FEATURE

THE “CLOWN PRINCE OF COMEDY,” JOEL CREASEY HAS FRATANISED WITH , PRINCESS LEIA AND MARCIA BRADY – WITH A BOOK AND NATIONAL TOUR IN THE WORKS, HE TELLS MATT MYERS ABOUT ENTERTAINING THE TROOPS AND SHARING HIS BOYFRIEND’S UNDERPANTS!

DNA: I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here made you a household name. Were you prepared for that sudden fame? Joel Creasey: When you come off the show, still in Africa, the first person you see is a psychiatrist who explains what’s happened in terms of your profile. So you get that support but, no, I wasn’t expecting that attention. When I returned to Australia there were paparazzi and people rushing up to me and it was all very exciting. Coincidently, I launched a stand-up tour off the back of it, which did very well! What was the most difficult thing about that experience in Africa? It was sharing space with others. Stand-up comedy is a solo sport and I’m used to calling the shots. I didn’t enjoy having to split responsibility among 14 others. There’s the lack of control and it can be really boring. If you’re not in a tucker [food] trial, there’s nothing to do all day. I never enjoyed school camp and yet there I was in this group environment. I found that first night overwhelming. You made friends with Maureen McCormick [the actress who played Marcia Brady], but apparently her husband banned her from seeing you! Oh my God! One night in LA, I took her to a gay bar in Santa Monica called Roosterfish and sent her home at about 3am. A few weeks later, Julia Morris tried to catch up with her but Maureen’s husband said, “You’re not hanging out with those Aussies anymore!” Do you still have contact with her? I do and I send her the odd email. I really miss her sometimes, but if I go over to the US again I’ll catch up with her for sure. She’s divine! It’s nice to know that Marcia Brady turned out to be a fag hag, eh? A total fag hag! She tweeted the other day how she hosted some big gay LA charity event. Let’s talk about you and some other Hollywood women. Joan Rivers really took a shine to you, and you dedicated your new book to her. She had me open for her in New York, and was so THIRSTY nice to me. I don’t think she realised how huge her involvement in my life was. I came back to Australia as the boy who was Joan River’s support act. She’s totally the reason my career got a huge head start, and she was so down to Earth. I see many artist and WORK! diva demands backstage for platters and puppies and all that crazy shit but, each night, at 81, Joan Rivers only wanted a prawn cocktail and a glass of house red. I think that is so classy. And then there’s Carrie Fisher who you bonded with at the Just For Laughs festival in Montréal. Like Joan, she died just as you were getting to know her.

