In Conversation With...Miranda Hart

Bestselling author and comedienne Miranda Hart talks to us about life lessons, dancing around the kitchen – and writing her first children’s book, The Girl with the Lost Smile

- Nathalie Whittle

Miranda, 45, was raised in Hampshire and completed a degree in politics after school. She spent several years on the stand-up circuit before appearing in comedy series, including Absolutely Fabulous. Her award winning sitcom, Miranda – which she wrote and starred in – began in 2009 and, in 2012, she began appearing in the BBC drama Call the Midwife, playing ‘Chummy’. Miranda penned her first book, Is It Just Me?, later that year, followed by The Best of Miranda and Peggy & Me. Her first children’s book, The Girl with the Lost Smile, is out now. Miranda lives in London.

It never crossed my mind that I could be a writer.

I loved reading plays when I was younger, as I imagined myself acting in them, but I never thought I could write scripts. And then I just had this feeling that I wasn’t going to get work as an actress or a comedienne without writing my own stuff and showing people what I could do. So it began as a means to perform. But I am grateful that it’s now one of my favourite parts of my job. Quite the journey!

I realise, in hindsight, that the books I loved growing up were all to do with space.

Not as in outer space, but things that gave me a sense of space – the countryside, school holidays, adventures with your friends or siblings. Things that took all pressure off and were just fun, fun, fun, like Swallows and Amazons, Peter Pan, The Famous Five and Beatrix Potter books. If anything was too scary or complex, I remember putting it down!

I’m rather excited about my first children’s book.