Photography by Robyn Von Swank
Comedian Maria Bamford has leant her voice and comic talents to all kinds of projects—perhaps most notably Lady Dynamite, the Netflix series loosely based on her life. It turned heads for its frank depictions of her struggles with mental health and gained a dedicated fanbase. She’s also been on all the shows your comedy-nerd friends like: Arrested Development, BoJack Horseman, The Sarah Silverman Program... And she’s a loud voice against gun violence, homelessness, and anti-immigration policies. This weekend, Bamford performs at Helium Comedy Club.
What performance mode feels most comfortable for you: standup, voiceover, TV? I like stand-up, because it's saying everything I want to say in the way that I want to say it.
How has Netflix changed the landscape for comics? Would Lady Dynamite have gotten made for "traditional" TV? I don't think I would have done as well without all of the streaming services and Internet audiences in general. I'm very lucky to be able to make a living doing exactly what I want to do, and I'm not sure if that would have been possible 20 years ago.
You were one of the zillions of celebs and comics who appeared on the Netflix show BoJack Horseman, the much-loved weirdo show about a depressed alcoholic washed-up TV star from the '90s who also happens to be a horse. What was that like? I'm not sure how I got the job, but I enjoyed being on it and it's a beautiful show. It's odd because beyond recording my episodes, I don't know if I have any insider info. Just that everyone is lovely and there is free Diet Coke by the can!
What's next for you? Taping a new hour this week in Burbank—very exciting! Also, an audio book.
How much do you use comedy to exist in a world that sometimes seems to be falling apart? Falling into a heap is the last thing that is going to help things change. That said, I am only awake about eight hours a day with the meds that I'm on. I make calls to my representatives. My husband and I give 11 percent of our income to charities that are fighting shitty stuff. But that said, I'm in the same boat—it's hard to find humor in horror. Laughter is not the best medicine. Medicine and health care are the best medicine.
Are you more likely to lean into comedy during particularly hard times? I have shelter and food and live in a suburb, so I'm away from the suffering of the 60,000 people who are without homes in Los Angeles. I've done what I can—giving out water, money, doing fundraisers—but I know I could do more. I don't know if I'm holding up any better than others, but I think there's good in coming together and expressing the frustrations and if that's through comedy or poetry or modern dance, I think that can be a relief for everyone.
