Amy Lamé
Encyclopedia
Amy Lamé is an American-born, British performer, writer, television and radio presenter and producer.
. She attended Washington College
in Chestertown, Maryland
and moved to London in 1992. Working at London's first out and proud lesbian
& gay
cafe-bar Lamé quickly became prominent on London’s alternative scene. She has a distinctive look, a chubby glamour-puss with trademark fly-away black-rimmed spectacles and an ironic take on the 1950s American housewife style.
She became a British citizen in early 2007, and in March 2009 Lamé had a civil partnership with her British partner Jenny. She is currently Mayoress of London Borough of Camden alongside Mayor Johnathan Simpson.
London's Spring Exhibitions programme. There she was spotted by TV producer Neil Crombie and began her career in television.
In 1996 she wrote and performed 'Cum Manifesto', a one woman show about HIV and gay men's sexual and emotional health. The show successfully toured the UK and Denmark including seminal performances for hundreds of men on Hampstead Heath and Rochdale Canal cruising grounds at midnight.
In 2006 Lamé created her third one-woman show, Amy Lamé’s Mama Cass Family Singers. The show debuted at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival and was produced by the Soho Theatre London in association with Gilded Balloon. Lamé then enjoyed a successful run at the Soho Theatre
, toured the UK and performed at The Powerhouse, Brisbane, Australia. After receiving a pink knitted breast on the opening night of her show from 'I Knit London', she found her passion for knitting and crochet. She can be regularly seen crocheting during stage performances. In November 2007 Lamé launched her project project 'Pom-Pom International' at the national UK Stitch ‘N Bitch Day. She has subsequently held pom-pom making parties at Duckie
, London's Lesbian and Gay Festival 2008 and in Northern Ireland where she held the 'Pom-pom's for Peace Project'. She was previously a photographic model, twice a contestant in the international Alternative Miss World and was the face of brands such as Hula Hoops
. She has also appeared in music videos for Oasis
, Holly Johnson
and Culture Club
.
award winning performance club-night and collective Duckie
with Simon Strange which she hosts every Saturday night at The Royal Vauxhall Tavern. She plays a pivotal role in programming, devising and hosting Duckie events. Working with the Duckie collective in 1997, Lamé devised, produced and hosted "The World's First Lesbian Beauty Contest" which was featured in the Guinness Book of World Records. The event caused quite a commotion challenging beauty myths, gender and sexual identities and body fascism. In 1996 she curated, produced and hosted Keep The Faith at Tate Britain
which explored the links between the gallery's permanent collection and faith. She commissioned new work to be shown in the gallery for one night only including an interactive performance installation tea party with 30 Anglican priests; Joshua Sofaer's tale of meeting his Jews for Jesus missionary namesake, Joshua Sofaer, in Namesake: The Story of a Name; Johnathan Allen/Tommy Angel's performance exploring evangelism and belief using magic and illusion; and a Buddhist tour of the gallery. The event had the highest ever recorded number of participants - over 5,000 for Late at Tate. The Duckie brand also includes large-scale club night projects such as Vauxhall Pleasure Promenade (1999); Explosion! The Ghosts of Rock & Roll Soho (2000); C'est Vauxhall (2002); Liverpool is Burning (2008); Performance and Cocktails
(2010) and the annual alternative Pride event Gay Shame
which started in 1996. In 2010 Duckie also made its festival debut at Latitude Festival
. The Duckie brand continues to produce award winning theatre events with many great things planned for 2011 and beyond.
where she co-presented Lavender Lounge
. Lamé's voice has been heard on Radio 1
, 2, 3, 4 and 5. She co-presented the BBC London 94.9 Breakfast Show with her friend and colleague Danny Baker
for over 3 years, winning a Sony Radio Academy Award for Best Entertainment along the way. She continues to present alongside Baker on the BBC London's afternoon show between 3-5pm Monday to Friday. Lamé is the co-founder and co-presenter of HomoLAB, a weekly queer cultural and current affairs podcast and voiceover. She voiced in-flight entertainment for Continental Airlines
, Philippine Airlines
, Virgin Trains
and also starred in radio advertisements for Warner Jazz Records.
