Kate Perry: 'I felt no pressure because I had no intention of becoming an actor'

My way into my first acting job was serendipitous. I was working at an arts centre called Fort Mason in San Francisco as an events coordinator. I seemed to have a knack for comedy and would entertain my colleagues with impersonations of people or quirky characters I created.

One Friday afternoon, I was filling in for Michelle, the receptionist, who needed a break. It being a slow day at the Fort, I was bored at the desk so I cut up some yellow Post-it notes, turned them into false eyelashes and stuck them to my eyelids.

Frank Reilly, a director, came in needing directions to Building B as he was holding auditions for The Pinter Sketches. He was amused by the Post-its. I told him I had a degenerative eyelash disease and these were temporary until I got replacements.

My co-worker, Lucie, who was standing behind me, commented that I was an actor. I told him I wasn’t: I was Irish but lived in London briefly working as a chambermaid at a hotel before moving to the US. His interest was piqued. Would I like to read in with the actors auditioning as I might have a better ear for the English accent? I felt no pressure because I had no intention of becoming an actor. Turns out I wasn’t bad with the accent or the reading. Frank took my number and called the next day to offer me a part. I told him I couldn’t do it because I had a job, but he wouldn’t take no for an answer, I could rehearse evenings and weekends as some of the other actors also had day jobs. I took the leap and the show went down a storm. I loved the audience’s response to the laughter when it came.

I started writing and developing monologues inspired by Alan Bennett’s Talking Heads. In a sense, my lack of training and knowledge of the industry prepared me to make my own way and rely on myself to create work. The monologues turned into full-length shows. I returned to Ireland, got an agent and some TV/film work, but my passion was always comedy. I wrote a sketch show, Do Not Adjust Yourself, which was later adapted for Woman’s Hour, continued to write for radio and then became interested in writing for film. My recent short, Ruthless, won 22 awards at BAFTA, BIFA and IFTA film festivals, while The Very Perry Show won the best comedy award at the United Solo Theatre Festival. I am now a proud member of BAFTA Connect and continue to create my own work.

Max Reinhardt once asked: “Never mind talent. Do you have tenacity?” I think at this stage I can honestly answer: “I do.”

CV Kate Perry

Training: No formal training
Theatre includes: The Very Perry Show, The Seagull, Car Show (both Corn Exchange), Much Ado About Nothing (Bickerstaff Theatre Company)
TV and radio include: Ted Lasso (Apple), Jerk, Rough Diamond, Hope Street (all BBC). As radio actor: Safe Space, Consuming Sheila (Radio 4). As writer: Do Not Adjust Yourself, Live from the Palace (Radio 4)
Agent: Self-represented for acting. Literary: David Kayser, Torchwood Literary Agency