, a town with a history in textile manufacturing in the north of England, had her eyes set on something else: comedy. During her upbringing, she immersed herself largely in British humor, enjoying the works of Peter Sellers, “Fawlty Towers,” and Monty Python.
Upon entering drama school, she informed the program director, “I’m not here for the Shakespeare” – a statement that led them to assign her major roles such as Lady Macbeth. In an interview from her home in London, she reminisced about this, saying that the other actresses, who longed to play the innocent leading roles, resented her because they thought, “Why is she getting these parts? She wants to be the dim-witted servant girl.
Years after Morgan took up the role of a fool, it has proven fruitful for her. Starting from 2013, she has portrayed Philomena Cunk, an unknowing TV commentator, in a series of mockumentaries about history, philosophy, art, and science (such as “Cunk on Earth”). As she strolls through picturesque settings, dressed in tweed, and engages with esteemed scholars from the academic world, she convincingly embodies a BBC presenter. However, moments like posing questions to an Oxford professor such as, “Which was more culturally significant, Beyoncé’s hit ‘Single Ladies’ or the Renaissance period?”, shatter the facade of seriousness in a humorous way.
Television
Screen Grab 87 showcases a devoted ‘Black Mirror’ enthusiast choosing their top pick from Season 6, while Celia Rose Gooding shares her preferred ‘Star Trek’ franchise, along with additional intriguing tidbits.
The upcoming series titled “Cunk on Life,” part of the “Cunk” collection, debuts on Netflix this Thursday. As always, Cunk delivers her unique brand of deadpan humor and misinformed insights, tackling profound questions in a humorous way that only someone with a mouth can ask. In one particularly amusing scene, she confuses a well-respected British surgeon by claiming that only 40% of people possess skeletons, the rest being mere “solid meat.
Morgan possesses an impressive knack for keeping a straight expression during interviews. According to her, it’s the stress that keeps her from laughing at inappropriate times. She acknowledges that she occasionally loses control, especially when interacting with specific experts such as Douglas Hedley, a professor of religious philosophy at Cambridge University who frequently appears on screen in the “Cunk” universe. She finds him particularly amusing because he speaks slowly but is incredibly intelligent. The more serious and straight-faced they are, she says, the harder it is for her to suppress laughter.
Scholars appearing on “Cunk” might understand that Morgan is acting for a humorous series, yet they genuinely show surprise and annoyance in response to her character’s foolish queries. Initially, before Cunk gained fame, there was often more perplexity.
Originally, we encountered some brilliant individuals, notably known for not finding humor in things. When you tread on their cherished subject matter, the atmosphere can become quite tense, as she points out. On one occasion, an expert became so agitated that filming had to momentarily halt while he composed himself. I suggested continuing if such a situation arose again. I was prepared for him to physically confront me, as I believed it would add drama to our broadcast. If he were to injure me, say by breaking my nose, it would mend over time.
According to Charlie Brooker, the creator of “Cunk on Life,” and also known for making “Black Mirror,” he shares that Morgan often finds himself defending certain topics. This is because, as Brooker explains, he prefers not to be present during filming interviews due to feeling awkward or embarrassed by the experience, stating, “I find it too embarrassing. I would rather not exist.
Brooker points out that Morgan is comfortable with prolonged silences during interviews, as these silent periods can account for up to 70% of a one-hour conversation.
Experts, who are regularly sought after due to their expertise, appear to take delight in being part of the show, according to Brooker. Unfortunately, it’s not common for experts to be interviewed on mainstream television these days.
As time passes, Cunk has become increasingly adversarial towards the individuals she interviews, often challenging their points with questionable personal stories. One of her go-to sources for these tales is her friend Paul.
In my years of experience, I’ve noticed that people today seem to be bolder when it comes to challenging experts. “Yeah, whatever,” they might say, dismissing decades of study and research with a wave of their hand. They claim to have gained all the knowledge they need from a quick YouTube video, and use this newfound confidence to debunk established facts, such as the moon landing or the effectiveness of vaccines. It’s disconcerting to see the arrogance that permeates the alternative truth crowd, who seem to believe their unsubstantiated claims hold more weight than the life’s work of dedicated professionals.
