– Photography by Dusti Cunningham
American comedian Nadya Ginsburg is one of us. By which we mean she’s always in gay clubs, she’s familiar with passing out in public parks, and she regularly pretends she’s Madonna.
In fact, her Madonna impersonation is legendary, and has become a cult hit on both sides of the pond (partly because we always insist on putting it on YouTube at house parties in Bethnal Green).
But making fun of Madonna is more of a side-project. Nadya is a full time, respected comedian has been involved in some iconic stuff in the industry – she’s been a judge on RuPaul’s Drag Race, she’s written for Joan Rivers, and she’s just guest starred on CBS’ 2 Broke Girls.
She chatted to Dylan Jones about eating ass, jumping on Justin Bieber, and paying outrageous homage to Madge.
Nadya Ginsburg! You’re currently being interviewed by London’s PREMIER gay magazine! How do you feel about that?
Tingly in the premier gay places, whilst pulsating with Velvet Rage.
For readers who don’t know you, sum yourself up in a Madonna lyric.
Jimmy Jimmy, Oh Jimmy Jimmy!
Speaking of Madonna, we love your impersonation of her so much. Tell us how it came into being.
There’s a great old vaudeville quote by John Royle – “Vaudeville may be a kind of lunch – counter art, but then art is so vague and lunch is so real.” I am a comedic actress with a bunch of characters and impressions in my bag. Madonna is just the one most likely to pay for lunch. She’s fun to embody because she is equal parts entertaining and confounding so never a bore. I hope she keeps flashing her punk rock pussy until the grass-fed cows come home.
Our favourite line is when you talk about pleasuring yourself with an iPad. Was that based on an actual thing that happened?
Never but I am sitting on my cell phone and group texting myself as we speak.
Has Madonna seen your videos? If so, what did she think? (If not, what do you think she’d say?)
She actually has lifted material from a few of my videos, specifically a joke she did on Jimmy Fallon from Episode 3 of Madonnalogues when trying to do stand up, which I had her do in Episode 6 and members from the insider Gay Hair and Make Up Mafia have confirmed it, but who knows? If she is I am flattered and she should hire me to write some better material for her, GUUUURL.
Right, enough about Madonna, tell us about YOU! What’s your favourite thing to do? Like, ever?
Not worry about paying my rent. I am a material girl.
Who would play your long-suffering life partner in a movie? (You’re not allowed Julianne Moore)
Mel Brooks
Have you ever been on one of those massive inflatable pool swans like the one Justin Bieber has?
Yes but I don’t appreciate you talking about my dear grandmother that way.
Have you ever been on Justin Bieber?
Yes! Five years ago while writing at my corner coffee shop I spotted him walking into a tattoo parlor and snapped this pic, after which we made vigorous love on a skateboard while he peed in a bucket and a monkey watched but there was no kissing on the mouth.
The weather’s gorgeous here and we’ve been having a lot of gay picnics lately. What’s your favourite thing to eat on a gay picnic?
Besides ass? That’s a tough one. I will say gay picnics are the best because no-one parties like the oppressed. Also, gay men and women are bonded by our mutual body dysmorphic disorder and shame, but together we form a competition-free oasis where we can freely shit and shame on others so WERK! Pass the ASS!
Where do you live? What’s your house like?
I reside on the East Side of The City of Silicone and Saline Angels in the oh-so-tragically hip Silverlake, the original old Hollywood. My home is the former apartment of my dear friend, drag legend Jackie Beat, who TranMothered it to me. It’s a two bedroom with a backyard and is furnished with an assortment of dragon skulls, monkeys, naked photos of starlets, feather headdresses and more monkeys. I call it shabby, jungle, voodoo, showbiz chic.
Tell us what you think about American politics at the moment.
Trump has done something very important, though painful. He ripped off the band aid of hypocrisy in American society that pretends that slavery never happened and that no matter how many generations of immigrants come to this country to add their blood sweat and tears to its fabric, there is a white segment of the population that is racist. I take solace in the fact that it will be women, blacks and hispanics who will go to the polls and ensure his defeat. Of course it is sad that he has gathered such steam, but I take solace in the fact that impotent rage is the loudest. Also, to paraphrase my beloved Obama, not bad to be living in a time where a woman and a Socialist Jew were the Democrats angling to replace a the son of a white single mother and a Kenyan father. Even if the GOP nominee is a pea-brained, morally bankrupt fascist asshole.
Talking of assholes, is there a good gay scene where you are?
Yes there is, and not just because Mario Diaz of the documentary Club King (former owner of The Cock in The East Village and promoter of the parties Big Fat Dick, Full Frontal Disco and now Bonkerz) is my bestie. There is a very free, non-conformist, punk rock, don’t-take-yourself-too-seriously vibe, that reminds me of New York City in the 80s and 90s.
If you could keep a famous gay as a pet, who would it be?
Tim Gunn from Project Runway, so that whenever I doubt myself he could calm me by telling me to “listen to my viscera.”
What’s your favourite Sunday morning hangover show to watch?
The Housewives of any city.
Ok ONE MORE Madonna question – What’s your favourite Madonna song?
That’s impossible. Get Into The Groove, Bad Girl and Like A Prayer. I also enjoyed her latest Holy Water where she threatens the Vatican to choke on every last drop of her cum juice. #ifitaintbroke
Which fellow comedians are you most inspired by?
The entire cast of the Canadian Television Show SCTV – (Andrea Martin, Martin Short and Catherine O’Hara to name a few) Gilda Radner, Molly Shannon, Kristin Wiig, Steven Colbert, Jennifer Saunders, David Chappelle, Chris Rock, Ricky Gervais. So many icons, but honestly my showbiz friends Selene Luna, Mario Diaz, Jackie Beat, Sam Pancake, Drew Droege, Jonny McGovern, Travis Walck, Muffy Bolding, Calpernia Adams, Alec Mapa. We keep each other insane and cry and blow our clown noses on each other’s shoulders.
AND FINALLY…what plans do you have for the future?
I have a new live show called Insane Clown Pussy which is a mix of stand up and characters, (less Madonna-centric though she is still featured) and I’m finishing the writing of Season Two Of Madonnalogues, where I’m going to incorporate me playing a character more like myself, and show what my showbiz life is like behind the mask. I just want to keep writing and performing and make my way across the pond to entertain you in person. Also, to rule the world.
• Nadya’s show, Insane Clown Pussy, is at The Cavern Club Theatre at 9pm on Friday 23rd-Saturday 24th September. 1920 Hyperion Ave, Silverlake, California. To see her amazing Madonna impressions, head to youtube.com/nadyaginsburg.
