IN CONVERSATION WITH HANNAH PILKES

Comedian, actress, and now director Hannah Pilkes is redefining what it means to be a multi- hyphenate performer. From opening for comedy icons like Meg Stalter and Paul F. Thompkins, to her scene-stealing appearances on Dropout and Comedy Bang Bang, Hannah has carved out a space that’s all her own: absurd, honest, and deeply character-driven. She’ll next be seen opposite Leanne Morgan in the upcoming Netflix series ‘Leanne’, premiering on 31st July, and continues to build a powerful digital presence through her singular, surreal humor on social media.

You started in the industry as a child actor. What’s it been like evolving into a full-fledged multi- hyphenate in comedy, acting, and now directing?

It's been quite the journey. I've been at it a long time. And I think that's largely responsible for why I've dipped my toe into so many different mediums. When you're waiting for your show to be made, or to be cast, or "chosen", finding ways to have that autonomy was crucial for me. I always say the only way to stick it out in this industry that requires so much patience is to find ways to stay in love with it.

My way of keeping the creative love alive has been to create myself, and create with my peers. And for me, I love performing, but it's really just making that soup. Whether that's writing or helping a performer execute and realize their own vision. Just to be a part of the building process is heaven. Initially when I was a kid, I thought I only wanted to perform, and now I can't imagine it any other way. There's so much more I want to do. There's so much I have left to learn.

Was there a particular moment when you felt you had stepped out of the ‘child actor’ shadow and into your current creative identity?

I don't know if I'll ever feel that way. I still feel like a little kid when I'm auditioning, giddy and nervous and determined. But I will say, when I started teaching during Covid, I felt a real shift and a sense of understanding of my own creative process. And it was so empowering and rewarding to help others in my community get closer to understanding theirs. All those years of grinding it out being put to use in a way that serves not only me. And at the same time, I'm still on my own journey with my creative identity. It's ever-evolving and changing, which means feeling really good and confident some days and really daunted by it other days.

How does your past as a performer shape the way you now direct or develop material?

Well, my past has shaped so much of my material in terms of how I was raised and my roots. I come from a very large Dutch family. My dad is a clown. Not a professional clown, but I'm convinced that if he decided to change career paths tomorrow, he could be world famous. There's so much silliness, curiosity and play baked into how I was raised. And Dutch culture is very whimsical, lots of fantasy and folklore. A lot of that has made its way into the art I create. My mom is also a fantastic performer and writer, and went to college for theater. My sister is co-devising my solo show with me and has this insane, beautiful gift for world-building and integrating movement into performance pieces.

My brother in law is an incredibly accomplished imagineer, who will passively widdle his son a walking stick on his day off. The motherload of creativity that I've been surrounded by since I was a toddler is unparalleled.

You’ve opened for incredible talents like Meg Stalter and Paul F. Tompkins. What did you learn from sharing the stage with them?

Paul and Meg are, I think, my favorite comedians. So inventive, so joyful, so unlike anyone else. To get to perform alongside them and watch them from backstage is amazing. The quickness, the swiftness, the ease. Also, they've cultivated such an amazing fan base and audience. I always feel spoiled getting to perform on their shows because the audience is so down and willing to laugh. That's not always the case. That's a direct bi-product of who they are and who they attract. I love them both dearly and I'm so grateful for the opportunities.

Your comedic style feels both wildly original and deeply character-driven. What inspires your approach to comedy?

I think I'm a really observational comedian. I love to people watch. I never aim to make fun of anyone. I never want anyone to feel alienated by my comedy. It's my hope that they will laugh with me always. But I really like to zoom in on very small behaviors, very small "isms" that we all can identify with, and heighten from there. I'm most inspired by the strange idiosyncrasies we all have that make us human and that make us funny. Humans are just inherently funny. I'm less of joke writer I guess. I let the dialogue of the character be dictated by behavior first. It must look so ridiculous watching me craft a character, just sauntering around my room in a wig trying to "find them."

How do you balance character work with stand-up or sketch? Are they different creative muscles for you?

Stand-up is such a spectrum of things these days. I'm really inspired by comedians like Chris Fleming, Maria Bamford, Melissa Villasenor. Sometimes I'll do a set that's entirely character. For example, last week, I was just introduced as "A Woman Who's Never Been Here Before." So dumb, so fun. But I've been playing a lot with integrating characters and act outs into my stand-up. Those comedians I mentioned earlier deviate so much from the traditional joke format and go on these gorgeous tangents, play with voices, singing, impressions, act outs. I hope that my set always feels like a mystery box of "What the heck is she gonna do next?"

You’re about to appear opposite Leanne Morgan in her new Netflix series. What can you tell us about your role and the vibe of the show?

First of all, the show is very funny. Leanne is absolutely brilliant, and a sunflower in human form. A wickedly funny sunflower. The dynamic between her and Kristen on the show, you fall in love with them instantly. The show is sweet, heart forward, cheeky. A love letter to sitcoms. It's really got something for everyone. I play Leanne's daughter Josie, who is a real wildcard. She's on a quest to find herself. Super strong willed. She's the mischief. Unlike her brother who's the golden child. Your social media sketches are beloved and uniquely oddball.

How has Instagram, and platforms like 'Dropout' or 'Comedy Bang Bang', helped you shape your comedic voice?

I'm so so grateful for podcasts like 'Comedy Bang Bang'. That really made me fall in love with character. Ego Nwodim has some of the funniest characters I've ever heard on 'Comedy Bang Bang'. 'Comedy Bang Bang' has made many a road trip whiz by. To get to be on it is a dream. I hope for many more appearances. I love 'Dropout' so much. Some of the most prolific improvisers and sketch comedians in the game. I'm especially in love with Very Important People these days. I'm convinced Vic Michaelis can do literally anything. They're unreal. Everytime I'm on 'Dropout', I feel like a giddy kid getting to play make believe with my friends. I've been so appreciative of social media over the years, and annoyed by it too, of course due to how freaking easy it is to just open that app and scroll. But, it's been a way to immortalize characters, for them to live somewhere as we wait for the next job. To help cultivate and hone in on our own individual creative voices. I've found some of my favorite comedians ever on Instagram, like my pal Richard Perez.

Do you treat your online content as its own art form, or more as an experimental playground for ideas?

I use social media as a little bit of both. One could argue that there was a time when I was a bit too experimental. Just throwing up anything and everything that I was thinking. But also that's kind of the beauty of all these performers online. You've got some putting up super polished sketches and some more off the cuff musings. I think it's a great incubator for material.

You’re now directing too. What stories or themes are you drawn to behind the camera?

As far as directing goes, I'm really just looking for compelling storytellers. Something meaty, character driven. A show that isn't afraid to dive into deeper themes. I'm directing my husband's solo show 'QFWFQ' at the moment and it's been incredibly rewarding. Their story is in essence an exploration of the way we tell stories, so a lot of things I love, chocked into one, including my husband. I also love fantasy, surrealism, playing with time and space. But I'd also love to direct some super hard comedy, like 'Barb and Star' or 'Zoolander'. Just ridiculous, over the top, peak silly.

What’s next in this phase of your career? What are most eager to create, perform, or direct next? So hard to say what's next. I'm ending the summer in a production of 'Midsummer Night's Dream' with Red Ink Ensemble. My first time doing Shakespeare. I'll be playing Lysander. I'm really trying to do things that challenge me or scare me. I also have a new solo show, so I'll be announcing dates for that. And we'll be announcing more 'QFWFQ' dates soon so stay tuned for that. And, I hope, more Leanne.

CREDITS

photography SONYA KATRINA