Angie Le Mar (born 27 October 1965) is a British comedian, actor, writer, director, presenter and producer.
Le Mar is married with three children.
Early life
Born in Lewisham, London, of
Jamaican parentage, she grew up with four older brothers. She attended
Lewisham Bridge School,
Lewisham Girls School,
Blackheath Bluecoat School and
Vauxhall College. Her experience at school was difficult, and it was not until she completed her education that she was diagnosed as dyslexic.
At the age of ten, Le Mar appeared in a school play called ''In on the Island'' at the
Albany Empire and then attended the Lewisham Drama Club, inspired by her primary school teacher Mr Woodgate. She then Joined Second Wave Women's Drama group, where she performed ''Net Full of Holes'', also at the Albany Empire.
Career
Le Mar attended the
Barbara Speake Stage School, and Afro Sax drama club run by
Larrington Walker,
Ellen Thomas and
Treva Etienne. With two fellow actresses Le Mar set up her own theatre company, called the Bemarrow Sisters, which ran for seven years. Productions included ''A Slice of Life'' directed by
Decima Francis, ''Gloria'' directed by
Trevor Laird and ''This Way Up'' written by
Peggy Bennette-Hume.
She was the first
Black British
Black British people or Black Britons"Black Briton, N." ''Oxford English Dictionary''. Oxford UP. December 2024. https://doi.org/10.1093/OED/1136579918. are a multi-ethnic group of British people of List of ethnic groups of Africa, Sub-Saharan ...
performer to appear at
Harlem
Harlem is a neighborhood in Upper Manhattan, New York City. It is bounded roughly by the Hudson River on the west; the Harlem River and 155th Street on the north; Fifth Avenue on the east; and Central Park North on the south. The greater ...
's
Apollo Theatre and had the first ever sell-out show by a female black comedian in London's West End. Her TV appearances include the
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) is a British public service broadcaster headquartered at Broadcasting House in London, England. Originally established in 1922 as the British Broadcasting Company, it evolved into its current sta ...
's ''
The Real McCoy'' and
Channel 4
Channel 4 is a British free-to-air public broadcast television channel owned and operated by Channel Four Television Corporation. It is state-owned enterprise, publicly owned but, unlike the BBC, it receives no public funding and is funded en ...
's ''Get Up, Stand Up'', and presented ''The Saturday Morning Show'' on
Choice FM. She was also a commentator on ''
Grumpy Old Women'' in 2005.
Stand-up comedy
From 1985 Le Mar cut her teeth on the comedy circuit, by initially doing open spots and warm-ups at events such as fashion shows and parties within the black community. She later rose to prominence on the emerging black comedy circuit in the 1990s, sharing the stage with established comedians such as
Felix Dexter,
Curtis Walker,
Ishmael Thomas and
Leo Chester all members of the BBC comedy series ''The Real McCoy''. Her popularity earned her the title "The Queen of Black Comedy".
Her reputation took her to the mainstream circuit where she became a regular act at established comedy clubs including
Up The Creek,
Jongleurs and
The Comedy Store, culminating in Le Mar performing her sell-out one woman show ''Off The Hook'' at the
Apollo Theatre, Shaftesbury Avenue, in 2000. She also gained international acclaim when she performed at the Apollo Theatre, New York, and the
Comedy Act Theatre in Los Angeles.
Le Mar celebrated 25 years in her show ''
An Audience with Angie Le Mar'', "Celebrating 25 years", at the
Barbican Theatre in September 2010.
Theatre
Le Mar launched her professional theatre career in 1994 with her comedy sketch show ''
Funny Black Women on the Edge'' that premiered at The Civic Centre in Southwark, London, which she wrote and also made her first directing debut, playing several characters. The show went on to play at the
Edinburgh Fringe Festival
The Edinburgh Festival Fringe (also referred to as the Edinburgh Fringe, the Fringe or the Edinburgh Fringe Festival) is the world's largest performance arts festival, which in 2024 spanned 25 days, sold more than 2.6 million tickets and featur ...
, at the
Gilded Balloon in the same year. The show played at the
Theatre Royal Stratford East in November 1995, directed by
Paulette Randall
The show was reprised again in 2007 ''
The Best of Funny Black Women on The Edge'' through Le Mar's production company Straight To Audience Productions', at the
Hackney Empire, directed by
Jo Martin and Dawn Reid.