for three series and went on to create and host her own panel game-show, The Staying In Show for C4
. The list of shows Lamé has appeared on also includes: Market Kitchen
for the last three years as features presenter; hosting many segments on The Richard and Judy Show - including a seven part series on regional Italian food and regular book reviews; Loose Women
; and Charity Chic. She has also appeared on two prime time ITV
reality shows, Celebrity Fit Club
. and CelebAir
. She was the mentor for LGBTQ teenagers on Channel 4
’s My Big Gay Prom, and regularly appears as a culture and current affairs commentator on programs including BBC Breakfast News, Daily Politics and Sky News
.
, Woman’s Own, DIVA
, The Independent
, The Observer
and others. Lamé is currently working on her first book.
party helping raise funds and hosting regular events. During the 2010 elections Lamé could be seen working closely with Angela Eagle
and Gordon Brown
in Wallasey
. Lamé is mentioned in Sarah Brown's memoirs Behind the Black Door, where she details Lamé's hen night celebrations in Downing Street
.
and hosts the Stonewall Equality Dinner at the Dorchester Hotel
.
She is the spokeswoman for Cancer Research UK
. She also took part in the Race for Life
in 2009 and 2010.
Other charities she supports include Diabetes UK
, London's LGBT Switchboard, Amnesty International
, Foodchain (providing hot meals for people with HIV
), Roundhouse
and Christian Aid
.
Biography
Lamé was born Amy Caddle and raised in Keyport, New JerseyNew Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
. She attended Washington College
Washington College
Washington College is a private, independent liberal arts college located on a campus in Chestertown, Maryland, on the Eastern Shore. Maryland granted Washington College its charter in 1782...
in Chestertown, Maryland
Chestertown, Maryland
Chestertown is a town in Kent County, Maryland, United States. The population was 4,746 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Kent County. The ZIP code is 21620 and the area codes are 410 and 443...
and moved to London in 1992. Working at London's first out and proud lesbian
Lesbian
Lesbian is a term most widely used in the English language to describe sexual and romantic desire between females. The word may be used as a noun, to refer to women who identify themselves or who are characterized by others as having the primary attribute of female homosexuality, or as an...
& gay
Gay
Gay is a word that refers to a homosexual person, especially a homosexual male. For homosexual women the specific term is "lesbian"....
cafe-bar Lamé quickly became prominent on London’s alternative scene. She has a distinctive look, a chubby glamour-puss with trademark fly-away black-rimmed spectacles and an ironic take on the 1950s American housewife style.
She became a British citizen in early 2007, and in March 2009 Lamé had a civil partnership with her British partner Jenny. She is currently Mayoress of London Borough of Camden alongside Mayor Johnathan Simpson.
Performance
In 1994 Lamé made her stage debut in her first one-woman show Gay Man Trapped in a Lesbian's Body as part of ICAInstitute of Contemporary Arts
The Institute of Contemporary Arts is an artistic and cultural centre on The Mall in London, just off Trafalgar Square. It is located within Nash House, part of Carlton House Terrace, near the Duke of York Steps and Admiralty Arch...
London's Spring Exhibitions programme. There she was spotted by TV producer Neil Crombie and began her career in television.
In 1996 she wrote and performed 'Cum Manifesto', a one woman show about HIV and gay men's sexual and emotional health. The show successfully toured the UK and Denmark including seminal performances for hundreds of men on Hampstead Heath and Rochdale Canal cruising grounds at midnight.
In 2006 Lamé created her third one-woman show, Amy Lamé’s Mama Cass Family Singers. The show debuted at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival and was produced by the Soho Theatre London in association with Gilded Balloon. Lamé then enjoyed a successful run at the Soho Theatre
Soho Theatre
Soho Theatre is a theatre in the eponymous Soho district of the City of Westminster. It presents new works of theatre, together with comedy and cabaret....
