Emma Doran: ‘When I was growing up, a woman’s biggest compliment would be that she was immaculate’

The Irish standup on advice to her younger self, dodgy microphones and why success still makes her feel sick

How did you get into comedy?

I was on maternity leave and, looking back, I may have been having a manic episode. I’d had a long string of admin jobs that I hated. Usually, it was the case that I didn’t know what my job was and nobody else did either. When I was 29, I thought: “I haven’t really done anything creative or put myself out there. Here I am with two kids, what am I doing?” So I signed up for an open mic night. I wasn’t going into comedy for the money – I wanted to see if I could do it.

What inspired your latest show, Emmaculate?

People have asked: “Is it about Madonna’s Immaculate Collection album?” No, it’s not. Although, I do nod to it because when I was in an all-girls school we had a talent show one year and the girl in the year ahead of us sang Like a Virgin. She was six months pregnant and we were all very judgy. I shouldn’t have been because that was me the following year.