As a cinephile, I can’t help but notice an intriguing aspect in her approach to dismantling their professions, areas they hold dear with fervor, all while maintaining a casual air of indifference.
Morgan’s distinctive Bolton accent lends a unique touch to her character’s subtly humorous demeanor. During her time at the East 15 Acting School, she was advised that her speaking style might pose a challenge when it came to securing acting roles.
She comments, ‘It’s irrational since every role I’ve taken since then, it’s the accent that makes it unique for me.’ In drama school, they strive to erase the distinctive aspects of you and mold you into an actor they believe the public desires. However, what people truly yearn for is quirkiness. They seek originality, don’t they? They want peculiarities such as odd shapes, bumps, and unusual features.
For approximately a decade, Morgan honed her comedic skills by delivering stand-up routines in London. This period was just as educational as attending drama school, according to her. As she puts it, “You pick up lessons really fast on how not to make your audience yawn.
In tough times, she managed to survive by juggling several unfulfilling jobs. For a while, she was a telemarketer, persistently contacting people to inquire if they required new accountant services. Moreover, she had an extremely challenging job that involved packing dog worming tablets for 10 hours daily, with no room for conversation or relaxation. “It was a dreadful episode,” Morgan reflects, “but it served as a wake-up call: ‘I must make this work. I must lift my game and achieve something meaningful in life, as I don’t want to find myself in such a situation again.’
Awards
Ricky Gervais significantly influenced the landscape of comedic TV shows by co-creating and acting in the darkly humorous mockumentary series “The Office,” which first aired in 2001.
She had previously secured minor roles in television when she received an audition for the character Philomena Cunk, initially introduced on the satirical news program “Charlie Brooker’s Weekly Wipe.” The role of Barry Shitpeas, a dim-witted commentator, was played by comedian Al Campbell. In search of his female counterpart, they envisioned a candidate as a type: a trendy mommy blogger who is superficial, bakes cupcakes, and drives a Range Rover, according to Brooker’s description.
Initially, the plan was for the character to speak with a more sophisticated tone to fit the stereotype. However, Morgan requested extra time during the audition to portray Cunk using her own distinctive voice. “I’d never had the guts to do that,” she admits. “It turned out funnier because my accent is quite plain, and it adds a touch of melancholy to everything.
Brooker was “completely taken aback” by the audition. Morgan lends “an unusual, mysterious comedic quality” to Cunk, as he describes it. “The character has a peculiar charm,” he continues, “she’s almost alien and otherworldly yet simultaneously empty in a cosmic sense.
Morgan reminisces that everyone was on edge regarding the new character; they wondered if it would be successful or not.”
“However, if it hadn’t succeeded, I would have been let go instantly, sent packing around the corner without a second thought.”
“But luckily, it turned out well.
Cunk gained significant popularity, showing up regularly in various segments and later hosting independent specials such as “Cunk on Britain” and indeed “Cunk on Shakespeare.” (Notable quote: “Schooling during Shakespeare’s time was significantly different from our current system. In reality, it was simpler because he didn’t have to learn about Shakespeare.”)
Simultaneously, Morgan gained recognition for stealing scenes with her sharp wit in British comedies, frequently portraying characters who were bluntly crude and disregarded social etiquette. In the show “After Life” starring Ricky Gervais, she played a newspaper employee fixated on Kevin Hart’s work. In the sitcom “Motherland,” created by Sharon Horgan, she portrayed a vulgar single mother who resented the upper-class parenting standards of her middle-class peers. (She allowed her son to urinate in public streets and made sandwiches by cutting cheese directly from a block in her freezer, accidentally injuring herself in the process.)
She comments on her character in “Motherland,” saying, “It’s comforting to have someone like that, who doesn’t seem to worry about what others think.” Every day, she continues, mothers would approach her in the street expressing gratitude: “I appreciate this. I thought I was the only one feeling this way.
In addition, she penned, orchestrated, and appeared in the decidedly quirky comedy “Mandy,” a film that chronicles the life of an un employable woman who hops from one peculiar job to another.
Morgan sometimes wishes for a more intense, action-packed experience, but has no appetite for works like those of Shakespeare.
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2025-01-02 14:32