, toured the UK and performed at The Powerhouse, Brisbane, Australia. After receiving a pink knitted breast on the opening night of her show from 'I Knit London', she found her passion for knitting and crochet. She can be regularly seen crocheting during stage performances. In November 2007 Lamé launched her project project 'Pom-Pom International' at the national UK Stitch ‘N Bitch Day. She has subsequently held pom-pom making parties at Duckie
Duckie (group)
Duckie is a collective of performance artists that describes itself as “a post-gay independent arts outfit.” They produce a mix of so-called "cultural interventions", such as club nights, new-mode pop, burlesque and performance events, as well as anti-theatre experimentation...
, London's Lesbian and Gay Festival 2008 and in Northern Ireland where she held the 'Pom-pom's for Peace Project'. She was previously a photographic model, twice a contestant in the international Alternative Miss World and was the face of brands such as Hula Hoops
Hula Hoops
Hula Hoops are a potato-based snack, in the shape of short, hollow cylinders. They were first introduced in 1973. Hula Hoops come in several different flavors. They are produced by KP Snacks...
. She has also appeared in music videos for Oasis
Oasis (band)
Oasis were an English rock band formed in Manchester in 1991. Originally known as The Rain, the group was formed by Liam Gallagher , Paul "Bonehead" Arthurs , Paul "Guigsy" McGuigan and Tony McCarroll , who were soon joined by Liam's older brother Noel Gallagher...
, Holly Johnson
Holly Johnson
Holly Johnson is an English artist, writer and musician, best known as the lead vocalist of Frankie Goes to Hollywood, and former bassist for Big in Japan.- Big in Japan :...
and Culture Club
Culture Club
Culture Club are a British rock band who were part of the 1980s New Romantic movement. The original band consisted of Boy George , Mikey Craig , Roy Hay and Jon Moss...
.
Duckie
In 1995 Lamé co-founded the OlivierLaurence Olivier Awards
The Laurence Olivier Award is presented annually by the Society of London Theatre to recognise excellence in professional theatre. Named after the renowned British actor Laurence Olivier, they are given for West End shows and other productions staged in London...
award winning performance club-night and collective Duckie
Duckie (group)
Duckie is a collective of performance artists that describes itself as “a post-gay independent arts outfit.” They produce a mix of so-called "cultural interventions", such as club nights, new-mode pop, burlesque and performance events, as well as anti-theatre experimentation...
with Simon Strange which she hosts every Saturday night at The Royal Vauxhall Tavern. She plays a pivotal role in programming, devising and hosting Duckie events. Working with the Duckie collective in 1997, Lamé devised, produced and hosted "The World's First Lesbian Beauty Contest" which was featured in the Guinness Book of World Records. The event caused quite a commotion challenging beauty myths, gender and sexual identities and body fascism. In 1996 she curated, produced and hosted Keep The Faith at Tate Britain
Tate Britain
Tate Britain is an art gallery situated on Millbank in London, and part of the Tate gallery network in Britain, with Tate Modern, Tate Liverpool and Tate St Ives. It is the oldest gallery in the network, opening in 1897. It houses a substantial collection of the works of J. M. W. Turner.-History:It...
which explored the links between the gallery's permanent collection and faith. She commissioned new work to be shown in the gallery for one night only including an interactive performance installation tea party with 30 Anglican priests; Joshua Sofaer's tale of meeting his Jews for Jesus missionary namesake, Joshua Sofaer, in Namesake: The Story of a Name; Johnathan Allen/Tommy Angel's performance exploring evangelism and belief using magic and illusion; and a Buddhist tour of the gallery. The event had the highest ever recorded number of participants - over 5,000 for Late at Tate. The Duckie brand also includes large-scale club night projects such as Vauxhall Pleasure Promenade (1999); Explosion! The Ghosts of Rock & Roll Soho (2000); C'est Vauxhall (2002); Liverpool is Burning (2008); Performance and Cocktails
Performance and Cocktails
Performance and Cocktails is Stereophonics' second album. It was released by V2 on 8 March 1999. The album was sponsored by Fender guitars which were used by the band on the album. All three members of the band were given equal credit for writing all the songs on this album...
