WE ❤ MIRANDA
Comedian Miranda Hart tells heat why being silly is good for your health
We’ve just commemorated throwing some rubbish in the bin by doing a ridiculously over-the-top goal celebration, earning us more than a few bemused glances in the process. Why did we do it? Because Miranda Hart told us to.
The 44-year-old comedian has a new book out entitled Miranda’s
Daily Dose Of Such Fun! in which she details 365 lighthearted daily tasks that we can all do to make ourselves happy, or bring a little joy to someone else. It encourages us to gallop in public, wink at 17 people, buy a gift for a stranger and even tuck ourselves into a shop-display bed (we’re still building up the courage for that one).
While the tasks are brilliantly bonkers and had us Lol-ling at our desks, there is, of course, a serious point to it all. Research has shown that a moment of fun in the day, done repeatedly, can reduce fatigue and stress. So, as Miranda puts it, “There’s science behind the silliness.”
Miranda’s proceeds from the self-help book will go towards Miranda’s Fund, which she set up within Comic Relief and aims to help anyone suffering from anxiety and depression. So, if you buy it, you’ll not only make yourself happy (trust us, it really does work), but you’ll feel all warm and fuzzy from doing a good deed, too. Time to find out more from the great lady herself…
What made you write this book?
I shall tell you exactly. Are you sitting comfortably? Then I shall begin. Over the last few years, I have opened my eyes a little more to the world, partly
due to working for charity. As soon as you do that, you realise that life can be, well, very tough. For everyone. Last year, politically, things fell apart to say the least. We were losing a lot of wonderful people from the arts in quick succession. I knew a lot of friends going through a hard time, and then I lost a dear friend who was only my age.
All good reasons…
In tough times, we can either choose to succumb – and sometimes it’s impossible not to and we have to “go there” – or we can choose to be brave and fight against our instincts to hide away and give in to the negativity. And that’s when I had the idea for the book. What about something silly and easy to do that brightens up each day? I did some research, and having a fun moment every day, bringing play into your life, and doing random acts of kindness were all proven to be stress and anxiety reducers. So, I began coming up with 365 silly tasks, one for every day of the year. I enjoyed coming up with them and writing the book – it helped me feel lighter – and I have been really loving doing the tasks myself this year. My book actually works, people!
Which challenges have you done recently?
I was having a tricky day with work stress recently, so I decided to look up the entry for that day. It was to go and give a flower to a stranger. I went to my local garden centre, bought a little plant, and found a stranger in the street to give it to. She said I had made her day, because she was having a difficult day, and I said she had made my day by saying that I’d made her day. We had a lovely chat we would never normally have had, and I felt like I had done something reallyand kind. fun How have you channelled your inner child today? I did an entry from my book today, which was to do a prepared or improvised dance routine over a zebra crossing to make the people in the waiting cars laugh. I did it with my family, and a bus happened to stop – they all waved and clapped, and we bowed. Brilliant! But how do people react to your general acts of silliness – do they embrace it? I have had to road-test my daily doses of fun, because I feel if I can’t do them, then it’s not fair to ask others to. A nd sometimes they can be a bit shy-making, but every time it’s made someone laugh or they have joined in, and it’s provided a lovely, fun, connecting moment. It proves that we need to channel our inner child and inner silly more, and ultimately connection is what we need.
Has it ever gone wrong? Ever got yourself in a sticky situation, so to speak?
It hasn’t gone wrong yet. I’m hoping the only sticky situation I get myself into is a planned one. I seem to remember there’s an entry in the book for later in the year about baking with treacle…
What’s the one question no one’s ever asked you?
Well, that in itself is an interesting question to be asked. I hate small talk, so I would always like questions to be more penetrating – pardon – so that you get to know people deeper.
What advice would you give your younger self now?
JUST CHILL OUT ABOUT IT ALL, FOR HEAVEN’S SAKE! A ll those worries were just that, none of them actually came true. And if they did, they were manageable and a learning curve.
When you were little, what did you want to be?
A farmer’s wife, a tennis champion or a comedy actress. One down, two to go.
Of all your celebrity pals, who’s the one guaranteed to make you laugh?
Me! JOKE. I recently had a lovely evening with Ruby Wax. Her wealth of stories and the way she tells them – you can’t not be in stitches. Miriam Margolyes is the same. Also, there is never not silliness when Sarah Hadland and I are together – it’s just in our friendship DNA.
You say it’s important to indulge yourself – what was your last great indulgence?
Watching a couple of episodes of a current TV series IN THE DAY TIME! I know. It’s important to keep the indulgences cheap, easy and as simple as possible, so everyday you give yourself a little treat. Us Brits aren’t very good at any kind of selfcongratulation or indulgence. But emotional wellbeing is all about being kind to yourself.
What’s your ideal meal to treat yourself with?
Probably a full-on roast. I’m going to go chicken, so then I can have bread sauce and stuffing. But
‘When I was little, I wanted to be a farmer’s wife or a tennis champ’
I will also bung a Yorkshire pudding on there, too, which I know is cheating. And apple crumble and custard for pudding, please.
What advice do you have for heat readers to make them smile?
Buy my book, obvs! I am only being so blatant as all my proceeds go to Comic Relief. I also would suggest that once they have read this wonderful heat issue they are reading, then tear the middle pages out and fashion a hat. Bravely wear it socially.
You say in your book that it’s good to express pent-up emotions. What’s the last thing that made you blow your top?
When I get angry, it’s usually at myself. I put a lot of pressure on myself to get things right. So I even get angry at myself when I am angry at myself. I am working on it.
You enjoy dancing – would you ever take to the Strictly
Come Dancing dance floor? And who would be your ideal dance partner?
Ian Waite is the only dance partner who is tall enough for me. Luckily, I love him and think he is fab. I would love to do Strictly – if it wasn’t on telly. I think anyone who does it is so brave. I am now learning to dance for a musical theatre role I start at the end of May, and it’s very hard when you haven’t danced before – very exposing and vulnerable-making. So, anyone who does a different dance every week on Strictly, well, my hat – made from the pages of a heat magazine – goes firmly off to them.
Finally, tell us three things that make you happy…
Animals, in particular my dog, Peggy. Animals have always made me smile – their behaviours and brilliant silly faces. I will get myself pronto to a Youtube animal clip for guaranteed mirth. Watching other people happy and laughing. And when someone farts. Do I really need an explanation? Always funny.