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Sofie Hagen

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Sofie Hagen
Hagen in 2017
Born (1988-11-10) November 10, 1988 (age 35)
MediumStand-up
NationalityDanish
Websitesofiehagen.com

Sofie Hagen is a London-based Danish comedian,[1] author, podcaster, fashion designer,[2] and fat acceptance campaigner. She has toured with comedy shows, released a book and hosted and co-hosted a number of podcasts.

Biography

[edit]

Sofie Hagen was born in Denmark, on 10 November 1988.[3]

Hagen started doing stand-up in Danish in 2010, in Copenhagen.[4] In 2012, Hagen performed on Danish TV show Zulu Comedy Galla.

Hagen moved to London in September 2012 to perform regular comedy.[5] In 2013, Time Out identified Hagen as "One to Watch".[6] Hagen won the Laughing Horse New Act of the Year the same year.[7] In 2014, Hagen won the Chortle Best Newcomer Award for which Hagen was nominated alongside Pierre Novellie, Tim Renkow and Jonny Pelham.[8]

In August 2015, Hagen took the debut hour show, Bubblewrap, to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. The show was favourably received, with 5-star reviews from ThreeWeeks, The Skinny, and the Daily Mirror.[9][10][11] Bubblewrap also received 4 star reviews from Chortle, Time Out, Beyond the Joke, The Herald, The Sunday Times and Fest Magazine.[12][13][14][15][16][17] The show won the Fosters sponsored Edinburgh Comedy Awards for Best Newcomer.[18] In November, Virago Press Hagen published an essay in the collection I Call Myself a Feminist.[19]

In July 2016, Hagen appeared in the Channel 4 miniseries Outsiders.[20] Hagen took their second solo show, Shimmer Shatter to the Edinburgh Festival Fringe in August.[21][22] Hagen attempted to make the next tour welcoming for fans with anxiety issues by allowing them to make contact before shows to let Hagen know their needs. Hagen asked the majority of venues on the tour to provide gender neutral toilets.[23]

The Guardian describes Hagen on stage as having "an easy charm ... and an ability to combine delicate subject matter with big, accessible laughs."[24]

Hagen took the third solo show Dead Baby Frog to the Edinburgh Festival Fringe in August 2017. The show about childhood trauma[25] was described as "urgent, raw and confessional" by The Guardian[26] and "a compelling tale of resistance and breaking free from the shackles of tyranny" by The List.[27]

Hagen espouses the fat acceptance movement. In January 2018, Hagen wrote an article in The Guardian calling for people to stop dieting, labelling it as "boring", "triggering", and "neither feminist – nor healthy".[28] In February 2018, Hagen gained attention for calling for Cancer Research UK to pull their controversial [29][30][31] campaign that, based on cancer research, listed obesity as the second most common cause of cancer. After directing comments towards the cancer charity on Twitter,[32] Hagen described the campaign as "dangerous".[33]

In 2019, Hagen took the fourth solo show The Bumswing to the Edinburgh Festival Fringe. The List wrote "everything has a purpose in this beautifully created narrative with an apparently deliciously unreliable narrator." about the show, which Hagen described as being " about memory and swings specifically for bums".[34]

In 2019, Hagen had a debut book Happy Fat – Taking Up Space in a World That Wants to Shrink You published by 4th Estate. The book is described as "part memoir, part social commentary, Happy Fat is a funny, angry and impassioned look at how taking up space can be radical, emboldening and life-changing."[35]

From 2020-2023 Hagen co-hosted a BBC Sounds true crime podcast Bad People with psychologist and popular science writer Julia Shaw.[36]

In her second book, Will I Ever Have Sex Again?, Hagen discusses being celibate for several years after experiencing rejection, humiliation, and sexual assault. The book was published by Blink in May 2024.[37][38]

Personal life

[edit]

Hagen identifies as bisexual[39] and nonbinary, stating "My pronouns are whatever. She/they/he, whatever you want."[40]

Awards

[edit]
  • 2012 – Funny Women Awards – Finalist[41]
  • 2012 – Leicester Square Theatre New Comedian of the Year 2012 – 3rd place[42]
  • 2013 – Laughing Horse New Act of the Year – Winner[7]
  • 2014 – Chortle Awards Best Newcomer – Winner[43]
  • 2015 – Fosters' Best Newcomer Award – Winner[18]
  • 2016 – Danish Comedian of the Year – Nominee[44]

Podcasts

[edit]

Hagen hosted Comedians Telling Stuff, a podcast series where they ask six questions of six comedians.[45] The show began in August 2013 and ran for nine seasons before ending in 2016.[46][47] Guests have included Susan Calman, Nick Helm, Richard Herring, Michael Legge, Josie Long, Colin Mochrie, Pappy's, Katherine Ryan, Ian Boldsworth and Arthur Smith, as well as younger comedians and comedians from Denmark.[48]

From December 2015 to December 2016, Hagen co-hosted The Guilty Feminist podcast with Deborah Frances-White.[49]

In 2016, Hagen created the Made of Human comedy podcast, in which they interview various comedians.[50] The New Statesman named Made of Human one of their top 10 podcasts in 2017.[51] The Blurt Foundation named Made of Human one of their top 10 podcasts in 2018.[52] Hannah Parkinson from The Guardian interviewed Hagen about Made of Human when they visited Edinburgh and named it a top podcast from the Edinburgh Fringe Festival.[53] Hagen has interviewed many notable guests including Cameron Esposito, Aisling Bea, Mark Watson, Lolly Adefope, Hari Kondabolu, Nish Kumar, Katherine Ryan, and Sara Pascoe.[54] In 2020, Hagen changed the name of the Made of Human Podcast to Who Hurt You?.

