COMEDIAN Karen Taylor talks about appearing in Angus, Thongs & Perfect Snogging, playing mum, appreciating The Smiths and her own experiences of being a teenager… including snogging!

Q. Had you read the books before you signed on?
Karen Taylor: I hadn’t actually. No! And I still haven’t, which is a bit naughty. But I kind of just thought that if it’s going to be different, or whatever, I didn’t want to go: “Oh, but that bit’s missing from the book!” And be really annoying to everyone. If you read a book with someone in mind, it can be really weird to read the book with you in mind [laughs]. I think that might freak me out.

Q. Are you worried by what fans of the book may think of you?
Karen Taylor: Um, I hadn’t thought about that. It’s always the same with everything, though… whenever I read a book and then see a film I think: “That’s not right.” So, I guess it’s bound to happen and it doesn’t particularly worry me.

Q. How was acting with Alan Davies?
Karen Taylor: Great. I mean, I’d never met him before. But he’s really easy going and it was nice to have another comedian around. We sat and did crosswords and drank tea surrounded by teenagers. So, to have another adult in that kind of madness was nice.

Q. There’s a scene in the film where Alan does the backwards moonwalk and everyone cringes. Did you ever get moments on set when you felt like you were old and not cool anymore?
Karen Taylor: It was basically like that the whole time. I’m 32 and not old at all, but as a 14-year-old or 15-year-old you think anyone that’s not 15 is 50. So, basically they were like: “You’re old, shut up!” Georgia Groome was listening to The Kooks and music like that, so I said: “You should listen to The Smiths, because if it wasn’t for The Smiths there’d be no Kooks!” And she was like: “Yeah, whatever…” So I felt quite old a lot of the time. But I think they just see you as embarrassing and old no matter what, don’t they?

Q. But when you were that age were you like Georgia?
Karen Taylor: I was a bit more rebellious than Georgia. But when I read the script I did think: “Yeah, I want to be Georgia.” Everyone’s been there and felt like that… that sort of traumatic, everything’s against you, oh my God if this doesn’t go my way I’m going to die kind of thing. So, I was exactly like that… storming around and slamming doors; telling my mum to “shut up”!

Q. What was the hardest aspect of being a teenager for you?
Karen Taylor: I think that sort of identity thing… you know, my nose is fat or this is wonky and wrong. I think that was really difficult. But I think everyone goes through that before you grow into your face and grow into your body. Everything’s changing around that time and it’s really difficult. I did struggle at that age. I’d say: “I’m fat!” But I wasn’t at all… that’s just what happens when you’re 14… that identity crisis.

Q. Were you shy or relaxed around guys?
Karen Taylor: I’ve always been able to chat with them but I’ve never got boys really. Boys never really fancied me. I think because I was gobby and rude. They always liked the quiet blonde girls in the corner and I was like: “Shut up!” They saw me as one of the lads really, I suppose. It wasn’t until I got older and got boobs that they were interested.

Q. The film thrives on being about girls being themselves… and not having to be too thin, or too beautiful…
Karen Taylor: I think it’s really nice how it basically says you don’t have to conform; you can be yourself and be funny and interesting and that’s what they’ll find attractive. It’s a nice message to give to a teenage girl. When Georgia’s character does try to conform and dyes her legs orange, it all goes a bit wrong and it’s not her.

Q. Did you have an Ace Gang as a teenager, like Georgia’s?
Karen Taylor: Yeah. We didn’t have dances that we did, but there was a group of friends that I always hung out with. I’m still friends with them now.

Q. Do you still talk about boys with them?
Karen Taylor: That’s all we talk about! It’s always the same and it doesn’t feel that much different now.

Q. At the start of the film Georgia is seen shaving her eyebrow off. Did anything crazy like that happen to you?
Karen Taylor: I bleached my hair. I bleached it and it wasn’t quite blonde enough at the back, so I put a bit more on, left it and dried my hair and it all just came off in the towel. It was like feathers… I thought: “Oh, that’s my hair!” I had very short hair for some time after that [laughs]. But I quite liked it, so it wasn’t too bad. I think I was about 18 when I did that. But I also got my ears pierced when I was 14 without my mum knowing and she nearly killed me. I tried to get away with it by wearing a headband but then one day I went: “Bye, I’m going out.” And she said: “What is that?!” I tried to claim they were stick on but they clearly weren’t. I really got told off. And then I went on to get my nose pierced and my belly button… my mum tried to discourage me by saying: “I might get my nose pierced.” But I’d say: “That would look nice, you should do it!”

Q. How about embarrassing things?
Karen Taylor: I think I was really embarrassed once… I was in this play and it was outside; I met this boy and I was snogging him and my mum came to pick me up. She saw me snogging him. I was mortified. I was 14 and I didn’t want my mum seeing me kissing a boy. And then she was asking about him.

