Whoopi Goldberg

No female stand-up comedian has ever been so well respected in a male dominated world. Gravel voiced, socially conscious Goldberg broke onto the scene through improvisational comedy and character based monologues and has also starred in a host of Hollywood movies

Woody Allen

This neurotic, New York-loving Jewish comedian arguably invented a vein of stand-up unique to himself. His urbane, sophisticated, yet always anxious observations on relationships, life and sex became his trademark and his early stand-up would later influence a host of films.