Words: Claire Smith

You were one of the first people to start making comedy content on the internet. How did
that come about?

I wanted to pursue comedy but I was an introverted person. So when the internet exploded
when I was in my early twenties it was like a moth to a flame. It was one of the few ways to
break into the traditional spaces.

I really liked the fact it attracted misfit creators. None of us thought about creating a personal brand.

How did you manage to break through and become better known?
Since then, 17 years ago, I have been spinning a lot of plates. I created the daily series
DailyGrace and I am the co-host of This Might Get Weird with my best friend Mamrie Hart.

I also created a TV show interviewing traditional celebrities and I have written a couple of
New York Times best-selling books.

I was seen as the internet’s awkward older sister.

So what is the story behind your show?
It is called Let Me Get This Off My Chest and it is about my experience with an unexpected
diagnosis of breast cancer in 2023. It’s about my healing journey and it is also a really cool
way to talk about my experience with social media. It is storytelling – but it is also funny.

How did your illness change your approach to what you do?
It made me think – how do I create in a way that feels authentic and isn’t just about feeding
the algorithms – which is the target on all of our backs.

Before I was always looking for the joke.

Having cancer transformed my relationship with the internet and with myself in an
unexpected way.

Will you be podcasting while you are here?
I’ll be doing some episodes of This Might Get Weird – and I think I’ll be doing some other
shows as well.

It’s the first time I’ve ever performed at the Fringe – I’m looking forward to it.

Grace Helbig: Let Me Get This Off My Chest
Jack Dome at Pleasance Dome
19.00
30th July – 24th Aug