(2010) and the annual alternative Pride event Gay Shame
Gay shame
Gay Shame is a movement from within the LGBT and queer communities described as a radical alternative to gay mainstreaming and directly posits an alternative view of traditional "gay pride" events and activities which have become increasingly commercialized with corporate sponsors and "safer"...
which started in 1996. In 2010 Duckie also made its festival debut at Latitude Festival
Latitude Festival
The Latitude Festival is an annual music festival that takes place in Henham Park, Southwold, Suffolk, England. It was first held in July 2006....
. The Duckie brand continues to produce award winning theatre events with many great things planned for 2011 and beyond.
Radio
Lamé has a varied radio career. She started on GLRBBC London 94.9
BBC London 94.9 is London's BBC Local Radio station, and part of BBC London. Broadcasting across Greater London and beyond on 94.9 FM, DAB, Virgin Media Channel 930, Sky Channel 0152 and also online...
where she co-presented Lavender Lounge
Lavender Lounge
Lavender Lounge was a public access television show in San Francisco that aired from 1991 to 1995. Mark Kliem was the creator and Executive Producer of Lavender Lounge, nicknamed "The Queer American Bandstand"....
. Lamé's voice has been heard on Radio 1
BBC Radio 1
BBC Radio 1 is a British national radio station operated by the British Broadcasting Corporation which also broadcasts internationally, specialising in current popular music and chart hits throughout the day. Radio 1 provides alternative genres after 7:00pm including electronic dance, hip hop, rock...
, 2, 3, 4 and 5. She co-presented the BBC London 94.9 Breakfast Show with her friend and colleague Danny Baker
Danny Baker
Danny Baker is an English comedy writer, journalist, radio DJ and screenwriter. Since the late 1970s, he has worked for a wide range of publications and broadcasters including NME, LWT, the BBC, and Talk Radio....
for over 3 years, winning a Sony Radio Academy Award for Best Entertainment along the way. She continues to present alongside Baker on the BBC London's afternoon show between 3-5pm Monday to Friday. Lamé is the co-founder and co-presenter of HomoLAB, a weekly queer cultural and current affairs podcast and voiceover. She voiced in-flight entertainment for Continental Airlines
Continental Airlines
Continental Airlines was a major American airline now merged with United Airlines. On May 3, 2010, Continental Airlines, Inc. and UAL, Inc. announced a merger via a stock swap, and on October 1, 2010, the merger closed and UAL changed its name to United Continental Holdings, Inc...
, Philippine Airlines
Philippine Airlines
Philippine Airlines, Inc. operating as Philippine Airlines, is a flag carrier of the Philippines. Headquartered in the Philippine National Bank Financial Center in Pasay City, the airline was founded in 1941 and is the first and oldest commercial airline in Asia operating under its original name...
, Virgin Trains
Virgin Trains
Virgin Trains is a train operating company in the United Kingdom. It operates long-distance passenger services on the West Coast Main Line between London, the West Midlands, North West England, North Wales and Scotland...
and also starred in radio advertisements for Warner Jazz Records.
TV
Alongside her live performance career Lamé has also enjoyed success in TV. She was a presenter on the BBC2 show Gaytime TVGaytime TV
Gaytime TV was a late-night gay-themed comedy and lifestyle magazine programme broadcast on BBC 2 in the United Kingdom. It was the first regular BBC television programme to directly address the gay and lesbian community, and won praise from the Daily Mail for its "lightness of touch that other...
for three series and went on to create and host her own panel game-show, The Staying In Show for C4
Channel 4
Channel 4 is a British public-service television broadcaster which began working on 2 November 1982. Although largely commercially self-funded, it is ultimately publicly owned; originally a subsidiary of the Independent Broadcasting Authority , the station is now owned and operated by the Channel...
