Mel House is addicted (to comedy)
Mel House, a classically trained award-winning actress, has played roles from Shakespeare to Ibsen, working off-Broadway, regionally, and internationally, and originating roles for the web, film, and TV. In 2019, she played a recurring role in the series Trace Me. She toured with The Baby Monitor–a new play about same-sex parenting–at Belgrade’s National Theatre in Serbia and Dublin’s Gay International Theatre Festival. In 2020, she played opposite Chad Coleman in the award-winning film, Broken Bird, which premiered at the Berlin International Film Festival and SXSW.
What were you like as a teen?
Total nerd. Wanted to be cool. Tried smoking for ‘cred, but no one was impressed. I got addicted anyway and smoked Marlboro Reds for over a decade. In my defense, it was the 90s and cigarettes were only two dollars a pack! Despite smoking like it was my job, I was pretty good on ice skates. I was devastated when Margot Robbie stole the role that I was meant to play…Tonya Harding. She totally murdered that role, but I would have brought an interesting weirdness and authenticity to it. So if anyone wants to work on that story, hit me up!
Did you have an un-sexy starter job?
My starter job was actually pretty great. I was a Public Programmer for the Maryland Science Center. I used to do stage shows about science-related topics like Optical Illusions, Liquid Nitrogen, and Animals (ferrets, chinchillas, and our 12-foot python Sid). I would do 2-3 shows a day and spend the rest of the day wandering around the museum with an explainer cart teaching people weird and fun science shit.
What do you consider to be your biggest comedy achievement to date?
I wrote, produced, and starred in a comedy TV pilot called HOT ANGRY MOM. In 2023-24, HOT ANGRY MOM screened at 23 festivals worldwide, was nominated for 51 awards, and won 20, including Best TV Pilot, Director, Ensemble Cast, Actress, and an award for Representation of Women in Film. We cut it into a web series, which was ranked #2 in the U.S. and #5 in the world in the Web Series World Cup, a ranking of 600 web series on the international circuit. We released the web series on YouTube for Mother’s Day 2024 – go check it out, like, comment, share and subscribe!
When you were coming up in comedy, what helped you stick with it?
It’s an addiction. So, I’m pretty sure there’s no way out!
Have you ever dealt with trolls?
At first, I took it very personally! And I took the time to respond like I could inspire someone to embrace their humanity and be better. Now I don’t engage and delete. And I try to think of those voices, like some of the crazy negative voices in my own head, and remember that it’s just madness passing through. I don’t need to believe it or give it energy.
On your deathbed, what transcendent advice would you croak at a young comedian?
Breathe. Assume your Brilliance.
Best comedy advice you ever got?
It’s all a game. Don’t take yourself so seriously! Breathe Follow your pleasure There is always room for more pleasure Failure is necessary to move forward Our ideas are stupid Our humanity is gorgeous. Moments of delight, awe, magic, and laughter come from your humanity, as you embrace the unknown Let go, let go some more, FUCKING LET GO!!!
Worst comedy advice you ever got?
Be funnier.
How has being funny helped you in your life?
Am I funny?! Making people laugh feels good. I notice that people are more open and willing to connect with me if I make them laugh. But some people just aren’t your people, so if they don’t laugh…just stare at them, like they’re the weird ones.
What specific things can a novice comedy writer do to shape their voice?
Live. Be curious. Read a lot. Get to know yourself – what makes you laugh? What outrages you? What do you know that the world should know? Developing yourself develops your voice and gives you lots of interesting things to write about.
Was there one person who inspired you to go into comedy?
Every woman who makes us laugh opens doors for all the girls. A few of the women who make my face hurt from smiling hard include Carol Burnett, Tiny Fey, Amy Poehler, Issa Rae, Phoebe Waller-Bridge, Michelle Buteau, Ali Wong…I really could keep going.
Do you have a writing routine?
I do morning pages most days. That’s three pages of automatic writing to get the brain junk jiggling. If I’m working on a long-form script, I like to write in the mornings. So I’ll clear the first 4 hours of my day, when possible. I’m a little woo-woo, so I like to light a candle, set an intention, and play focusing music or something in the right mood. I also have writing communities–people whom I co-work with, share pages with, and let me quickly pull together a team of fab actors to read pages aloud.
What is your go-to show or movie?
Bridesmaids or Killing Eve.
What single word always cracks you up?
Hornswoggle.