Q. Was that your first kiss?
Karen Taylor: No, it wasn’t. My first kiss was a little bit before that and it wasn’t as nice.

Q. Did anything crazy happen on the set?
Karen Taylor: I enjoyed the salsa dancing. There was only a tiny bit that was used in the film. But we’d had two salsa lessons and Steve [Jones] was rubbish. But I really enjoyed it. I’d be like dancing with the instructor going “whoo”, and Steve was like: “When’s it my turn?” On the day [of the shoot] there was a lot of standing on toes. But it eas fun.

Q. So can we expect to see you on the BBC’s Strictly Come Dancing at some stage?
Karen Taylor: Oh my god I’d love to! Yes please!

Q. Was Steve Jones someone you’d had a crush on before? Can you appreciate he’s good looking?
Karen Taylor: Oh definitely. I think in a way he’s too good looking because he’s so handsome and tall. When he walked in I went: “Oh my God, you’re ridiculous!” But I just couldn’t ever go out with someone that’s prettier than me [laughs]. So, I never really had a crush on him. But in terms of his personality, he’s really great, really funny and a real gentleman. So, after I got to know him a bit… I based it on his looks, you see. But he’s a really cool guy.

Q. The perfect guy?
Karen Taylor: He is really…. but he’s a single boy; the eternal bachelor. So, there’s no point in trying to pin down Steve Jones.

Q. As lots of people have found out…
Karen Taylor: Yes, but he’s very honest about it. He doesn’t want a girlfriend… but why would you when you look like that?

Q. Will you be doing another series of Touch Me, I’m Karen Taylor?
Karen Taylor: Well, the second series just came out last week and it did quite well, so that’s cool. I’m just sort of waiting to see what happens with that really and hoping that it keeps getting better. I have a few more ideas that hopefully might happen.

Q. Do you want to stay in TV or would you love to do more movies?
Karen Taylor: I’d love to do more movies. Obviously, I’d be stupid to say: “I just want to do television, thanks.” It’s nice to be able to do both, really, because doing your own thing gives you a lot of creative control but at the same time there’s a lot of pressure that comes with that. You have a lot of responsibility. When you’re doing somebody else’s work you just do as your told, which is quite fun. It’s a nice break. And film and television are so different. The experience of working on television is quick… everything’s quick. You can do 12 sketches in a day and different costumes, different characters and different make-up. With film, it’s like we did two scenes in a day and there’s a lot more time because I guess there’s more money. It’s just a lot more laidback for the actors.

Q. What would be your dream role in a film?
Karen Taylor: Now there’s a question. I think something with John Cusack because I love him. He’s brilliant, funny and clever… and hot [laughs]. I love Grosse Point Blank, so Minnie Driver’s character in that film – because she’s really great in that as well and it’s a really good part. She’s really funny and interesting. I’m glad I figured that one out.

Q. Were you a tomboy at school?
Karen Taylor: No, I was a really girly girl when I was little. I’d pet my nails and wear high heels. But then I think I just got mouthy and cheeky. I wasn’t good at school. I did my work and I was quite good. But I was always cheeky to the teachers. And they laughed rather than telling me to shut up.

Q. Was that how you decided to go into comedy?
Karen Taylor: I think so, yeah. I think it was just always there with me really.

Q. What’s the best heckle you’ve ever had?
Karen Taylor: I don’t know really. I never really got heckled that much really. It was always the usual stuff you’d expect. I remember the worst gig I ever did was at Imperial College in Kensington. It was a science college and Freshers Week, so they were all about 18, and it was all boys. I was there with my high heels on and my dress, being really rude and talking about sex. They were all just absolutely terrified of me. They kin d of just sat there open mouthed and I didn’t get anything from them. I really wanted them to heckle because at least I can come back to that. But nothing… they started saying “get your tits out” at one point and I was like “yeah, yeah, yeah, say that…” But then they just stopped and I lost them again. It was the worst gig ever… horrible. I just left.

Q. Would you continue doing stand-up shows in the future?
Karen Taylor: I’ve not stand-up for a long time now… maybe six years. But hopefully I will continue with the comedy and get to do different things. Maybe a sitcom.

Q. Do you fancy doing it live again?
Karen Taylor: I’d like to do the sketches live. But it’s a bit lonely doing stand-up because you’re on your own. You’re travelling around the country on your own, staying in bed and breakfasts… it’s all a bit depressing. When you’re 22 it’s cool because you can have a crazy old time, but at 32 I just want to go home. I like to be in bed by 10.30pm! But never say never, I suppose.

Q. Who were the comedians that inspired you?
Karen Taylor: I always really liked Sean Locke actually. I thought he was hilarious. I think Jenny Eclaire is great. And Les Dawson is someone I always loved. So, all different things really.

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