Gina Yashere

Regina Obedapo Iyashere, known professionally as Gina Yashere, was born on April 6, 1974, in Bethnal Green, London, to Nigerian parents. Before embarking on her comedy career, she worked as a lift maintenance technician and engineer for Otis, notable as the company’s first female in that role. Her entry into comedy solidified in 1996 when she was a finalist in the Hackney Empire New Act of the Year competition. She quickly gained recognition in the UK, making numerous appearances on television and radio, including a three-year stint as a team captain on the BBC2 panel show ‘Blouse and Skirt’ starting in 2000. Her engaging personality and comedic observations led to successful sellout tours across the UK in 2000 and 2001, expanding her reach to international audiences in countries like America, Dubai, Hong Kong, Singapore, and South Africa.

Yashere’s career progression saw her transition into acting, featuring in films such as ‘Kiss Kiss Bang Bang’ and ‘Mr In-Between’, and performing in the West End show ‘The Vagina Monologues’. She gained significant exposure in the United States through her appearances on ‘Last Comic Standing’ in 2007, where she reached the final ten, and later became the first Briton to perform on ‘Def Comedy Jam’ in 2008. Her work on ‘The Tonight Show with Conan O’Brien’ and ‘The Tonight Show with Jay Leno’ as ‘Madame Yashere: The Surly Psychic’ further broadened her American appeal. She has also released multiple stand-up specials, including ‘Skinny Bitch’ (2008), ‘Laughing To America’ (2014), and ‘Ticking Boxes’, with two streaming on Netflix. From 2017 to 2018, she served as the British correspondent for ‘The Daily Show with Trevor Noah’.

A significant milestone in her career began in 2019 when she co-created, writes for, and acts in the CBS sitcom ‘Bob Hearts Abishola’ with Chuck Lorre, taking on the role of Kemi. This series marks a notable achievement as the first American sitcom to feature a Nigerian family, reflecting Yashere’s influence in bringing diverse narratives to mainstream television. Her contributions extend to voice acting, with roles like Keisha in ‘Bromwell High’ and Gravelle in ‘Early Man’, and currently as Gareth in the Children’s ITV show ‘The Rubbish World of Dave Spud’. Yashere has consistently been recognized for her comedic talent, winning ‘Best Comedian’ at the Black Entertainment & Comedy Awards (UK) four times in a row, and published her memoir ‘Cack-Handed’ in 2021.