Le Mar wrote her show ''
The Brothers'', which was originally aired as a radio production on Choice FM, produced by
Ivor Etienne. Written in 2006 and directed by Le Mar, the show made its theatre debut at the
Hackney Empire and became the fastest-selling show there since ''
Hamlet
''The Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark'', often shortened to ''Hamlet'' (), is a Shakespearean tragedy, tragedy written by William Shakespeare sometime between 1599 and 1601. It is Shakespeare's longest play. Set in Denmark, the play (the ...
''. ''The Brothers'' was also recorded for television and shown on
MTV Base.
In 2007 Le Mar wrote ''
Do You Know Where Your Daughter Is?''. While working as a radio presenter on Choice FM, Le Mar was moved by a call she received on her phone in show from a distressed young lady who had been abused by her boyfriend. The contents of the call inspired her to write the play, which was targeted predominantly to young audiences and parents. The play premiered at the Hackney Empires' ''Acorn Theatre'' and ran for eight weeks. It was toured throughout the London Region and the suburbs between 2008 and 2009, and played at the
Edinburgh Fringe Festival
The Edinburgh Festival Fringe (also referred to as the Edinburgh Fringe, the Fringe or the Edinburgh Fringe Festival) is the world's largest performance arts festival, which in 2024 spanned 25 days, sold more than 2.6 million tickets and featur ...
, Gilded Balloon in August 2010. There are ongoing plans to tour the show nationally in 2011.
The most recent play written by Le Mar is ''
Forty'' in which she played the character "Sandra" was premiered at the Hackney Empire in 2008 and again at The
Broadway Theatre, Catford, in 2009, directed by
Karena Johnson
Karena Johnson is a British theatrical director and producer who first started working at London's Oval House Theatre. She was acting artistic director at Contact theatre and Artistic Director of Kushite Theatre Company as well as associate di ...
. Discussions are ongoing for a television series. Le Mar directed other productions, including ''Waiting to Inhale'', written by comedian and broadcaster
Geoff Schumann, which played at the
Theatre Royal Stratford East in 1997, ''Will The Real Wayne Rollins Stand Up'' one-man show at the Hackney Empires' Bullion Room Theatre in 2002, and ''Big Sister'' featuring ''Donna Spence'' and ''Quincy'', also at Hackney's Bullion Room Theatre in 2003.
Le Mar continues to work with young people through her production company Straight To Audience Productions, and has set up a strand within the organisation called 'Straight To Audience Youth' (STAY). Her workshops include writing and directing and stand-up comedy masterclasses.
Television
Le Mar's television appearances includes the successful comedy sketch show ''
The Real McCoy'',
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) is a British public service broadcaster headquartered at Broadcasting House in London, England. Originally established in 1922 as the British Broadcasting Company, it evolved into its current sta ...
, ''Late Licence'',
Channel 4
Channel 4 is a British free-to-air public broadcast television channel owned and operated by Channel Four Television Corporation. It is state-owned enterprise, publicly owned but, unlike the BBC, it receives no public funding and is funded en ...
, presented by
Mark Thomas and
Johnny Vaughan, ''
Get Up Stand Up'',
Channel 4
Channel 4 is a British free-to-air public broadcast television channel owned and operated by Channel Four Television Corporation. It is state-owned enterprise, publicly owned but, unlike the BBC, it receives no public funding and is funded en ...
, a comedy sketch show. As well as appearing in different roles, Le Mar contributed to the writing and character development for the programme. Le Mar appeared as a panelist on the comedy review show ''
Blouse & Skirt'',
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) is a British public service broadcaster headquartered at Broadcasting House in London, England. Originally established in 1922 as the British Broadcasting Company, it evolved into its current sta ...
. A commentator in the
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) is a British public service broadcaster headquartered at Broadcasting House in London, England. Originally established in 1922 as the British Broadcasting Company, it evolved into its current sta ...
series ''
Grumpy Old Women'', and a cameo role in the
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) is a British public service broadcaster headquartered at Broadcasting House in London, England. Originally established in 1922 as the British Broadcasting Company, it evolved into its current sta ...
's ''
Holby City
''Holby City'' (stylised on-screen as HOLBY CIY) is a British medical drama television series that aired weekly on BBC One. It was created by Tony McHale and Mal Young as a Spin-off (media), spin-off from the established BBC medical drama '' ...
