Life's good and all, but what happens when you come across someone with the same name as you on a net worth ranking website. . . Someone clearly doing much better?!
Comedian Nicolette Minster had this happen to her – and it made her evaluate everything and embark on a journey to really find herself. Is the bot-generated Nicolette living the life that was meant for real-life Nicolette?
Nicolette's time in the world of the arts growing up (including training as an actor on the Goldfields of regional Victoria and even featuring alongside Meryl Streep) has led to her appearing on a number of television shows and in film, as well as earning her writing credits for screen work. It has also earned her a career in comedy, and now she's taking her live show 'Nicolette Minster's Net Worth' on the road.
Before she faces all the questions she has for the bot-generated version of herself and delves into her show run at Adelaide Fringe, we spoke to Nicolette.
Firstly, what’s your show all about?
It’s all about being happy. . . Until you discover an alternate version of yourself online, and consequently sliding into the DMs of complete strangers on a journey to find yourself. There’s also some economics chat. But don’t worry, you won’t learn anything.
How did you come across your NetWorthRanks listing?!
I said “BEETLEJUICE*” three times. It backfired.
*Yes, yes, I know it’s really spelt Betelgeuse, nerds.
And where did you begin when it came to crafting a show around this?
I asked my friend, colleague and all-round antagonist Sammy J if he thought it might make a decent show and he stupidly agreed to direct it. I think we’ve all imagined how our lives might’ve been different, I just didn’t expect Google to report my alternate existence with such specific detail.
How would you describe your comedy style to someone new to Nicolette?
I’m a bit like the infamous McDonald’s Grilled Chicken Burger – flashy, confident and designed to please, but will ultimately overpromise and end in litigation.
What drew you to comedy when you first began?
I was looking for a way to make my DVD of Mike Myers’ 2008 smash hit 'The Love Guru' into a tax deduction.
Why do you think it’s such an effective and lasting form of entertainment?
Because comedians are like noxious weeds, making them very difficult to kill off but the good ones always leave you on a high.
Speaking of throwbacks, you featured alongside Meryl Streep at age three?! What! Tell us more!
Like all movie stars Meryl is very small in real life, so I was cast in a movie at age three, at a perfectly average height for a three-year-old to help make Meryl look taller. My NDA re: this just expired, so I decided it was time to monetise.
What are you looking forward to about presenting your show as part of Adelaide Fringe?
Sitting down to an ice cold Farmers Union Iced Coffee with each and every one of my audience after the show. Sounds like a logistical nightmare, but the team at Rhino Room are the greatest and if Farmers Union are reading, please forward them 400 of your best milks.
Nicolette Minster plays Drama Llama at Rhino Room (Adelaide Fringe) 28 February-4 March.
