Today we’d like to introduce you to Sophie Delaney.
Hi Sophie, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
I was born and raised in Evanston, IL and honestly loved growing up there. I went to college at Marquette University, had a lot of fun, and wrote a few bad screen plays. I moved to Chicago after I graduated and worked various mindless day jobs (An auto finance manager, a mortgage underwriter, customer support for coupon company) while I studied improv/sketch/writing at iO, The Second City and The Annoyance Theater. I went on to perform at those theaters regularly and also helped run a theater called The Upstairs Gallery with a group of friends. It was a less than legal old recording studio/art gallery above an antique store in Andersonville that we converted into a theater/clubhouse. It was my favorite place in the city to be for the time it and I were there.
I moved to LA about 10 years ago and started performing improv, sketch, and stand up around town, tried to learn to surf for the better part of a decade, and met my partner in comedy, writing and real life Jess Uhler. They were the first person I told I was trans and helped me come out. Along with being incredibly loving, kind, gorgeous and cool, they are also the funniest and most talented person I have ever met. Together we started a show called The Milly Milly Show out of our garage in Highland Park, wrote and starred in the short films Stranded, Harriet. Sam., and Miss (which is currently on its festival run and has been featured at NewFest, Greenpoint Film Festival, Raindance, New Orleans Film Fest, DC Shorts and hopefully more to come), co-wrote/co-produced their upcoming show Jess is Afraid, and host the podcast Chompin’ with Sophie & Jess together.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
I consider myself to be an extremely lucky person. I have a great family, I’m in a loving relationship with an incredible partner, have great friends, and have been fortunate in my artistic life to be a part of so many amazing scenes and projects. That being said, there have been numerous struggles. Living most of my life a closeted trans kid and coming out/transitioning later in life has been an experience lined with struggle but ultimately sits high on the list of things I am most proud of. While it is currently a hard time to be a trans person in the world, I also consider myself lucky that I got the chance to be an out trans woman when so many people have not enjoyed that same privilege. I’m also incredibly lucky to have met such a kind and loving partner to be with throughout a pretty trying emotional time in my life. I owe them everything and more.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I’m a writer, actor, performer, comedian, improviser, and podcaster.
If you know me at all, it might be from recent aforementioned projects (The Milly Milly Show, Miss, Chompin’ with Sophie & Jess).
I’m also in a Halloween themed freak-rock band with my friend John O’Toole called The Ghoulashes (available for weddings and retirement parties) and pre-transition/glow-up I played Tom Cruise in the play The Tomkat Project which enjoyed a lengthy run in Chicago, New York and Los Angeles.
I’m honestly proud of every project I have put my time into because they all represent things that I believed in artistically and wanted to do. Whenever I put my time and energy into something, I do so believing it will be something great. Whatever happens from there has nothing to do with me.
What matters most to you? Why?
The people in my life. My partner, my family and my friends. You’re life is really dictated by the people you fill it with, and I am beyond lucky that mine if filled with the best people (in my opinion).
Contact Info:
- Website: https://linktr.ee/sophiedelaney974?utm_source=linktree_profile_share<sid=29d98efa-bd81-49bc-9584-8440b8f17521
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sophiewalterd/
- Youtube: https://vimeo.com/user21790850?fl=pp&fe=sh
- Soundcloud: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/chompin-with-sophie-and-jess/id1729130356
- Other: https://sophiewalterdelaney.substack.com/