''.
Le Mar made her first appearance as a panelist on
ITV's popular lunchtime programme ''
Loose Women'' aired on 2 February 2011. Through her own production company, Straight To Audience Productions, Le Mar has commissioned three projects that are in development for internet streaming. The ''Living Room'' will be an intimate setting in which Le Mar interviews personalities from the world of business, entertainment, politics, sport and lifestyle. ''Angie's Round The Table'' is a debate show presented by Le Mar, with six invited guests debating on social issues and topics that affect ordinary people, literally around a table set in a casual environment. The third project is called ''Women at the Top of Their Game'', an interview programme with a small live audience, focusing on women who have reached the top of their chosen profession. Le Mar worked on a new TV sitcom called ''The Ryan Sisters'', that was scheduled for production in 2012. 2019-Soon Gone: A Windrush Chronicle BBC Series 1:5. (Samantha 1993) Written by Angie Le Mar)
Radio
As well as making many radio guest appearances, Le Mar presented the ''Angie Le Mar Show'' on
BBC GLR 94.9fm from 1998 to 2000. Le Mar further established her radio credentials when she presented her Friday night show ''The Ladies Room'' and subsequently presented the Saturday morning ''Breakfast Show'' on
Choice FM between 2000 and 2007. Her many guests included
Stevie Wonder
Stevland Hardaway Morris (; Judkins; born May 13, 1950), known professionally as Stevie Wonder, is an American and Ghanaian singer-songwriter, musician, and record producer. He is regarded as one of the most influential musicians of the 20th c ...
,
Jermaine Jackson,
Danny Glover
Danny Glover ( ; born July 22, 1946) is an American actor, producer, and political activist. Over his career he has received List of awards and nominations received by Danny Glover, numerous accolades including the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian A ...
,
Idris Elba
Idrissa Akuna Elba Order of the British Empire, OBE ( ; born 6 September 1972) is an English actor and musician. He has received a Golden Globe Award as well as nominations for three BAFTA Awards and six Primetime Emmy Awards, Emmy Awards. He w ...
,
Mica Paris
Michelle Antoinette Wallen (born 27 April 1969), known professionally as Mica Paris ( ), is an English singer, presenter, and actress. Her debut album, '' So Good'', was released in 1988, spawning the singles " My One Temptation" and " Where I ...
,
Maya Angelou
Maya Angelou ( ; born Marguerite Annie Johnson; April 4, 1928 – May 28, 2014) was an American memoirist, poet, and civil rights activist. She published seven autobiographies, three books of essays, several books of poetry, and is credi ...
and
Mary J. Blige
Mary Jane Blige ( ; born January 11, 1971) is an American singer, songwriter, rapper, actress, and entrepreneur. Often referred to as the "Honorific nicknames in popular music, Queen of Hip-Hop Soul" and "Honorific nicknames in popular music, Qu ...
to name but a few. Le Mar is a radio presenter on Colourful Radio, which she presents her show ''Time of The Month'' once every month.
Angie is a very regular guest/panelist on
Eddie Nestor's Rumshop and Kath Melandri Saturday Late show on
BBC London 94.9. Since late 2011, Angie has been a regular deputy presenter to Kath Melandri on BBC London 94.9.
New projects 2011
Le Mar was working on her new one-woman show called ''In My Shoes'', to premiere at the Soho Theatre, West End, on 16 October 2011. It is expected the show will also undertake a national tour of the UK, and the US in 2012–13. Le Mar was also writing a TV sitcom called the ''Ryan Sisters'', which was to go into production with a premier cast including singer/actress
Michelle Gayle, actress/TV presenter
Josie d'Arby, actress/singer (
Eternal)
Kelle Bryan, and comedian, radio broadcaster
Eddie Nestor, and Le Mar. The show was to premiere as a preview theatre production at the Fairfield Halls, Croydon, in March 2012.
References
External links
Official website*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Le Mar, Angie
Black British women comedians
Black British comedians
English stand-up comedians
Living people
1965 births
Actors from the London Borough of Lewisham
English people of Jamaican descent
Actors with dyslexia
British actors with disabilities
Television presenters with disabilities
British writers with disabilities
Writers with dyslexia
Comedians from the London Borough of Lewisham
Actresses from London