After 30 years of denying her sexuality, Fiona Goodwin has created a one-woman show about her spiritual, social, sexual, and psychological journey to become the woman she is today. Her religion, family and country urge her to be straight but Fiona can now proudly say she is, and always will be, a very British lesbian.
Leah Marriott: How did your career develop into Comedy?
Fiona Goodwin: I tried doing drama but everybody laughed. I was cast in a horror film in Hollywood called the ‘Beverly Hills Massacre’ playing the role of a mother in an incestuous relationship with her son.
Whenever I said my lines the director shouted cut because no one except me could keep a straight face. I’m not sure if the film even went to DVD.The same thing happened at a singer/songwriter audition at a music festival in Holland - my voice cracked, so I just started talking, I got a huge round of applause and the judges suggested I tried comedy.
LM: What inspired you to write ‘A Very British Lesbian’?
FG: Having been in the closet for so long, it felt like I needed to out myself in a big way to make up for all the hiding... I always hated the word lesbian, so putting it in the title was a great way to combat my own homophobia.
LM: What can the audience expect from your solo-play?
FG: I walk up and down talking, and in the middle of the show I put on a dress.
And devil horns. There are stories about all efforts to be straight... some of them are very funny, like the time I went to be a missionary, and some of them are sad, like the time I went to be a missionary. People cry and there’s a happy ending.
LM: How did you come to terms with your sexuality after growing up around strict religion?
FG: I’m not sure that I have entirely. Every so often I still get a twinge of fear - I think gays recovering from homophobic fundamentalist Christianity have a kind of PTSD, it get to you when you least expect it. My recovery was greatly helped by moving to California and discovering that not everybody’s God hated homosexuals.
And I made friends with other lesbians and went to the beach a lot.
LM: In what ways did your life change after coming out?
FG: I resigned and moved to California, started doing stand-up comedy, went to film school, got a girlfriend (Who didn’t also have a boyfriend) weirdly I started to wear more make up… Maybe to counterbalance the lesbian label.
LM: Do you have any advice for people that are struggling to come to terms with their sexuality?
FG: My advice would be to be kind to yourself. Try to forgive yourself for judging yourself for being gay. Don’t let anyone bully you into coming out if you’re not ready. It feels like you’re breaking going through the earth’s atmosphere – If you can find people to talk to, that really helps.
Call me.
Fiona is touring in USA and UK this Spring
SHOW DATES AND TICKETS:
Santa Monica Playhouse Main Stage, Santa Monica, CA, April 5th, 3pm. averybritishlesbianla.bpt.me
The Royalty - The Producers Club, New York, NJ, April 16th-18th, 7pm/7:30pm.
averybritishlesbiannewyork.bpt.me
Hen & Chickens, London, UK, Sunday April 26th, 7.00pm
