Felicity Ward q'n'a

First published on 15 May 2009. Updated on 14 Jul 2009.

Does comedy thrive in challenging economic times? Surprisingly, yes. What it does, more so, is give people a perspective on what it's like to lose a job and have to find a new one... that is the life of a performer. I've always been close to broke and wondering if I can stomach another meal of eggs on toast, so crisis schmisis.

Felicity Ward What punchline have you longed to find a joke for but never quite managed? If (INSERT NAME OF HILARIOUSLY APPROPRIATE PERSON) was a movie, he'd go straight to DVD.

If you could call a moratorium on one over-used stand-up premise, what would it be? Calling yourself weird on stage when you're really quite normal. For example a stand-up may touch their head on stage and say "Whoah, that's a bit weird. Why would I do that?" I know why you did that, cause you felt like it. Get over it.

Monty Python or The Goodies? Look, I love the Goodies. I hold it dear to my heart but a giant kitten and full-body zip up pants suit does not the revolution of comedy maketh. Monty Python changed the way people interpret, write and steal comedy today.

Does your mother approve of your career choice? My mother didn't finish high school and I was raised on the Central Coast, so the fact that I wasn't pregnant at 17 with a raging meth addiction was enough for her. Additionally, she genuinely thinks our family are the funniest four people in the world: so more than approving, she thinks I deserve it.

What's the one subject that you've never been able to make a joke about? Paedophilia... but it's a nut I'm happy to leave uncracked. I think it would be strange if I had a burning desire to make paedophilia funny. "There's a kid suffering irreparable childhood trauma... there has to be a joke in it SOMEWHERE!"

If your comedy was a musical genre, what would it be? A Phil Collins power ballad played on a banjo. Technically that's a style rather than a genre, but I'm pretty sure I've nailed it.

Of what comedian would you most like to hear about the mysterious, volcano-related disappearance? Controversial I know, but Will Ferrell. I think when someone told him to be "funny" he heard "loud" instead.

Complete: my dog has no nose...…eson on sah god ym. You meant in a palindromic sense, right?

What do you want to be when you grow up? Better at everything. And some maturity would be nice. I'm 28 and still getting excited when I go shopping and can buy as many lollies as I like.

What's the funniest thing about Sydney? Going back to Chinatown and getting treated like the white piece of trash I am. I love going to Golden Century asking for salt'n'pepper squid and being told they don't make it when they make salt'n'pepper crab and chilli squid; and then going back a week later with a Cantonese friend and watching it magically appear. I think that is awesome.