Comedian Rosie Jones: ‘No matter how hard I work, people will always judge me on how I talk, how I walk’

Born in Bridlington, east Yorkshire, Rosie Jones, 32, worked as a television researcher while studying comedy writing at the National Film and Television School. She became a comedian and a regular on shows such as The Last Leg. This year, Channel 4 commissioned her to make a documentary on ableism and abuse. She is the author of The Amazing Edie Eckhart children’s books about a girl with cerebral palsy. In March, Jones starts her first UK tour, Triple Threat. She lives in London.

What is your greatest fear?
Not being liked.

What is the trait you most deplore in others?
Falseness.

What was your most embarrassing moment?
One time I got so drunk in the Soho theatre in London that I fell asleep in the disabled toilet for two hours. People still call the toilet Rosie’s Bedroom.

What is your most treasured possession?
I met a disabled activist called Barbara Lisicki who campaigned for the Disability Discrimination Act 1995. They all wore T-shirts that said “Piss on Pity”. Their idea was, don’t give us pity – we don’t need it – what we need are rights. Barbara gave me one of the T-shirts and I’ve framed it. Without that T-shirt I wouldn’t have the job I have, the life I lead, the house I bought. That T-shirt is everything.

Describe yourself in three words
Funny, happy idiot.

What makes you unhappy?
Unfortunately, I am met with ableism and abuse every day. When I leave my house I’m on my guard because I don’t know what anyone will say to me and that upsets me. No matter how hard I work, no matter how successful I get, there are always going to be people who judge me on how I talk, how I walk.

What is your most unappealing habit?
I very regularly eat crisps in bed at night. I will wake up to crisps in my duvet, on my pillow, in my hair.

Who is your celebrity crush?
Jodie Comer and Gillian Anderson.

What is the worst thing anyone’s said to you?
“You’re not funny.” I fully understand why my comedy might not be right for everyone, but don’t tell me, get on with your day!

What do you owe your parents?
Everything, because they never held me back and they never saw my disability as a problem. Even though I get abuse and discrimination, I don’t care because I grew up in a loving and accepting family.

What or who is the greatest love of your life? Comedy. Through comedy you can sneakily change the world. If I didn’t have comedy, I would be a very sad girl.

What was the best kiss of your life?
The first kiss I had with a girl. It wasn’t romantic, I don’t remember her name. It was in a gay bar in Soho: I was 25, and up until then I’d been desperately kissing all the boys, thinking, “I think I like girls, but it makes more sense if I’m straight.” Then I kissed her and everything made sense, and I didn’t kiss another boy after that.

What did you dream about last night?
I don’t dream – maybe because I’m living the dream.

What do you consider your greatest achievement?
My books. There’s no greater feeling than a disabled child coming up to me and saying, “I’ve never seen myself in a book before.”

What keeps you awake at night?
Deadlines.

How would you like to be remembered?
As someone who was happy, silly and went out there, unafraid, and did what she wanted to do.