. The list of shows Lamé has appeared on also includes: Market Kitchen
Market Kitchen
Market Kitchen is a cookery programme, made by Optomen, that premiered on Good Food in 2007. Presented by Rachel Allen, Amanda Lamb, Matt Tebbutt, Tom Parker Bowles and Matthew Fort, the programme concentrates on seasonal cooking and features visits to a local market to obtain seasonal produce...
for the last three years as features presenter; hosting many segments on The Richard and Judy Show - including a seven part series on regional Italian food and regular book reviews; Loose Women
Loose Women
Loose Women is a British lunchtime television programme, first broadcast in 1999 on ITV. It consists of a panel of four women who interview celebrities and discuss topical issues, ranging from daily politics and current affairs, to celebrity gossip...
; and Charity Chic. She has also appeared on two prime time ITV
ITV
ITV is the major commercial public service TV network in the United Kingdom. Launched in 1955 under the auspices of the Independent Television Authority to provide competition to the BBC, it is also the oldest commercial network in the UK...
reality shows, Celebrity Fit Club
Celebrity Fit Club
Celebrity Fit Club is a reality television series that follows eight overweight celebrities as they try to lose weight for charity. Split into two competing teams of four, each week teams are given different physical challenges, and weighed to see if they reached their target weights...
. and CelebAir
CelebAir
CelebAir is a reality TV series in which 11 celebrities performed the duties of cabin crew and check-in attendants. The series is presented by Angellica Bell and aired on ITV2 from 2 September 2008 until 23 October 2008, when Lisa Maffia was declared the winner.For the show, Monarch Airlines...
. She was the mentor for LGBTQ teenagers on Channel 4
Channel 4
Channel 4 is a British public-service television broadcaster which began working on 2 November 1982. Although largely commercially self-funded, it is ultimately publicly owned; originally a subsidiary of the Independent Broadcasting Authority , the station is now owned and operated by the Channel...
’s My Big Gay Prom, and regularly appears as a culture and current affairs commentator on programs including BBC Breakfast News, Daily Politics and Sky News
Sky News
Sky News is a 24-hour British and international satellite television news broadcaster with an emphasis on UK and international news stories.The service places emphasis on rolling news, including the latest breaking news. Sky News also hosts localised versions of the channel in Australia and in New...
.
Writing
Lamé has contributed short stories to the anthology Typical Girls published by Hodder and Stoughton. She also writes regular features on culture, travel and food for The TimesThe Times
The Times is a British daily national newspaper, first published in London in 1785 under the title The Daily Universal Register . The Times and its sister paper The Sunday Times are published by Times Newspapers Limited, a subsidiary since 1981 of News International...
, Woman’s Own, DIVA
Diva (magazine)
Diva is a leading lesbian magazine in the United Kingdom. It was launched in 1994 by Millivres Prowler Group Ltd., who also produce the Gay Times. The current editor is Jane Czyzselska, who was promoted to the position in 2004. It includes many articles dedicated to lesbian and bisexual social...
, The Independent
The Independent
The Independent is a British national morning newspaper published in London by Independent Print Limited, owned by Alexander Lebedev since 2010. It is nicknamed the Indy, while the Sunday edition, The Independent on Sunday, is the Sindy. Launched in 1986, it is one of the youngest UK national daily...
, The Observer
The Observer
The Observer is a British newspaper, published on Sundays. In the same place on the political spectrum as its daily sister paper The Guardian, which acquired it in 1993, it takes a liberal or social democratic line on most issues. It is the world's oldest Sunday newspaper.-Origins:The first issue,...
and others. Lamé is currently working on her first book.
