Aisling Bea – Comedian

The Comedic Path

Bea’s career took an unexpected turn as she found herself landing roles in comedic television series such as “Cardinal Burns” and “Dead Boss” (both 2012). It was during the filming of “Dead Boss” in 2011 that she decided to try her hand at stand-up comedy.

Rising Star in Comedy

2012 marked a significant milestone in Bea’s journey when she won The Gilded Balloon So You Think You’re Funny award at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe. Her talent and charisma shone through, and in 2013, she was nominated for Best Newcomer at the Edinburgh Comedy Awards for her show “C’est La Bea”.

The recognition garnered from these achievements marked a turning point in Bea’s career. She swiftly transitioned into becoming a regular guest on panel shows like “QI” and “Insert Name Here”. Collaborating with Yasmine Akram, she co-wrote and co-hosted the BBC Radio 4 comedy folklore series “Micks and Legends” (2012, 2015), which received a Chortle Award nomination in 2013.

Breaking Barriers

Bea’s prowess in comedy was further affirmed when she clinched the 2014 British Comedy Award for Best Female TV Comic. Her comedic genius continued to shine, and she returned to the Edinburgh Festival Fringe in 2015 with her live show “Plan Bea”.

She went on to captivate audiences as a team captain on “8 Out of 10 Cats” in 2016 and made her mark as a cast member on “Taskmaster” in 2017.

A Diverse Portfolio

Bea’s talent transcends comedic roles, as she also impressed in various television sitcoms like “Trollied” (2014–2015), “The Delivery Man” (2015), and Amy Huberman’s Irish television series “Finding Joy” (2018). She showcased her versatility by appearing in crime dramas such as “The Fall” (2016) and “Hard Sun” (2018).

In 2018, Bea and Sara Pascoe embarked on a new venture as co-hosts of the BBC Radio 2 comedy chat show “What’s Normal?”. Her stand-up comedy skills reached a global audience with a 15-minute special aired on Netflix in late 2018.

Current Triumphs

Bea’s star continued to rise as she took on pivotal roles. She starred in the Netflix comedy-drama series “Living with Yourself” (2019) and emerged as the star and head writer of the Channel 4 comedy series “This Way Up” (2019–present). Her acting prowess also graced the ITV drama series “Quiz” (2020).

Recognizing her exceptional talent, Bea was awarded the BAFTA 2020 British Academy Television Craft Award for Breakthrough Talent for her work on “This Way Up”. Her accolades further solidified her status as a comedy trailblazer.

Stepping into Sci-Fi

Not one to be confined by genre, Bea made a memorable appearance as Sarah in the 2022 Doctor Who New Year’s special, “Eve of the Daleks”. Her ability to seamlessly transition across different genres showcased her remarkable versatility.