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Suzi Ruffell: ‘When I met Mel C I was so starstruck Alan Carr had to whisk me away’
The comedian on coming out at 20, discovering she was funny, and the special moment she marked with a tattoo
TL;DR
- Born in Portsmouth in 1986, Suzi Ruffell began her stand-up career in 2008 after training at the Academy of Live and Recorded Arts in London.
- Ruffell experienced significant anxiety and self-esteem issues as a child, finding solace and a coping mechanism in humor.
- She found a transformative experience in a youth amateur dramatic society, where she discovered her ability to be funny and felt a sense of belonging.
- Coming out at 20, Ruffell struggled with hiding her sexuality and experienced obsessive behaviors related to anxiety.
- Her stand-up career took off when she began incorporating her personal experiences with anxiety and sexuality into her act, leading to a strong connection with her audience.
- Ruffell recounts being intensely starstruck upon meeting Mel C, requiring intervention from Alan Carr.
- Becoming a parent and getting married during the pandemic, Ruffell found a profound sense of contentment and belonging in Brighton, marking this moment with a tattoo.
- She now embraces her true self, running towards experiences and valuing authenticity over being 'cool'.