This episode of How To Fail was recorded in front of a live audience at London’s Barbican Theatre.
Sally Phillips has appeared in a string of the most influential and hilarious comedy series of all time - from Smack The Pony, Miranda, The Thick of It and Veep. Not forgetting, of course, her star turn as Bridget Jones’s best friend, Shazza, in the hugely popular movie franchise. Alongside her professional success, Phillips has also been an important voice in the neurodivergent community. Her eldest son, Olly, has Down syndrome and Sally is a tireless campaigner for disability rights.
So why, then, does she never feel she’s made it as a ‘serious’ actress? And why is she so obsessed with Clown School? And - pressing question - why have she and Colin Firth never been a thing?
✨ IN THIS EPISODE:
00:00 Intro
02:39 Bridget Jones Memories
07:26 Veep and Women in Comedy
09:19 Smack the Pony: A Revolutionary Comedy
10:45 Clown School and Its Life Lessons
12:55 Failures of Courage
19:06 Reflections on Marriage and Divorce
22:55 Reflecting on Mutual Support
23:16 Aspirations of a Serious Actress
24:14 Comedy vs. Serious Roles
24:50 Auditioning for Terrence Davis
30:56 Embracing Weaknesses and Comedy
32:57 Ethical Review of NIPT
36:16 Ollie's Impact and Parenting
43:25 Ollie's Adventures and Lessons
Over on Failing with Friends, Sally answers questions from the live audience at the Barbican: they discuss red and green flags in partners, and what Hugh Grant is REALLY like and whether Sally and Renée Zellweger really are friends or whether she might just be making it up?
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Production & Post Production Coordinator: Eric Ryan
Engineer: Matias Torres Sole & Gulliver Lawrence-Tickell
Live Engineer: Will Kontargyris
Producer: Hannah Talbot
Executive Producer: Carly Maile
Head of Marketing: Kieran Lancini
How to Fail is an Elizabeth Day and Sony Music Entertainment Production.
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