Andrea Martin — out of character
Former SCTV star happy to just be herself onstage for a change
Sharilyn Johnson

Some might know Andrea Martin best for SCTV characters such as Edith Prickley and Edna Boil.

Younger readers might know her better as Aunt Voula in the film My Big Fat Greek Wedding.

And theatre buffs may know Martin more for her many critically acclaimed roles on Broadway.

Those attending the Winnipeg Comedy Festival show March 29 at the Pantages Playhouse will get to see Andrea Martin for Andrea Martin.

She’ll be hosting the Super Gala Thursday show as herself, defying the cliché that actors have difficulty performing without a character to hide behind. Actually, it wasn’t until 1992, when she staged her one-woman show Nude, Nude, Totally Nude, that Martin became at ease as herself onstage.

“I didn't know if I was capable to be onstage without being a character and feel comfortable in my own skin,” she says. “Having lived through that experience, I feel like I can do anything as myself because there’s nothing more intimidating than being solitary onstage for an hour and a half.

“I think that’s a wonderful thing with getting older, actually. I feel confident now, standing onstage and just being who I am.”

Dedicated SCTV fans are sure to be in the audience, and Martin, 60, says people are still keen to talk about the show even 25 years after it left the air.

“For many years I would be upset that that’s all they would talk about. I’ve done so much more. And now I’m just grateful anyone remembers me at all,” she jokes.

These days, Martin’s work schedule is as full as ever. She divides her time between her homes in New York and Toronto and consistently bounces between stage, film, television and voice-over work. She recently shot a series pilot for Showtime and is now busy doing press for her role in Mary Walsh’s film Young Triffie. Next up, pending negotiations, will be rehearsals for a Broadway role as Frau Blucher in the stage adaptation of the 1974 Mel Brooks film Young Frankenstein.

Looking at Martin’s credits, it seems the performer has the versatility to do practically anything. So how does she choose her roles?

Actually, Martin has three specific reasons for taking a part.

“You either take a job because it’s enormously well paying, you take a job because you think it’s going to be challenging and you can grow as an actress, or you take a job because you think it will be fun,” she says. “There’s things that aren’t particularly great (that) I made a lot of money on. And then there’s that rare thing where you get paid and it’s challenging, and those are wonderful things.

“I’ve been lucky that they’ve come along a lot in my life.”

Sharilyn Johnson hosts Laugh Tracks every Wednesday at 8:30 p.m. on 101.5 UMFM.