If there’s one thing Katherine Ryan is going to do, it’s speak her mind – but even everyone’s favourite quick-witted, sharp-tongued Canadian gets apprehensive about backlash at times.
The stand-up star, 42, has made a name for herself by appearing on various UK TV shows and radio panels, where she has never been backwards in coming forward with her opinions.
Whether it be calling out sexual harassment in comedy, highlighting gender disparity in her industry, or roasting a fellow celebrity for some outlandish antics, you name it, Katherine’s probably addressed it.
And it’s the very thing that’s made her so popular over the years, despite the lashings of criticism and DMs from offended trolls she receives as a result.
However, even Katherine admits that, at times, she’s treading on thin ice.
Speaking exclusively to Metro, the actress reflects on her rise to stardom and how she navigates those moments of chaos.
‘I get many backlash most of the time, and that doesn’t bother me at all,’ she begins defiantly. ‘I understand the viral cycle now, where I’ll say something a bit provocative, it’s slightly controversial, it blows up for a couple of days, it gets lots of comments, and then people back off, and I say another provocative thing, and the same cycle happens.
‘There have been a few spicy things that have held on a little longer, but ultimately, being 42, I know who I am, and I speak authentically.’
She adds that ‘if you always tell the truth, you never have to remember what you said,’ and she’s keen to always ‘articulate the best that [she] can with the information [she] has at the time’.
Declaring herself ‘pure of heart’ and never one to willingly cause upset, she says any negative feedback goes in one ear and shoots right out the other.
‘When people find it offensive, it kind of rolls off my back.’
Although following the release of First Born Daughter, her latest Sky stand-up special, she expected to ruffle a few feathers, having certainly not held back when it came to social commentary and pop culture views.
‘I roast celebrities a bit, and I am bracing myself to be like, “I hope I don’t hurt their feelings.”
‘But I have to remind myself, ultimately, it’s not that deep. They’ll get over it.’
‘They should have a sense of humour about themselves,’ she adds of A-listers who are aggrieved by her jokes. ‘If they didn’t do it, I wouldn’t be commenting on it anyway. It’s never too serious.’
Katherine, who moved to the UK permanently in 2008, goes on to celebrate where she is today, unapologetically proud of achieving things she never thought possible.
She recalls ‘lots of little wins along the way,’ but the moment that made her feel most secure was buying her first flat in the capital in 2016.
‘I never imagined myself owning property in London. When I first came here, it seemed like an insurmountable goal that I would never, ever achieve, so when I did, I started thinking, “Maybe you are OK”.’
While still fearful that ‘this could all go away tomorrow’, Katherine has learned to trust that ‘having gratitude attracts other things into your life’, allowing her to feel ‘rich’ even before she was ‘financially solvent’.
But that’s not to say the road to fame and fortune has been a smooth one, as Katherine had to prove her worthiness in a heavily male-dominated industry.
Asked whether she ever felt pressure to physically present in a certain way when starting out due to female beauty standards, The Duchess star insists she’s always remained true to herself.
‘I felt the opposite. I felt pressure to tone it down and be less glamorous and not focus so much on fashion, but I just authentically loved those things, and I felt like it was respectful to the audience that I should be dressed up, because they’re dressed up! It’s a Friday night out at a comedy club. If I’m on stage, I should be the most dressed-up person in the room.
‘The men I saw on stage, who were doing the big shiny floor Saturday night shows, would be in smart suits, so I wasn’t about to rock up in some frumpy attire.
‘I never felt pressure to do that; I loved doing that, and it came from a very authentic place.’
Katherine’s varied career has seen her tackle all kinds of opportunities, whether it be game shows, podcasting, column writing, or even The Masked Singer (she was a pigeon, of course).
As for her latest venture, the self-proclaimed Canadian icon-in-training has vowed to shake up Brits’ assumptions about one of her country’s delicacies.
Declaring that maple syrup is far from a seasonal treat but rather a year-round kitchen essential, she’s partnered with Buckwud to launch a campaign that challenges the nation to think bigger, bolder, and far beyond Pancake Day.
‘It’s a perfect pairing because I love maple syrup, and I am Canadian, and I’m really excited about telling people things that are going to improve their lives. I do that all the time on my podcast, and about relationships and parenting – I really have a lot to say!
‘I do think British people would benefit from knowing all the delicious ways they can use maple syrup. You can put it in your coffee, cocktails, and salad dressings. We use it for a delicious, sweet, and spicy halloumi or a glaze for salmon. It makes things extra luxurious.’
As for what makes her people so ‘iconic’ in general, Katherine believes in the power of the ‘underdog’.
‘Canadians who become really big come out of nowhere; they usually live quite generous, humble lives, they apologise, they’re really nice to everyone.’
‘I hope to become a Canadian icon like Shania Twain or Celine Dion. Even Justin Bieber is a Canadian icon. We have so many. I like to think I’m a Canadian icon-in-training.’
Katherine Ryan proudly teams up with the gud-ness of Buckwud’s Maple Syrup – not just for Pancake Day – available in all major retailers now (RRP £6.20). For more information, visit @buckwud_organic_maple.
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