“the most uninhibitedly entertaining proponent of female empowerment you will see” (Kate Copstick, Scotland on Sunday)
Mystic Jester Samantha Pressdee is on a mission to spread love, truth and laughter! Born in Walsall, one of the most deprived towns in England. Sammie is passionate about people reaching their potential. Described by Kate Copstick in Scotland on Sunday as ‘the most uninhibitedly entertaining proponent of female empowerment you will see’.
Known for political comedy, her #FreeTheNipple activism and her regular appearances on Sky TV’s Psychic Today, she has been performing stand-up comedy for eight years alongside her mystical side hustle as a psychic and spiritual life coach. She is a recent graduate of Ecole Philippe Galier in France. Deciding to spend the pandemic with the French master clown because “Gaulier is the greatest living teacher of clown and modern theatre” according to Sacha Baron Cohen. He knows what he’s talking about!
The pandemic didn’t stop her creating comedy. With web series Love in Lockdown written, produced and starred in by Samantha reaching nearly 30’000 views across social media with a clip also featured on Comedy Unleashed: Quarantined.
Her 2020 show Covered was performed to sold out audiences at the Edinburgh Fringe and was part of her wider mental health awareness campaign ‘Pulling It Together’ which featured insight on taking care of our mental health from fellow comics Juliette Burton, Laura Lexx and Dave Chawner. In 2019 her compilation show Conscious Comedy recieved ★★★★ from Mumble Comedy who called her"A socio-political & cultural butterfly" 2018’s Back 2 Basics was praised as excellent storytelling and very funny with ★★★★ from One4Review. 2016’s ‘Sextremist’ saw Samantha on The Telegraph’s Best Jokes of the Edinburgh Fringe list and was hailed as one of the ‘10 Must See Shows’ from The Huffington Post.
As a writer her work has been published in Chortle, Female First, John Fleming's Blog and the HuffPost. As a social commentator she has appeared on GB News with Alexandra Philips, RT with George Galloway and has regularly guested on James Whale’s Talk Radio show.
Before turning to live comedy Samantha previously worked as a cheerleader, model and actress. As well as teaching pole dancing, burlesque and seduction workshops for women.
As an actress she trained at the prestigious Lee Strasberg Theatre & Film Institute in Hollywood which counts Sienna Miller, Angelina Jolie and Scarlet Johansson among their alumni.
She starred in the feature film Short Trousers by Black Country film maker Nigel Moffatt which won the special Jury Prize at The Colorado Film Festival. With Pineapple Cheerleaders she appeared on MTV, ITV and ITV2.
In 2016 she started her social enterprise ‘Love Muffin Productions’. As well as producing socially conscious work, the aim is to help people feel empowered to reach their full potential.
PRESS
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ "crafted and cheeky jokes intertwined with a startlingly honest account of her struggles" Bunbury Magazine
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ "A socio-political & cultural butterfly" Mumble Comedy
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ "excellent storytelling and very funny" One4Review
"A fascinating insight into a world many people only glimpse, and may just fire up your social conscience too." (Chortle)
"free-thinking, hard-hitting, and anarchic, but delivered with a twinkle in the eye." (Fringepig Magazine)
"brave: her heart on her sleeve, or bare tattooed arm in this case; and her openness about her vulnerability make you want to give her a hug." (Theatrebath.co.uk)
“The content is captivating enough that within minutes you’ve forgotten she’s naked. Pressdee’s performance goes from bold and raunchy to philosophical and vulnerable, in a truly unique show that will keep you guessing all the way through.” (Huffington Post: 10 must see shows at Edinburgh Fringe 2016)
“Hits a rich vein of dark humour, nicely crafted jokes with sharp timing.” (The Times)
“Enjoyable comedy show against shaming women's bodies and sexuality” (Arts Awards Voice)
“The USP of Samantha Pressdee isn’t that she tells jokes with her top off; that she’s some envelope-ripping, boundary breaking Sextremist. Actually, it’s that, regardless of the the bare flesh, she’s an “endearing” stage presence, happy to share her realisation that she can make and live by her own rules rather than anyone else’s.” (Broadway Baby)
SHOWS
2019 COVERED Edinburgh Fringe Festival
2018 CONSCIOUS COMEDY The Minerva Inn, Essington & Edinburgh Fringe Festival
2017 BACK 2 BASICS Edinburgh, Leicester, Manchester & Bath Festivals
2016 SEXTREMIST Edinburgh, Brighton, Camden and Leicester Festivals
2015 CONSUME SHIT & DIE Edinburgh Fringe, The Etcetera Theatre
PODCASTS
2021 RESURRECTING ROMANCE (Host)
2019 PULLING IT TOGETHER (Host)
2016 MEN, SEX & FEMINISM (Host)
ACTING/ DANCE/ MODELING
Various TV & live performances with Pineapple Cheerleaders. Acting credits in TV, Film, Theatre, Commercials and Corporate. Featured in national papers and magazines as a model. (FULL LIST AVAILABLE ON SPOTLIGHT)
TELEVISION & RADIO
Presenter and reader on Psychic Today Sky channel 560, Regular guest on Talk Radio, Channel 5’s How To Have Sex After Marriage, BBC’s Fake Britain, ITV’s Daybreak, BBC’s Inside the Body Beautiful, BBC WM, Noise Radio, Switch Radio, Juice FM, Kerrang Radio, Absolute Radio, Choice FM, Fresh Air Radio.
ACCOLADES
Finalist in Centre of Excellence Awards 2021
The Telegraph’s Best Jokes of Edinburgh Fringe 2016.
Actress in ‘Short Trousers’ winner of the Special Jury Prize at the Colorado Film Festival.
Made countless national and international headlines with her #FreeTheNipple rallies.
Included in Huffington Post’s ‘Ten Must See Edinburgh Fringe Shows 2016'
Winner of ‘I am a Woman’ in Spike’s Defining the Norm Awards.
Finalist in CAN Comedy’s New Act of the Year 2014.