Amy Schumer on Why She Got Secretly Married and Doesn’t Give a F*ck About What You Think of Her Body

Annie Leibovitz

AMY SCHUMER: ACTOR

A few years ago I began reporting on Amy Schumer literally every day of the week. The world couldn’t get enough of her. She catapulted to fame with her raunchy, searing comedic wit and likability. She intentionally fell flat on her face in front of Kim and Kanye on a red carpet, talked openly about her girl parts, and was especially interesting to me when she became besties with another one of my favs: Jennifer Lawrence. As her star has continued to rise, she’s eclipsed her simple “female comedian” title and is now a bonafied movie star, an activist, and dare I say, friend. Thank you, Amy, for getting Naked with little ol’ me.

Catt:
You absolutely slayed your recent hosting gig on Saturday Night Live. So f’ing good! We both know live TV can be a beast. Which better describes your mental state on the day hosting SNL prior to taking the stage? Manic and full of self-doubt?  Or bursting with excitement and filled with gratitude?

Amy:
So grateful and excited. Trying to enjoy every moment.

C:
I Feel Pretty sparked a conversation about beauty standards and the response to the film has been mixed. I personally LOVED it. I laughed my way through most of the movie. I see I Feel Pretty as revolutionary. Some said it was shameful.  (Seemingly, some critics only watched the trailer. Annoying AF.) Were those reviews more hurtful or frustrating?

A:
Frustrating people projected their own stuff so hard that they dismissed it without giving it a chance. The people who see the movie love it and I'm so proud of it.

C:
You little devil. You went off and got married – IN SECRET! So much of your early career and standup talks about sex. So what was it? He has a big cock? Wait, scratch that. My mother will see this. Why is Chris THE ONE?

A:
He's a great partner. We don't complete each other, we compliment and support each other. He makes me laugh and feel supported and has his own life going on. I love that weirdo. 

C:
Do you want babies? Do you hate when interviewers ask you if you want babies?

A:
I don't mind being asked that. I may want babies. You make it look so fun and easy, So if it's not, it's your fault. 

Getty Images

C:
You played Goldie Hawn’s daughter in Snatched. I interviewed you both together when you were promoting that film. What was your biggest take away from working with such a legend?

A:
To enjoy life and fight for yourself and your family above all. 

C:
This feature on my website theCATTWALK.com is called NAKED with Catt Sadler. It was intended to profile fascinating women in a revealing, raw, and unguarded way. We’ve actually seen you nearly NAKED on screen, on your book cover and more. How did you get comfortable in your skin? Many women struggle with this.

A:
I stopped focusing on it. I rarely think about how I look anymore. Honestly, it's so freeing and you get a lot more done and are a lot happier. You need to do the work to actually love the person you are. Also, we are all gonna die, don't sweat the little dumb stuff. None of it matters. 

C:
You took to Instagram to talk about my departure from E! and started a hashtag #IStandWithCattSad back in January. At that moment, on a Saturday night, at the birth of the Time’s Up movement, what provoked that post and your support of my decision to leave my job? (And might I add that your ferocious defense of my mistreatment changed the trajectory of my year and career. Organizing all of those women to have my back at the Golden Globes. Hard to find the words to thank you.)

A:
I respected your decision to respect yourself and I wanted to stand with you. I know you from that show and you are always kind and respectful. I thought you did an excellent job on that show and them saying that you weren't the official co-host and whatever other reasons they gave to keep you from making the money you should have been was offensive to me. You worked there for a long time and did a great job and you were treated unfairly in my opinion. I didn't really know you. But you are me and all of us. We need to stand together to really get stuff done. People still want women to focus on being likable above all else and I reject that. You set a good example for women and I am grateful for you. We need to stand up for women and people of color and other people who don't have true equality yet. It's not enough to just be nice to everyone. We need to fight for what's right. 

C:
What makes you feel most empowered as a woman?

A:
Being on stage, making people laugh while sneaking the truth in there. That's how I fight. 

REUTERS/Mario Anzuoni

C:
You are very vocal on various social issues – from gun safety to sex trafficking. You’ve used social media to educate your followers and fans and lead them to get involved. Do you believe there’s real power there when you use your voice?

A:
I'm not sure, but we have to try everything. I don't think it's enough to just post. We need to truly be active and show up. 

C:
What is the single most important project you’re working on right now that you want the world to know about?

A:
I have a clothing line coming out with my friend and stylist Leesa Evans and it will be affordable and all sizes and comfy and the stuff I want to wear. And I continue to work with EveryTownForGunSafety.org

Cover Photo credit Mark Seliger