Politics
She is an active member of the LabourLabour Party (UK)
The Labour Party is a centre-left democratic socialist party in the United Kingdom. It surpassed the Liberal Party in general elections during the early 1920s, forming minority governments under Ramsay MacDonald in 1924 and 1929-1931. The party was in a wartime coalition from 1940 to 1945, after...
party helping raise funds and hosting regular events. During the 2010 elections Lamé could be seen working closely with Angela Eagle
Angela Eagle
Angela Eagle is a British Labour Party politician, who has been the Member of Parliament for Wallasey since 1992. She served as the Minister of State for Pensions and Ageing Society from June 2009 until May 2010. Eagle was elected to the Shadow Cabinet in October 2010 and was appointed by Ed...
and Gordon Brown
Gordon Brown
James Gordon Brown is a British Labour Party politician who was the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom and Leader of the Labour Party from 2007 until 2010. He previously served as Chancellor of the Exchequer in the Labour Government from 1997 to 2007...
in Wallasey
Wallasey
Wallasey is a town within the Metropolitan Borough of Wirral, in Merseyside, England, on the mouth of the River Mersey, at the northeastern corner of the Wirral Peninsula...
. Lamé is mentioned in Sarah Brown's memoirs Behind the Black Door, where she details Lamé's hen night celebrations in Downing Street
Downing Street
Downing Street in London, England has for over two hundred years housed the official residences of two of the most senior British cabinet ministers: the First Lord of the Treasury, an office now synonymous with that of Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, and the Second Lord of the Treasury, an...
.
Charity work
Lamé is a supporter of StonewallStonewall (UK)
Stonewall is a lesbian, gay and bisexual rights charity in the United Kingdom named after the Stonewall Inn of Stonewall riots fame. Now the largest gay equality organization not only in the UK but in Europe, it was formed in 1989 by political activists and others lobbying against section 28 of the...
and hosts the Stonewall Equality Dinner at the Dorchester Hotel
Dorchester Hotel
The Dorchester is a luxury hotel in London, opened on 18 April 1931. It is situated on Park Lane in Mayfair, overlooking Hyde Park.The Dorchester was created by the famous builder Sir Robert McAlpine and the managing director of Gordon Hotels Ltd, Sir Frances Towle, who shared a vision of creating...
.
She is the spokeswoman for Cancer Research UK
Cancer Research UK
Cancer Research UK is a cancer research and awareness charity in the United Kingdom, formed on 4 February 2002 by the merger of The Cancer Research Campaign and the Imperial Cancer Research Fund. Its aim is to reduce the number of deaths from cancer. As the world's largest independent cancer...
. She also took part in the Race for Life
Race for Life
Race for Life is a series of fundraising events organised by the British charity, Cancer Research UK. They involve running, jogging or walking a 5-kilometre course and raising sponsorship for doing so. The money raised is donated to the charity to fund cancer research and campaigns...
in 2009 and 2010.
Other charities she supports include Diabetes UK
Diabetes UK
Diabetes UK is a patient, healthcare professional and research charity dedicated to improving the lives of people with diabetes and to working towards a future without the chronic condition diabetes....
, London's LGBT Switchboard, Amnesty International
Amnesty International
Amnesty International is an international non-governmental organisation whose stated mission is "to conduct research and generate action to prevent and end grave abuses of human rights, and to demand justice for those whose rights have been violated."Following a publication of Peter Benenson's...
, Foodchain (providing hot meals for people with HIV
HIV
Human immunodeficiency virus is a lentivirus that causes acquired immunodeficiency syndrome , a condition in humans in which progressive failure of the immune system allows life-threatening opportunistic infections and cancers to thrive...
), Roundhouse
Roundhouse
A roundhouse is a building used by railroads for servicing locomotives. Roundhouses are large, circular or semicircular structures that were traditionally located surrounding or adjacent to turntables...
and Christian Aid
Christian Aid
Christian Aid is the official relief and development agency of 40 British and Irish churches and works to support sustainable development, alleviate poverty, support civil society and provide disaster relief in South America, the Caribbean, the Middle East, Africa and Asia...
.