Hannah Gadsby's 'Nanette' Awarded At Just For Laughs Festival

Hannah Gadsby's 'Nanette' has been awarded the comedy special of the year at the Just For Laughs festival in Montreal. American stand-up comedian, actress, and voice actress Maria Bamford presented her with the award saying, "It really spoke to me as a comedian."

While accepting the award, the Australian stand-up comedian acknowledged people who helped her with the 'external scaffolding', although she added, "I did most of the work myself."

She also said, ‘This was born as a live show. It lived because of the reactions of a live audience. I cut my teeth in front of an audience," reported Chortle.

Gadsby said she was "happy to see so many outsiders feel part of it (comedy circuit)," however, she added, "I’ve never felt entirely part of comedy as I’m very quiet and often get lost. And as a queer comic, I often get lost."

"We are an industry based on outsiders, so please don’t stop looking to the outside," she added.

Not the first Award for Gadsby

Gadsby is a recipient of the Barry Award at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival. She also shared last year's Edinburgh Comedy Award for the live version of 'Nanette'.

While presenting the award Bamford said that Just For Laughs should pay the new comedians who are invited to take part in the New Faces showcases.

The company earns about $100million a year. One of the new owners, including Howie Mandel were recently roped in after founder Gilbert Rozon had to step down following accusations of sexual misconduct.

 Read Also : Claire Foy The Queen On Netflix’s “The Crown” Faces Pay Disparity

Other Awardees at Just For Laughs

Awards host Alonzo Bodden pointed out that no white men were honoured at the ceremony. Among the other winners, Girls Trip star Tiffany Haddish was named comedy person of the year. Jo Koy got the award for the stand-up comedian of the year.

Lil Rel Howery walked away with the award for breakout comedy star of the year. Glow creators Liz Flahive and Carly Mensch were awarded for being comedy writers of the year.

Kriti Dwivedi is an intern with SheThePeople.TV

Picture Credit: Marie Claire