In 2018, Hagen created the Secret Dinosaur Cult podcast with fellow comedian Jodie Mitchell. Their episodes were recorded in front of a live audience in London, at their so-called cult meetings. The podcast ended on April 11, 2020 after 48 episodes, due to COVID.[55]

From 2020 to 2023, Hagen co-hosted a true crime podcast on BBC Radio 4, Bad People with criminal psychologist Julia Shaw.[56]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Hagen, Sofie [@SofieHagen] (3 July 2020). "My pronouns are whatever BUT what I am NOT is a woman/lady/girl/female/comedienne/Miss/Ma'am/Queen/Goddess. I am person/human/Sofie/comedian/Mx/Sir/Daddy/King/God. Thank you very much" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  2. ^ Bennett, Steve. "Sofie Hagen launches her own clothing range : Punching Up 2019: Chortle: The UK Comedy Guide". chortle.co.uk. Retrieved 25 April 2021.
  3. ^ Hagen, Sofie [@SofieHagen] (10 November 2014). "It's my birthday. I turn 26. If you want to give me a present, you can donate a bit to my podcast: http://www.comedianstellingstuff.com/ p.s. I love you" (Tweet). Archived from the original on 13 June 2017 – via Twitter.
  4. ^ "Sofie Hagen answers 10 Edinburgh Fringe Questions – 2015 Edinburgh Fringe". British Comedy Guide. 2 August 2015. Retrieved 25 April 2021.
  5. ^ Hotson, Elizabeth (24 May 2013). "Foreign comedians stand up for the UK". BBC Business. Retrieved 18 September 2015.
  6. ^ "One to watch: Sofie Hagen". 6 February 2013. Retrieved 7 October 2015.
  7. ^ a b "Past Years Winners and Runners Up". laughinghorsecomedy.co.uk. Retrieved 18 September 2015.
  8. ^ "Chortle Awards : Awards 2014 : Chortle : The UK Comedy Guide". chortle.co.uk. Retrieved 25 April 2021.
  9. ^ Shannon, Ben (27 August 2015). "ED2015 Comedy Review: Sofie Hagen – Bubblewrap (Sofie Hagen / PBH's Free Fringe)". ThreeWeeks. Retrieved 18 September 2015.
  10. ^ Venables, Ben (14 August 2015). "Fringe Comedy Reviews: Three Top Newcomers". The Skinny. Retrieved 18 September 2015.
  11. ^ Nicholson, John (24 August 2015). "Top 5 jokes from the Edinburgh Festival today plus Joseph Morpurgo, Sofie Hagen, Garrett Millerick, Daphne Do Edinburgh and Alfie Brown reviews". The Mirror. Retrieved 18 September 2015.
  12. ^ Fleckney, Paul (13 August 2015). "Sofie Hagen: Bubblewrap". Chortle. Retrieved 7 October 2015.
  13. ^ "Sofie Hagen: Bubblewrap". 21 August 2015. Retrieved 7 October 2015.
  14. ^ Dessau, Bruce (15 August 2015). "Edinburgh Fringe Review: Sofie Hagen, Liquid Room Annexe". Retrieved 7 October 2015.
  15. ^ Anderson, Gayle (27 August 2015). "Fringe Comedy reviews: Tez Ilyas, Pleasance Courtyard; Eleanor Tiernan, Laughing Horse@The White Horse; Sofie Hagen, The Liquid Rooms and George Next Door". The Herald. Glasgow. Retrieved 18 September 2015.
  16. ^ Armstrong, Stephen (23 August 2015). "Crowning glories". Sunday Times. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 7 October 2015.
  17. ^ Beswick, Evan (23 August 2015). "Sofie Hagen: Bubblewrap". Archived from the original on 15 October 2015. Retrieved 7 October 2015.
  18. ^ a b "Best Newcomers". Fosters Edinburgh Comedy Awards. Archived from the original on 6 October 2013. Retrieved 18 September 2015.
  19. ^ Williams, Holly (20 November 2015). "I Call Myself a Feminist and Letter to a Young Generation: 'From zinging truth to giddy faith' – book reviews". The Independent. Retrieved 16 August 2016.
  20. ^ Henry, Anne (10 August 2016). "Depressed about Brexit? Outsiders is the comedy that makes you want to stay in". The Guardian. Retrieved 16 August 2016.
  21. ^ Logan, Brian (8 August 2016). "Sofie Hagen at Edinburgh festival review – love, neuroses and laser-guided gags". The Guardian. Retrieved 16 August 2016.
  22. ^ Donaldson, Brian (15 August 2016). "Sofie Hagen: Shimmer Shatter". The List. Retrieved 16 August 2016.
  23. ^ "Sofie Hagen aims for 'reduced-anxiety' gigs". Chortle. 23 September 2016. Retrieved 17 January 2017.
  24. ^ Logan, Brian (29 August 2015). "Sam Simmons wins the Foster's Edinburgh comedy award 2015". The Guardian. Retrieved 18 September 2015.
