Mae Martin

Born Mae Pearl Martin on May 2, 1987, in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, Mae Martin began their comedy career at an early age. Performing comedy since age 13, Martin trained in improvisation and sketch comedy at The Second City’s Toronto outpost, an institution known for notable alumni such as Tina Fey and Mike Myers. Their early talent was recognized with a Canadian Comedy Award nomination at 15 and they were the youngest ever nominee for the Tim Sims Encouragement Fund Award. Martin made their Canadian television debut on The Comedy Network’s Cream of Comedy at 16. This early start shaped their understanding of the craft and contributed to their unique voice in comedy.

After moving to the UK in 2011, Martin continued to develop their distinctive style, earning the Best International Performer at the Brighton Fringe, and becoming a finalist in various comedy awards. A significant turning point in their career came with the stand-up show “Dope,” which focused on addiction and was nominated for the main Edinburgh Comedy Award in 2017. The show was later adapted into a Netflix stand-up special, released on New Year’s Day 2019 as part of Netflix’s first global stand-up series. Martin’s ability to blend personal narrative with humor about complex topics resonated with audiences, establishing them as a compelling voice in contemporary comedy. This period also saw them co-host the BBC Radio 4 podcast Grown-up Land and their second BBC Radio 4 series, “Mae Martin’s Guide To…”, was nominated for a BBC Audio Drama Award.

Martin’s career progression continued with their co-creation, co-writing, and starring role in the Channel 4/Netflix comedy series “Feel Good” (2020–2021), which earned them a BAFTA TV Award nomination for Best Female Comedy Performance. In 2022, Martin expanded into acting with a recurring role as Grace St. James in the HBO Max series “The Flight Attendant.” The year 2023 was also notable, with Martin winning series 15 of “Taskmaster,” starting the “Handsome” podcast with comedians Tig Notaro and Fortune Feimster, and releasing the Netflix comedy special “SAP.” They also won Best Guest Performance in a Comedy Series at the 2024 Canadian Screen Awards for their role in the documentary television series “I Have Nothing.” Additionally, Martin has ventured into music, with their debut indie rock album “I’m a TV” released in February 2025 through Universal Music Canada, featuring their self-written songs and musical talents. Their upcoming Netflix series “Wayward” (2025) which they created, wrote, and produced, sees them starring as Alex Dempsey, further solidifying their multifaceted career.