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Movies & TV

14th Aug 2015

Five things that you need to know about… Amy Schumer

She's the next big thing in comedy

Paul Moore

She’s the next big thing in comedy.

Judd Apatow knows comedic talent when he sees it. After all, this is the man that helped launch the careers of Jonah Hill, Seth Rogen, James Franco, Steve Carell and Jason Segel to name just a few.

I’d wager that most of the films that Apatow has been involved with are in your DVD collection right now.

Knocked Up, Anchorman, The 40-Year-Old Virgin, Superbad and Forgetting Sarah Marshall have all benefited form his Midas touch and the director is back with a new feature that has already conquered the US Box-office, Trainwreck.

Amy Schumer

The incredibly talented Amy Schumer takes the lead in this one, so here are 5 things that you need to know about a comedian whose career looks set to go stratospheric.

1) The call to comedy came early

Schumer is a classically-trained actress having studied at Towson University, graduating with a degree in theater in 2003, but it seems that she was more interested in making people laugh.

Her first break was in the the Broadway show Keeping Abreast where she portrayed a woman with breast cancer – Schumer’s own father has multiple sclerosis and she’s never been afraid to use comedy for cathartic effect – but her career really took off with Comedy Central’s reality show Last Comic Standing.

Since then she hasn’t looked back after landing parts in Reality Bites Back, A Different Spin, Delocated, Louie, 30 Rock and a memorable slot on The Roasting of Charlie Sheen to name but a few.

2) Inside Amy Schumer

Sometimes a comedian seems like they’re the perfect fit for the times that they’re living in because her sketch show ‘Inside Amy Schumer’ is one of the most poignant, accurate and insightful pieces of comedy on TV.

By playing a heightened version of herself, Schumer is able to examine a broad array of issues including sexuality, gender inequality, dating and pop-culture.

Don’t worry though because there’s plenty of dick and fart jokes on offer also.

3) She’s more than a writer, producer, comedian and actor

Unlike other VMA hosts who you might be able to describe as vacuous or throw-away, Schumer has taken on an increased cultural importance after recent tragic events.

Not only is she an important voice for feminism and equality, but her articulate response to a recent tragedy that occurred at a Trainwreck screening is a must read.

NEW YORK, NY - JULY 13:  Amy Schumer attends Meet The Filmmaker at Apple Store Soho to discuss her new film 'Trainwreck' on July 13, 2015 in New York City.  (Photo by Jenny Anderson/WireImage)

4) You might see her in Ireland

She’s in Ireland for the premiere of Trainwreck, alongside the director Judd Apatow, so there’s a chance that you might see her.

5) Trainwreck is great

Don’t take our word for it but rather a man that knows a few things about comedy.

Take a look at the trailer and we guarantee that you’re going to love this film when it’s released in Irish cinemas.

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