Ellen Turnill Montoya
Published: Tuesday 1st July 2025
One random comedian, eight random questions, it's the ultimate test of funny person and fate. This week it's a big hand for Ellen Turnill Montoya - no, scratch that, she's got one already. The British/Mexican comic and occasional Weirdo will make her Edinburgh Fringe debut later this month with Mr Handsome, in which she plays... you guessed it...
"Mr Handsome is a giant hand," Montoya confirms, "brought to life through full body puppeteering, physical comedy and a lot (a lot) of hand jokes. He's also me, my arms and legs become his fingers and thumb. Imagine a human-sized hand strutting across a stage towards you, and you're a pinky closer to the live experience.
"The show follows Mr Handsome as he teaches the audience what it takes to become a professional hand model," she explains. "This all started from a secret dream of mine - to be one too. But, after developing eczema, that dream slipped through my (moisturised) fingers. So I thought 'what if I became the hand model myself?' An image of myself as a giant hand walking down a catwalk popped into my head, and it all escalated from there."
It certainly did. Any interesting moments with the full-body puppetry, in preview?
"At times I invite audience members to interact with me, hand to hand. But sometimes... they don't quite know where to touch! For some reason, shows in Brighton led to higher than average butt touches. So only time - and more performances - will tell whether that's a Brighton-specific thing, or all part of the (hand) job."
It's a bit near the knuckle. Ellen Turnill Montoya, your Random 8 await.
Who is - or was - your most interesting relative?
Pepe the dog who, due to sad circumstances, ended up being rehomed, but we later found out through ITV's Paul O'Grady: For The Love Of Dogs, it was to an ambassador and he ended up living in New York. He lived a more glamorous life than us all (I consider him a sort of sibling so, yes, a relative yes).
Ever met a surprisingly great or awful famous person?
I once met a Fizzgig from The Dark Crystal and was allowed to put my hand inside it. That was really the best day.
What's the worst thing in your wardrobe?
I have a great wardrobe! Come over and I'll show you. Wait - what do you mean you don't like red, white and black cowboy boots*, worn with a lime green pleated sarong*, accessorised with a handbag with a cookie on it that's so lifelike kids in the street try to steal it*?
*All favourite items present in my wardrobe.
Do you have a favourite device?
Not sure if this is a device, but more of a device accessory? My iPad pencil. So fun to doodle - but DIGITAL.
What's your favourite mode of transport?
I love TFL (Transport for London), so much that my nickname from my school days until now is TFL-LEN. So anything TFL, but if I have to choose... BUS. Top deck. Front seats. Ding ding.
Your worst job?
I had a job for a company creating fake profiles to become digital fans of DJs' social media profiles, so they all wouldn't be recognised as bots. I'd leave the TV on and use any word mentioned as inspiration for their names and hobbies. That's basically improv training, right?
What's the best thing you've bought a ticket for?
I went to see K-Pop band Tomorrow X Together recently and it was the most entertaining thing I have ever seen. There was so much audio-visual stimulation I will spend the rest of my life trying to reach that level of entertainment purity. There was dancing, singing, projections, and the audience held up matching light sticks that were also choreographed to each song theme.
But the best bit, after the most incredible performance of pop stardom I'd seen, the band looked up and humbly said "...was that alright?". Incredible.
Which not-so-obvious superpower would you go for?
The power to make people stop and have a dance. Anyone. Anytime. Anywhere. Everything always feels better after a dance (also in this fantasy they enjoy the dance too).
Ellen Turnill Montoya is Mr Handsome is at Assembly George Square Studios, Edinburgh, from 30 July to 24 August. Tickets
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