32 DNA I know, I’m jinxed! Maureen better be careful! My parents were in Star Wars as extras and my dad is clearly visible in the famous scene where Princess Leia is briefing the troops in The Empire Strikes Back. Apparently she was a crazy diva on set and she was a crazy diva when I worked with her but she was also lovely and really down to Earth. When I told her about my parents she said I should make sure they aren’t related like Luke and Leia! After the show we hung out for ages and she gave me a really long hug, for like half an hour. You also got to hang out with Neil Patrick Harris in Montréal. How was that? I met him after I had just broken up with my boyfriend and I thought he was hitting on me because throughout the whole interview he kept staring at my hand. When we finished he said, “Do you know your hand’s been bleeding during the entire interview?” I think I had stigmata! It was so weird. I thought he was going to slip me his room key but, no, I was bleeding! I don’t know how a hand did this come about? just randomly bleeds? It is so Marilyn, isn’t it? It’s actually been delayed and You must be a saint! I’m waiting to get the call up to go over. It’s been a Maybe! dream of mine forever. I got asked by the army to go You came out at 16. Many older people assume it’s a few years ago and I couldn’t, but it came up again much easier to come out these days, but is it? last year. I know plenty of comics who have gone I had a very good experience. I was out in high and I’ve always wanted to add it to my CV. It’d be so school, and it’s interesting that none of the interesting and, hopefully, I’ll get material out of it. students, except for the odd dickhead, seemed to Hosting Eurovision for SBS… what was the have a problem. I didn’t get any more bullied than highlight for you? someone with red hair. I actually think it was some Without a doubt, becoming friends with Myf of the teachers who had more of a problem with Warhurst. She’s one of the most spectacular people it. I imagine coming out would be a lot harder in I’ve ever met. There’s no ego and she’s very intelligent. regional towns but I do think it’s easier now. I hope I adore her and we’ve become best friends. that every time myself, and others, appear on shows The gay A few years back was voted the most like The Project it’s helpful for people. spankable female TV personality in Australia. You’re a very confident person, and in this marriage Who do you think would be the most spankable business you need a thick skin. How did you male? become so resilient? debate has Rob Mills. I was working with him the other night Because I knew I was gay from a young age I had to and he’s so charming, dapper and sexy. I’d say him! have a defense plan in place. Although, I didn’t really affected Who’s your music diva? have to use it. It was good practice for stand-up, and Celine Dion. I love her voice and how ridiculous she I think that’s why gay men and women make such me way is. I think she’s embracing that she’s a bit crazy now, good comedians – because we have that mental with all the fashion shoots she’s doing for Vogue. strength. It’s also just blind faith. I think it’s gotten more than I She’s camp and knows how to put on a show. It’s All me into trouble, to be honest. Coming Back To Me Now is so over the top, but my Your nickname, the Acid Tongue Prince, comes thought. It’s favourite is My Heart Will Go On. from you speaking your mind. Is there any subject Speaking of which, did you ever get comparisons that’s too sensitive, even for you? gotten so ugly. to Leonardo DiCaprio when you were younger? No, I don’t think there’s any subject that would All the time! Not so much now, but when I was a be off-limits but, that said, certain people handle teenager and in my early twenties I’d get it a couple certain subjects differently. I just talk about what of times a week, and I was fine with that! I know. I wouldn’t, for example, go into race, but On a serious note, there was that homophobic I think when you start taking topics off the table, experience you had in the Victorian town of comedy loses something. The right people need to Colac. But you returned to the scene of the crime handle the right topics. In fact, I’m so bored seeing with and a film crew. Did that straight comics do material about gay marriage. It’s ultimately become a positive? such a hot button and an easy way to get a round WATCH JOEL’S WORD-OFF Ultimately, it did. Rhys is one of my best friends, and of applause. A lot of it is ultimately homophobic. I AGAINST RHYS NICHOLSON that documentary is one of my proudest pieces of work. know a top Australian comic who does a joke about ON MARRIAGE EQUALITY! I don’t know if it did much for the town, but when we his two gay friends who have a jet ski, and he says, went back the new mayor, Lyn Russell was absolutely “I’ll suck a little bit of dick for that lifestyle.” That’s amazing. She wasn’t there the first time when I actually not right. Enough is enough. was physically chased out but she was there when I You’re headed to Afghanistan to entertain the returned. It was a crazy experience but it was fun going (ABOVE) JOEL WITH MYF WARHURST AT troops. That’s very Marilyn Monroe of you! How EUROVISION. back and turning that whole thing on its head. >>

