Camille O’Sullivan On … Being an Edinburgh Chameleon

It’s my sixth year at the Edinburgh Fringe – 2004 was the first time I got the confidence to venture, having been invited by the Wigwam Tent. Days before it started, the company went belly up leaving me nowhere to perform. Luckily David Bates of The Spiegeltent invited me to perform my own show, and to be part of their new show La Clique. So many things came out of that one kind invitation – running away with the Spiegel Circus, and I was delighted to be part of La Clique West End run, which received an Olivier award in 2009.

Out of that first season in 2004 I couldn’t have predicted my luck: One night, Ewen Bremner was in the audience. Afterwards Stephen Frears called saying he was searching for a Vaudeville star for his film Mrs Henderson Presents – I thought someone was playing a joke! (Ewen had phoned him straight after the show). It was so exciting to get the part, then discovering Judi Dench, Bob Hoskins were in it and my singing partner was Will Young!

I don’t think it’d have happened if I hadn’t performed in Edinburgh. I lost money and had been scared to go but, it was so worth the risk. With the Edinburgh Fringe, you never know who’s watching and what might come out of it.

I also enjoy the Fringe’s madness! Last year in the Assembly bar I was persuaded to wear a Scooby Doo costume (not much persuasion!) I then saw a friend having a massive argument and was really upset. I went over to comfort her, forgetting I was Scooby, it took her few minutes to realise it was me, and all while this row was going on! I’ll be on the look-out for Scooby this year…

Camille O’Sullivan’s new show Chameleon is on at the Music Hall, Assembly @ George St, 5-30 August at 22.25