Thursday, February 7, 2013

30 MINUTES WITH Sarah Silverman / 'I've been punched in the face three times'

Sarah Silverman

30 MINUTES WITH SARAH SILVERMAN

Interview

Sarah Silverman: 'I've been punched in the face three times'

The stand-up comedian and star of Wreck-It Ralph on teenage bed-wetting and defending men dressed as chickens from street hoodlums

Tiffany Rose
7 Feb 2013

Hello Sarah. You've done voiceovers before (1), but none for a Disney production (2).

My show (3) was very adult in many ways but kids loved it because it was very colourful and it had music. I love it when kids approach me; much more than creepy 50-year-old men – no offence to any creepy 50-year-old men who may be reading this.

What's the creepiest thing a 50-year-old man has said to you?

It's the 50-year-old men who live with their mums who have stacks of pictures for me to sign. I just think: "What are you doing with your life?" They sell them on eBay. I don't know what you can get for a signed copy of my picture, but I can't imagine it's anything over five dollars. You can work at McDonald's for more.

Sarah Silverman

Is it true you were once punched in the face at Comic-Con?

Yes. I've been punched in the face three times. You don't do what I do and have zero consequences. There are risks involved.

Who gave the hardest punch?

I used to pass out flyers on the corner of 3rd and MacDougal in New York City for a comedy club from 4pm to 2am. I was sharing the corner with the Pluck U Chicken, who was this young, Asian student in a chicken suit. He was a sweetheart. The scariest people in New York City are the bridge and tunnel beer-drinking teens, and one night they started pushing him around and I got in between them, not out of heroism, it just didn't occur to me in a million years one would hurt precious me. Some guy punched me square in the temple and knocked me unconscious. That was the first time.

The second time was an accident and I do believe it was my fault. I was shooting a fight sequence with Ryan Phillippe (4) and I leaned in when I shouldn't have leaned in. He knocked me right off my feet, leaving me with a huge egg on my jaw.

But the most memorable was at Comic-Con?

Yes, but this was heartbreaking. There was a line of people to take pictures with me and this one guy wearing a hulk fist, as The Thing had just come out. Let's say he was nervous about meeting me and a bit socially inept. I said: "Hi," but I don't think he knew what to do with his feelings and he punched me in the face. When I regained my balance, I saw three giant security guys dragging him away and he had this remorseful look on his face. I will never forget that look.

What was the best thing about meeting the Muppets?

Kermit is like my personal Jesus. I just love him so much. If you really listen to Rainbow Connection or It's not Easy being Green, those lyrics are so unbelievably profound, heartbreaking and beautiful.

What do you remember of the 80s?

I remember driving into Boston and seeing a huge billboard which read: "Year of the Woman," and thinking: "Wow…a whole year?" I had a pair of grey, corduroy pedal pushers which I was obsessed with. I would wear them with a pink sweater and I had these kind of Dutch clogs and I remember telling my mum one day. "Mum take a picture of me because this is the outfit I'm going to wear to my first New York audition when I grow up." You don't realise that things will change.

At what age did you know you were funny?

Three. My dad taught me swears and so I would say them and adults would be shocked, but they would laugh and it felt like approval. I became addicted to that feeling.

When did the bedwetting stop? (5)

About 15 or 16.

What was the worst incident?

When I had to go to sleepaway camp, which was humiliating. I peed in my cot every night in front of my peers. All anxiety related. After that, stand-up comedy is not daunting.

What's the worst experience you've had on stage?

Casino gigs can be tough. They pay well so sometimes I need to take them. I did one recently where I had this woman front-row centre who just heckled me from the beginning to the end. She forced me to eviscerate her and so the whole show became about this woman and I couldn't do any of my routine.

Is it true that you don't drink?

No I don't.

You never have? And yet you're a comedian.

Well, depression and alcohol … it's all the same at the end of the day.

Whenever I say I don't drink, people just assume I'm in the programme. But I have a Jewish stomach or something. I just don't like the taste of alcohol. My boyfriend will open up a bottle of wine and I will take a sip and pull a face. It tastes like poison. There was a short period of time when I would drink a Seabreeze, which is like the oldest lady drink. I'm more of a pot girl … (6) I love to bake using pots and pans and go and see Wreck-It Ralph.

Wreck-It Ralph is released in the UK on 8 February