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Sandra Bernhard burst onto the stand-up comedy scene in the late 70's and has never looked back. From live theater, to television, to movies, to literature, Sandra has made a contribution in virtually all areas of artistic expression. She is outspoken, but always consistent on her views of Americana and how to make this world a better place. As she gets ready to bring her one woman show to Fort Lauderdale it was my pleasure to sit down and conduct an exclusive interview with someone I consider to be a legend in comedy.
Your big break came in 1983 when you were cast in "King of Comedy." How did it feel to work with Martin Scorsese, Robert De Niro and Jerry Lewis?
It was the highlight of my early career and it is a long standing sense of pride. The movie was ahead of itself on predicting how crazy our culture was.
"Without You I'm Nothing" was an off Broadway show, an album and a film. How exciting was it to produce those projects and what was the inspiration for them?
The inspiration of all my shows is to reflect on culture at the moment and what's going on in my personal life, experiences and where I am at.
Your role as Nancy Bartlett, the first openly lesbian recurring character on TV on “Roseanne,” is probably what you are most well known for in the public eye. Tell me about that experience and how was it to work with Roseanne Barr?
Roseanne Barr is a genius and the show tapped into me and it was a great reflection of Americana. Everyone on the show was amazing to work with and it was very well crafted. I was thrilled to be included and for it to be a part of my life.
Your daughter is almost 12 years old now. How has being a mother changed your life?
I am a lot calmer and a lot happier to be at home. She has anchored and inspired me to be the best I can be for her, myself and the world.
How exciting is it to be on Comedy Central's list of the 100 greatest stand ups of all time?
It is always nice to be included, especially when you are not part of the mainstream.
What some people may not know is that you have written many books and articles. What's your inspiration for writing?
Everything I do on stage comes from my writing. I am a cultural observer. I am a big fan of Twitter because I can capture things and immediately put them out there.
In addition to comedy, you sing pop music, jazz and blues. What do you like better, stand up or singing?
I love performing so everything I do is in conjunction with each other. I like the combination of singing and stand up because it tells the whole story.
You are a history buff and love reading. When did you get interested in history and reading?
If we don't know the past then we can't know the present or future; it helps with the journey. I study about Americana, women, Judaism, etc. so I can be a well rounded person.
Most people know that you have very strong political views (ex: Sarah Palin incident). Where do these views come from and what would you change if you were president?
I would push through all the right agenda's for the American people and the world. I admire Obama and I think people need to have faith in him.
You definitely have a reputation and it seems like people either love you or hate you. Does having a reputation affect the way you perform or conduct yourself in public?
I am a person who has manners and understands protocol. This is something you definitely learn as a performer. Having said that, I am not going to censor myself and I will say things that need to be put out there.
You have such a strong presence. What advice do you give newcomers who want to break into show business?
If you don't have a clearvision on what you want to contribute to the world then don't do it. We need iconoclastic viewpoints.
You have legions of gay fans all across the world. Is this something you expected when you started your career and how do you feel about it?
When I moved to LA in the mid 70's I hung out with the gay scene. I was very young and impressionable and I learned so much from the gay culture (camp, style, etc.) that has been the basis as a performer and who I am.
What's ahead for Sandra?
A lot of things are happening. I am at another plateau of television and film and I hope to continue to perform live on a bigger platform. Currently I have a lot of projects on the horizon. Do expect to see a lot from me in the next few years.
To find out more about Sandra check out her website at SandraBernhard.com and you can follow her on Twitter at twitter.com/sandrabernhard
>> Catch the queen of comedy, Sandra Bernhard, on Saturday, March 28th live at the Parker Playhouse at 8 pm. This performance is a benefit for Broward House. To purchase tickets go to Parkerplayhouse.org
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