Katherine Ryan, the 42-year-old Canadian comedian, has recently declared "I love money!". Ryan isn't shy about discussing her financial success, framing it as a result of hard work, talent, and resilience. She challenges the notion that women should downplay their achievements to remain likable, viewing financial independence as a feminist issue that provides freedom, security, and the ability to invest in the future.

Ryan's unapologetic stance is a refreshing contrast to the "celebrity omertà" surrounding money, where success is often attributed to luck or simply doing what one loves. She believes it's "provocative" to talk about money and aims to challenge the shame associated with ambition and wealth.

Her Netflix series, "The Duchess," which she created and starred in, has elements inspired by her life. While the lead character isn't a direct portrayal of Ryan, the comedian admits the show draws from her experiences. The central mother-daughter relationship depicted in the series mirrors the importance of that bond in Ryan's own life.

One specific instance where Ryan's life influenced "The Duchess" involved a disagreement with the production company. Ryan wanted the character's daughter to have a horse, reflecting her own daughter's life, but the idea was questioned and ultimately scrapped from the show.

Ryan has stated that the character in "The Duchess" is more like her stage persona than her actual self. The comedian also joked that, unlike the character in the show, she has never been pregnant by a boyband star or shouted at mothers at the school gates.

Despite the differences, Ryan acknowledges that the series offers insights into her as a person and performer. She approaches the confusion between her real life and the show with a nonchalant attitude, likening it to Eminem's approach of being "whatever you say I am".

Ryan's career took off after she moved to the UK and initially experienced financial struggles. She credits "ballsiness" as a crucial skill for navigating the comedy world and media, viewing confidence as a form of self-defense in industries that often question women's legitimacy. Ryan's direct and unsentimental brand of feminism challenges the expectation that women must soften their message to be accepted. She embraces her experiences, behaviors, and mistakes, using them as material for her comedy and creating a connection with her audience.