Annie Boyle’s stand-up comedy show in Sydney took an unexpected turn when she came out to her audience, unaware that her grandmother and cousin were in attendance. The emotional moment followed a difficult six months for Boyle, who had recently lost her mother. To show their support, her family traveled from Henty, with her grandmother flying for the first time in her life. After the show, they surprised her with a text message from the front of the theatre. “They were just so proud of me performing, which honestly was the best outcome,” Boyle said. “I didn’t see them in the crowd, which was for the best; I don’t think I’d have got through the show!”
Born and raised in Henty, Boyle is set to embark on an Australian tour of her coming-out show, To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before, starting in March 2024. The tour will kick off in Adelaide before moving to Melbourne and Sydney. Boyle describes her show as a reflection on family, feminism, and the few decent men in her life, which she humorously narrows down to her two brothers, her father, and the 2017 Richmond premiership team.
“This is a show about sexuality, identity, and growing up as a girl who was better at footy than the boys, until the boys got to keep playing and I didn’t,” Boyle explained. Her passion for football began early; she started playing Auskick at the age of five and would practice handballing into a pot plant holder for hours. However, she faced restrictions when she turned 14. “Once I was 14, I couldn’t play football anymore because I was a girl,” she said.
In her primary school years, Boyle made a significant change to the school’s uniform policy. “Because I would always play soccer at lunchtime with the boys, I couldn’t be the soccer player I wanted to be in a pinafore!” she recalled. Her advocacy led to the introduction of pants into the uniform, complete with pockets. “That was a real game-changer, and they’re still there!”
After moving to Sydney to pursue acting, Boyle continued to play football for the Sydney University Bombers and the Giants Academy. Although she had always enjoyed comedy, it wasn’t until later that she considered it a viable career. “In all the acting roles I had at uni, I was always the comic relief,” she noted. “So, I had a choice to make: Is it footy or is it comedy? What’s it gonna be?”
Growing up in a family that emphasized a strong work ethic and a love for sports, Boyle felt encouraged to pursue her interests. She described her father, a builder, as a “feminist” without even realizing it. “When I was younger, my dad would make me tee off with the boys at the men’s tee when we played golf together,” she said. “That made me believe I could do it just as well.”
Boyle has appeared in various television shows, including Colin From Accounts and the upcoming series The F Ward. She appreciates the balance between scripted work and stand-up comedy, noting that while scripted roles can leave her feeling vulnerable, stand-up provides immediate feedback. “Stand-up gives me an immediate response that you don’t get with TV; you don’t know how it’s landed,” she explained.
After celebrating Christmas with her family at Lake Hume Resort, a tradition she cherishes, Boyle traveled to London to visit her partner. Despite the chilly temperatures reaching minus four degrees, she fondly recalls the warmth of the Riverina. “I’m like a solar panel; I need the sun to give me energy!”
With her comedic talent and passion for football, Boyle continues to break barriers and inspire others through her work. As she prepares for her upcoming tour, audiences can expect a show that celebrates her journey of self-discovery and resilience in the face of life’s challenges.