  25. ^ "Sofie Hagen Reveals The Inspiration For Her New Show 'Dead Baby Frog'". LadyFirst. Archived from the original on 25 April 2021. Retrieved 25 April 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  26. ^ "Sofie Hagen's new show is raw, urgent and confessional … but is it comedy?". The Guardian. 14 December 2017. Retrieved 25 April 2021.
  27. ^ "Sofie Hagen: Dead Baby Frog". Edinburgh Festival. 4 August 2017. Retrieved 25 April 2021.
  28. ^ Hagen, Sofie (15 January 2018). "Why I'm giving up January diets for life – and why you should ditch yours too". The Guardian. Retrieved 1 March 2018.
  29. ^ MBE, Natasha Devon (3 July 2019). "Cancer Research's obesity campaign isn't just misguided – it's dangerous". Metro. Retrieved 25 April 2021.
  30. ^ "Cancer Charity Slammed Again For 'Shaming' Advert Likening Obesity To Smoking". HuffPost. 1 July 2019. Retrieved 25 April 2021.
  31. ^ "Five reasons why CR UK's obesity campaign is flawed". Retrieved 3 July 2019.
  32. ^ "People who see the Cancer Research obesity ad as fat-shaming are deluded". Retrieved 30 March 2019.
  33. ^ Horton, Helena (1 March 2018). "Award-winning comedian accuses Cancer Research of 'fat-shaming' for launching campaign against obesity". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 1 March 2018.
  34. ^ "Sofie Hagen: The Bumswing". Edinburgh Festival. 4 August 2019. Retrieved 25 April 2021.
  35. ^ "Happy Fat: Taking Up Space in a World That Wants to Shrink You". 4th Estate. Retrieved 25 April 2021.
  36. ^ "New true crime podcast Bad People presented by Dr Julia Shaw and Sofie Hagen, comes to BBC Sounds". BBC. 23 July 2020. Retrieved 5 November 2022.
  37. ^ Hagen, Sofie (4 May 2024). "'I haven't had sex in 3,089 days': comedian Sofie Hagen on being celibate for more than eight years". The Guardian. Retrieved 5 May 2024.
  38. ^ "Blink to publish Sofie Hagen's candid exploration of the world of sex". Bonnier Books UK. 30 November 2023. Retrieved 5 May 2024.
  39. ^ Hagen, Sofie (30 March 2018). "Sofie Hagen: The story of how I accidentally came out as bisexual". inews.co.uk. Retrieved 15 October 2021.
  40. ^ Hagen, Sofie [@SofieHagen] (3 July 2020). "Okay, please don't shout at people for referring to me as 'she'. My pronouns are whatever. She/they/he, whatever you want. I also heard that someone had been shouted at for calling me trans, as if that's a slur? I *am* trans because I am not cis. I'm non-binary" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  41. ^ "Funny Women Awards 2012 Finalist – Sofie Hagen". 11 September 2012. Retrieved 14 October 2015.
  42. ^ "New Comedian of the Year". Retrieved 14 October 2015.
  43. ^ "Chortle Awards Winners and Nominees". 10 January 2014. Retrieved 18 September 2015.
  44. ^ "Sofie Hagen joins the great Danes". Chortle. 8 August 2016. Retrieved 16 August 2016.
  45. ^ "Top of the pods: this month's comedy podcast pick". Time Out London. 1 February 2015. Retrieved 18 September 2015.
  46. ^ "In This Very First Episode". Tumblr. 6 August 2013. Retrieved 18 September 2015.
  47. ^ "PODCASTS". Retrieved 5 April 2019.
  48. ^ Hagen, Sofie. "Comedians Telling Stuff". Soundcloud. Archived from the original on 25 October 2015. Retrieved 18 September 2015.
  49. ^ "The Guilty Feminist – The comedy podcast hosted by Deborah Frances-White". guiltyfeminist.com. Retrieved 17 January 2017.
  50. ^ "Sofie Hagen is creating the Made Of Human Podcast | Patreon". Patreon. Retrieved 17 January 2017.
  51. ^ Crampton, Caroline (16 December 2017). "From S-Town to Made of Human: the best podcasts of 2017". New Statesman.
  52. ^ "Mental Health: Our Favourite Podcasts". The Blurt Foundation. 3 May 2018.
  53. ^ Parkinson, Hannah Jane (12 August 2018). "The week in radio and podcasts: Made of Human; The Edinburgh Fringe Show; Reasons to be Cheerful". The Observer. ISSN 0029-7712.
  54. ^ "Made Of Human with Sofie Hagen on Apple Podcasts". Apple Podcasts.
  55. ^ "Secret Dinosaur Cult". Retrieved 13 December 2022.
  56. ^ "BBC Sounds – Bad People".
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