Amy Huberman: ‘The More You Love And Feel And Have Heartbreak, It Gives Something Different To Your Writing’

We all know that as soon as you’re told you’re not allowed to laugh, everything instantly becomes funnier. So imagine being told you’re not allowed to laugh in a room full of comedians?

Amy Huberman is one of nine funny Irish people who took part in Last One Laughing, a reality show in which everyone must abstain from laughing, and if they don’t, they get the boot!

Amy tells STELLAR that she wasn’t immediately sold on taking part. “When I was first asked, I said absolutely not! Not in one billion, zillion years am I doing that. Thank you so much! But then I watched the Australian version of it. I watched it with my husband and we just sat there with the giggles and the shoulders going.”

The silliness of the show appealed to Amy, the idea that it’s just pure fun. “We were just like, this is so daft in such a lovely joyous way. It’s really stripping the bare bones down to just play, like actual play. So then I was like ooooh this is hooking me in. I had an existential crisis for about a week just being like could I? Should I? Will I? So, I just said YES! But I was having full on stress dreams the night before.”

In the opening episode, viewers will be surprised to see the usually upbeat, cheerful actress looking quite sombre. Amy explains that this was her strategy to survive on the show.

“I had to go into my own brain and pretend it was a really sad scene where someone was dying. But there was danger at every moment. The concentration! Oh my god. There is just such funny people in that room. I surprised myself with that sad face, as a default. I was like maybe this is the real me?” [laughs]

“It was just an opportunity to indulge in this silly fun. It’s just like you’re a kid again trying to make your brothers laugh. It was really manic. There was noise and songs, and it was just a sensory overload. I would just have to go into my own head and do yoga breathing and just be like ‘Don’t crack now!'”

While her acting background may have helped Amy in the show, I wonder if being a parent had any merits on keeping a straight face. Amy and husband Brian O’Driscoll have three children together, Sadie, 10, Billy, eight and Ted who is three. Often, when trying to teach children to behave, a staunch face is required, even when they’re being funny.

“It only happened yesterday,” Amy recalls, laughing. “I was attempting to give out to my toddler. And there was this silence in the room, I was like, is there going to be tears… but no… he just – with perfect comic timing – looked at me and went MOOOOO. And I was just like oh. my. god.

“The delivery was stunning. I fully laughed, he laughed, he’s learned nothing! I’ve learned nothing. The chance for personal growth evaded us both because he was just so funny.

“I’m not good at that. It’s that tension bubble, when the stakes are high and there is a moment of comedy and I don’t know anyone who can survive that! So actually know it has taught me nothing,” she jokes.

Amy adds that while being a parent might not have given her an advantage, it’s certainly a similar experience to her time on the show.

“I wish I thought of that before I went in! But yes, like with parenting, there is definitely that thing where you turn your back, because someone says moo! I should have tried that, just being a farm animal!”

In 2022, Amy published a children’s book, The Day I Got Trapped In My Brain, which explored mindfulness and grief. And the star adds that she is hoping to do more writing this year.

“After writing my book last year, I thought I wasn’t going to write for ages. But it’s this never-ending love story that you go through with writing. You come back to it and say ‘I do love you!’ But I didn’t know if I wanted to write another kid’s book but I wanted to write TV again and adult fiction.

“So there is a few things I’m playing around with now that I am in the headspace again. Because I wasn’t for a while after I finished the book last year and my dad had passed away. But since I’ve had a bit of distance I’m really looking forward to it again.”

Amy sadly lost her father, Harold Huberman in May 2022, around the time of her book publication. Now, she reflects on how her writing might change after such a difficult experience.

“I wonder will my writing be different, I’m sure it will. Because when you lose someone you’re altered in a way, there is no going back to a time when you haven’t felt that loss, so I think, like with all things in life, and all those emotions I think it will change my writing.

“But I look back on how I wrote in my 20s and that’s so different anyway. I think accessing that is probably going to be strange but it will be interesting to see how it comes out. I think the more you love and feel and have heartbreak in different ways, it gives something different to your writing. The more your heart cracks open it does change the way you write. Let’s see! Hopefully I won’t be sobbing into my laptop!”

While more writing is on the cards for the new year, I also wonder if Amy is a fan of resolutions.

“I probably have one or two jobs in mind, or I want to get like, a photobook printed of the kids. That kind of tangible stuff but I think that’s it. I know some people think we shouldn’t put resolutions on ourselves but I actually kind of like the discipline of it.

“Even if it’s just I wanted to get back out there, I want routine in my career. I think that’s why I like resolutions, that bit of control is nice. Because everything else feels like it’s out of control! [laughs] But it wouldn’t be anything too punitive. Stuff I do anyway like walk the dog, and eat healthy to feel better but not in a punishing way.

“If it’s anything that feels too hard then no. Because life is too short! Stuff that will lend itself to you, it’s that. Then I’ll feel delighted!”

LOL: Last One Laughing Ireland, launches Friday 19th January on Prime Video

• Amy Huberman