4 minute read
ROBBIE GEE ON COMEDY
Mental Health, and the Importance of Telling Black Stories
Robbie Gee Interview
I sat down with comedy actor Robbie Gee at The Glee Club in Birmingham for a candid conversation about his incredible 37-year career in entertainment, his journey with mental health, and the importance of Black people telling their own stories.
RG: As far as I’m concerned, I’m surviving. I’m a survivor. It’s one of those things where I like to think I’m pretending, standing in my shadows. I don’t want them to find me out. I act like I don’t know, like I’m just pretending.
MS: I can relate to that. You’re doing it though, right?
RG: Yes, definitely. I started professionally in 1987, and to this day, I still pinch myself—not just on the good days, but every single day.
MS: Were you the funny one in your family, the one who always told the best stories?
RG: Maybe, but I don’t think I stood out in that way. We’re all jokers in my family. We come out of the shade and tell stories, re-enacting them with all the peaks and drops that make them come to life. It’s just how we live.
MS: I see you primarily as a comedy actor. What projects are you currently working on?
RG: Honestly, I still pinch myself. Right now, I have two series on Netflix—Supercell and Sexy Beast. I also have a role in Extraordinary on Apple TV. These are all significant series roles, and I can’t quite believe I’m here.
MS: The life of an actor can be challenging, especially when facing rejection. How have you navigated your journey in terms of mental health and confidence?
RG: That’s a deep question. If I open that box, it would take a while. But I’ll say this: You have to find your own mental stability and maintain it. For me, it’s all about simplicity. I’m a member of a gym, and I’ve got a cinema membership. I go to late-night screenings three times a week. And I make sure to get a steam and a massage regularly. That’s my way of practising self-care. I also walk a lot. It’s about finding what works for you. Everyone’s different, but it’s crucial to commit to something that helps keep you grounded.
RG: Without COBO (Comedy of Black Origin), we wouldn’t have the visibility we have today. But I’m not Black for just one month. As much as we joke about it, we only get one month to celebrate our history in the entire year. When I was getting the train here, I noticed the counter where they sell tickets had posters of Black figures like Nelson Mandela. They’re put up for one month and then stored away for the next eleven. It’s strange. I don’t know what the answer is, but we have to accept it for now—otherwise, we wouldn’t have anything.
MS: That’s a valid point.
RG: Yeah, we’re Black all year round, and we can’t hide it. I’ve been thinking a lot about Black History Month. For me, it’s every month. We’re constantly telling our own stories. I often think that we should have recorded our ancestors’ stories much earlier. Eddie Nestor once said we should have captured our parents’ stories before it was too late.
Whether they were part of the Windrush generation or not, we have so much to learn from their experiences.
The hurdles they faced, the rejection they endured—it’s all part of our history. When we capture their stories, we create a record of history.
We must continue to share our struggles, our successes, and our culture, because when we’re gone, how will the next generation know who we were?
Robbie Gee continues to be a trailblazer in comedy and acting, all while advocating for the importance of telling Black stories and celebrating our culture every month, not just during Black History Month.