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>> How would you describe your friendship with encounter you had with a Swans football Rhys? Is there rivalry? player at an airport. We’re best frenamies. We totally have rivalry Oh yeah, I was queuing up behind this Sydney and laugh about it. He’s very private and keeps to Swans player for a coffee at the airport lounge and himself. He’s got his fiancé and they bought a house, he turned and said, “I’m not signing autographs whereas I’m a bit older and more a party animal. today.” He obviously thought I was a fan but I didn’t When Rhys comes to stay with me I always take him know who he was. Then a supporter, wearing a out for a bit of a bender. I’d fuck Josh Sydney Swans scarf came over, tapped me on the What do you think of ’s decision to shoulder and said in front of the entire queue, retire from comedy? Thomas, “Excuse me, are you Joel Creasey? I saw you on TV It’s a loss and such a shame. I love Hannah and she’s last night. I think you’re really funny!” The shocked my mum’s favourite comedian, which is quite odd. marry Tom look on this footballer’s face was hilarious. I hope she doesn’t disappear completely. I think Another Sydney Swan you’ve interacted with was she finds it all a bit overwhelming, so fair enough Ballard, and Barry Hall on I’m A Celebrity… Is the bromance because at times it can be. still going? Are there any famous comedians who have run over I haven’t seen him for a while as he’s just had a baby influenced you? Even from the old school? with Lauren Brant (from Hi-5) who’s another good I love Robin Williams and Rowan Atkinson. Then friend. We’re still mates and he’s such a nice guy. there’s Kathy Griffin, Chelsea Handler, Sarah Nathan Valvo People got the wrong impression of him. He loves the Silverman, , Fiona O’Loughlin, Denise gays and I had a beautiful conversation with him about Scott… all the grand dames. I love all those girls. with my car! how disappointed he was in Jason Akermanis, who When we interviewed Tommy Little he said he’d said some very homophobic things. Barry just gets it. never heard of Lucille Ball. Please tell us, as a gay You studied drama, do you see yourself having man, you know who she is! regular acting gigs in the future? Oh Tommy! Of course I know who Lucille Ball is and Yes! I’ve finished working on the new show Sisters, I love her. She was the original, even before Joan! and I’ve also just done . If you could zap yourself into any sitcom in Neighbours! television history, what would it be? Yes, I’m the new gay who comes to Ramsay Street. You know… I don’t really like sitcoms. I don’t know I don’t think you’ll see me until next year. I’m just why I don’t like them. If I had to, I’d say Will And guesting, but there’s potential to come back. Grace. My other dirty confession is that I can’t stand What celebrity would you turn straight for? cartoons! When my boyfriend watches Archer or The I’m obsessed with Jessica Chastain (The Martian). I Family Guy, I’d honestly rather stab myself in the love women with red hair, and I love her so much! face. I just can’t relate to them. I had a big fight with Okay, let’s play gay celebrity Fuck, Marry Or Kill. my boyfriend the other day about this. Your choices are: , Josh Thomas and Tell us about your boyfriend. Nathan Valvo. His name’s Jack Stratton-Smith. He’s a model and he’s Well, I used to date Nathan Valvo, so I’d kill him. I’d gorgeous. Another magazine ran a story that we’re fuck Josh Thomas and I’d marry Tom Ballard. I’m very engaged but we’re not. It’s weird, because we’ve been in love with Tom Ballard. He’s so intelligent and such getting all these congratulations messages! a great representative of our community. I adore him. You have 63K Twitter followers and 82K on But I’d run Nathan Valvo over with my car! Instagram. How do you deal with trolls? You’re known for doing nude selfies, but you also Oh, I love them. I respond and I’m really frivolous said you’d love to do a sex tape. When is it coming because they don’t expect you to respond with a out? laugh. It kind of shocks them! Who knows? Maybe when my career goes through a The gay marriage debate – what’s your view on slump. I’ll either go back onto I’m A Celebrity… or I’ll how it’s played out so far? do a sex tape! It’s affected me way more than I thought it would. What can we expect you to be wearing to the beach I thought I’d be fine, but it’s gotten so ugly and this summer? disgusting, and I don’t know why it has to drag on for Nineteen-sixties-style Speedos. I like the high rise so long. I haven’t voted yet because I lost the keys to around the hips. I think they are very cool. my letterbox and I can see the form sitting inside! I’ve That makes us think Joel Creasey is a briefs man just ordered a new pair of keys, so don’t worry, I will! in the underwear department. Your autobiography Thirsty: Confessions Of A I like briefs, and I share them with my boyfriend. Fame Whore is released this month. What can Some people think it’s weird that we share people expect? underwear, but I think it’s fine. We do wash them! There’s lots of celebrity stories about me and Joan, We share each other’s clothes Carrie and people like that, as well as stories about too, but he’s a bit bigger, so he my childhood. It’s just an honest book about my breaks them. life. I never had any struggles growing up so it’s not one of those Aussie battler stories. I have a MORE: Thirsty: Confessions Of A gorgeous family in and I try to give a different Fame Whore is out now. Joel is also perspective on being a young gay man in the touring nationally, check online for

Australian entertainment world. (ABOVE) JOEL WITH BOYFRIEND JACK tickets or go to joelcreasey.com.au. There’s a great story in the book about an STRATTON-SMITH ON INSTAGRAM.

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