Monica reveals debt to Gadsby

MONICA Lewinsky has revealed how watching Tasmanian comedian Hannah Gadsby’s award-winning show helped heal some of the pain she still felt from the scandal that rocked the White House.

Ms Lewinsky presented Gadsby with an award at the Australians in Film gala on Hollywood’s historic Paramount Pictures studio lot this week.

Ms Lewinsky’s mid-1990s White House sexual encounters almost ended Bill Clinton’s presidency.

Ms Lewinsky, 45, told the ceremony she found special meaning in Gadsby’s Netflix special, Nanette, where the Australian addressed how the scandal made the former White House intern an “easy punchline”.

“As Hannah so eloquently says, there is nothing stronger than a broken woman who has rebuilt herself,” Ms Lewinsky told the audience of Australian and Hollywood filmmakers and executives at Wednesday’s event.

Gadsby details in the show her life growing up gay in Tasmania, the sexual and physical assaults she suffered and other social issues.

“Her show was surprisingly the only comedy show I have ever balled my eyes out in and, given my history, that was shocking,” Ms Lewinsky said.

Gadsby said it was “not my dream to be here” on stage in Hollywood winning an award.

“I have been overwhelmed how positively this show has been received and how connected I am to the world in a way I honestly did not know how disconnected I was,” Gadsby said.