Daisy May Cooper: Escaping My Toxic Mentor, Night Cleaning & The Truth Behind ‘This Country’
Begin Again with Davina McCall
- 55m
- Transcript
Summary
Written by a model from the transcript; not yet reviewed.
This episode features a conversation between the host and comedian Daisy May Cooper, discussing her career, her creative process, and the personal challenges behind her success. They explore the difficulties of writing solo after collaborating with her brother, the mental toll of her time at RADA, and how early financial struggles and lack of a plan B forced them to bypass rejections to get their work made. Later, the conversation touches on family dynamics, the emotional impact of her parents' separation, and shared experiences with grief, intuition, and spiritual encounters.
- Forcing yourself to write, even when uninspired, can lead to discovering better material during the revision process. 6:59
- When facing rejection from industry gatekeepers, trust your own artistic vision rather than accepting outside compromises. 30:25
- Believing in your own path and eliminating a backup plan can provide the necessary drive to gamble on creative success. 31:45
- Trusting your intuition requires building a trustworthy inner truth over time. 43:15
Chapters
- 0:01Episode Introduction and Advertisements
The episode opens with a series of product advertisements before the host introduces the guest, Daisy Mae Cooper.
- 1:33Daisy Mae Cooper’s Arrival and Intro
The host announces Daisy Mae Cooper’s arrival and the audience’s excitement for her comedic talent.
- 5:59RADA Experience and Writing Challenges
Daisy recounts her time at RADA, the difficulties of writing alone, and the pressures of the acting industry.
- 32:04From Night Cleaning to TV Success
The story shifts to how Daisy and her brother turned night‑cleaning jobs into a successful television series.
- 34:45Personal Growth and Manifesting Success
Daisy discusses personal growth, the power of positive thinking, and how she overcame obstacles to achieve her goals.
- 42:13Spiritual Journey and Belief Systems
The conversation explores Daisy’s spiritual experiences, her belief in the universe, and how it shapes her creative work.
- 50:38Hospital Visit and Family Support
The guest reflects on her father's presence during her hospital stay and the emotional impact of his support.
- 51:45Tarot Card Reading Introduction
The host introduces a tarot card reading segment to explore the guest's personal situation.
- 52:54Star and Chariot Cards Significance
The Star and Chariot cards are discussed, highlighting hope, renewal, and swift progress in the guest's journey.
- 53:33Personal Reflections and Gratitude
The guest shares heartfelt gratitude and mutual appreciation with the host, expressing deep emotional connection.
- 54:10Commercial Break – Lululemon and Truvia
Short advertisements for Lululemon apparel and Truvia sweeteners are inserted into the episode.
- 55:07Commercial Break – Stonefire Knan and Mint Mobile
Additional ads featuring Stonefire Knan flatbread and Mint Mobile’s service are aired.
Highlights
- 5:45
Writing on Your Owninsight
The guest discusses the difficulty of writing a solo novel without a co-writer and how forcing herself to sit down and produce rough material eventually leads to better ideas.
- 16:49
The guest recounts her time at RADA as a miserable and frightening experience marked by tyrannical teaching methods, public humiliation, and intense student competition.
- 19:15
Threats Over Leavingstory
When the guest considered leaving drama school, an administrator threatened to personally call every agent in the UK to brand her unprofessional.
- 33:57
After filming a pilot and getting dropped by their production company and ITV, the guest sent clips directly to a BBC commissioner, leading to her show being commissioned alongside Fleabag.
- 48:04
The guest describes hearing an ethereal voice saying 'Don't be afraid' on her phone recording while hospitalized with viral meningitis.
- 52:01
Tarot Cards Readinginsight
The guest uses a deck of tarot cards purchased cheaply online to perform a reading for the host regarding her late father and sister.
Quotes
“I just knew it was going to work out.”
Unnamed speaker · 41:59 “When you said, 'I just knew it was going to work out,' but lots of us argue with that voice in ourselves and go, 'No, it's not.'”
Unnamed speaker · 41:59 “The minute you tell yourself you can't do something, that path ends.”
Unnamed speaker · 22:59 “The universe in action, right? So I'm at RADA, Charlie is doing a sports science degree, and he doesn't pass the test.”
Unnamed speaker · 26:40 “And he had to tell me he was.”
Unnamed speaker · 51:16 “But if it's reversed, it means that you're protective over somebody else.”
Unnamed speaker · 52:21 “So that's like either your dad and your sister are saying, it's a message to you to say,”
Unnamed speaker · 52:26
Sponsored segments
- Lululemon 0:01–0:28
- Rocket Mortgage 0:30–0:59
- Truvia 1:01–1:29
- Lululemon 24:48–25:16
- Rocket Mortgage 25:26–25:47
- Monzo 39:52–40:49
- Lululemon 54:13–54:45
- Truvia 54:40–55:05
- Stonefire Knan 55:07–55:34
- Mint Mobile 55:38–56:07
About this episode
What if life's biggest setbacks are actually blessings in disguise? In this hilarious episode of Begin Again, comedian, actress and writer Daisy May Cooper joins Davina McCall to share the extraordinary journey behind her success, and the personal struggles that have shaped her life. Best known for creating the hit BBC comedy This Country with her brother Charlie Cooper, Daisy opens up about growing up with very little money, her difficult experience at drama school, and the years of rejection and self-doubt that nearly ended her career before it began. She also reflects on her parents’ unexpected separation, her changing relationship with her mum, and how family heartbreak has brought surprising opportunities for healing, growth and new beginnings. Davina and Daisy also explore their belief in the supernatural, experiences with psychics and spirituality, and why learning to trust your intuition can change your life. This is a beautiful conversation about resilience, family, trusting yourself, finding hope and believing that even when life falls apart, something wonderful might still be waiting. 🌟Like, comment and subscribe for more honest conversations about purpose, resilience, love, loss and beginning again. Follow us here: 📸www.instagram.com/beginagain 🎥https://www.tiktok.com/@beginagainpod ✨Sign up for the Begin Again newsletter for behind-the-scenes access, recommendations and much more: https://linkly.link/2g2xm Follow Daisy May Cooper here: https://www.instagram.com/daisymaycooper/ Buy ‘What Took You So Long’ by Daisy May Cooper here: https://linkly.link/2xcJV We'd love you to share your Get Busy Living stories with us at https://getbusyliving.beginagainshow.com/ (00:00) Intro (00:51) A Surprise For Daisy (02:47) Davina's Gift For Daisy (03:13) Daisy's New Book 'What Took You So Long' (06:15) Her Parents Divorce (09:39) A Letter From Daisy's Mum (14:19) Her Traumatic 3 Years At RADA Drama School (19:00) Starting Writing With Charlie (21:43) Monzo GBL Ad (24:07) Creating 'This Country' (33:00) The Reception To 'This Country' (35:08) Working With Her Brother & Dad (37:14) Monzo 90 Days Ad (40:26) Experiences With The Supernatural (45:11) Daisy Gives A Tarot Reading Sponsored by:Download Monzo. Monzo Current Accounts are for 16+ and UK residents. Ts&Cs Apply. Integrated accounting with Pro and Team business plans start from £9 a month. Only for UK sole traders or limited company directors. Ts&Cs apply. Join the 'Say Yes Club' and hear more about our events here - https://events.beginagainshow.com/ Sync ID: MB01HO7SB4JVOKK Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Transcript
9,889 words · 8 speakers
Topics
- Comedy Writing
- Creative Process
- Drama School
- Mental Health
- Family Dynamics
- Spirituality
- Career Struggle
Page updated · transcript and summary are machine-generated