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“It’s incredibly punk rock for a woman to recognize her own attractiveness, intelligence, or humor,” says Eftos. “In a world dominated by patriarchy, we’re often conditioned to downplay our strengths to make others comfortable.”
Eftos, with her background in acting, dancing, and singing, as well as a degree in film and journalism, had long aspired to try her hand at stand-up comedy.
The concept of tall poppy syndrome, which Eftos criticizes as a “toxic element in our culture,” is prevalent in Australia. Many comedians in the country have built their careers on self-deprecation, so it’s no surprise that Eftos’s approach stirred up controversy.
“It turned into a kind of test,” Eftos reflects. “Would people project their insecurities onto my performance? Would they try to bring me down, thinking I was attacking other women?” She emphasizes that her message is not confined to any one gender.
A bad feminist?
As her hyper-confident and playful onstage persona, she makes short work of men who see her as a one-dimensional sex object, with a recurring fantasy sequence, and jokes about comedy not being that hard, reminiscent of Elle Woods’s iconic line in Legally Blonde about getting into Harvard Law School.
“If you feel empowered wearing jeans and a t-shirt on stage, more power to you. But I’m not a bad person or a bad feminist for wearing a dress and heels.”
“It’s like, I’m damned if I do, I’m damned if I don’t.”
The Femmebot is one of several characters Eftos plays in her show Australia’s First Attractive Female. Source: Supplied
Making comedy history
Eftos followed up that career milestone with a sold-out run at London’s famed Soho Theatre and will be performing at the Sydney Opera House as part of Just For Laughs this week, before heading back overseas next year.
Elousie Eftos is the first Australian comedian to be nominated for the best newcomer award since Nath Valvo in 2016. Source: Facebook / Elouise Eftos
Having to spend so much time away from her family, who are based in Perth, is one of the hardest parts of working in entertainment, she says.
“I think that this is what she was maybe born to do, and I feel like I’m doing it for her,” she continues, her voice cracking with emotion.
Looking for real connection
“I feel like men treat me in two ways: They either try to bring me down or they’ll treat me as a trophy,” she says, lamenting whether she’ll ever meet anyone who truly sees her for who she is.
If I’m a liberated, confident woman, am I really desirable, or am I desirable only to a certain point, and therefore will never have real connection?
“I am very superstitious, I think because of the way that my grandmas raised me, and I think there’s a part of me that feels like maybe I’m being punished and I’ll never find love because I’m an outspoken woman,” she says.
Elouise Eftos is performing as part of Women Aren’t Funny, hosted by Abbie Chatfield, at the Sydney Opera House from 14 to 16 November.
