Rosie O’Donnell picks her comedy favourites

American comedy star Rosie O’Donnell is making her Edinburgh Fringe debut, having moved to Ireland – though she also lives rent-free in Donald Trump’s head. Here she picks her Perfect Playlist of comedy favourites…

Barbra Streisand: Funny Girl

One memory of a favourite thing in movies is Barbra Streisand. Funny Girl - the entire film. Everything, all the funny little quips, you know? 

‘A bit of pâté?’ 

‘I drink it all day!’ 

I just think she’s the greatest star in all the world by far and to watch her in Funny Girl brings me back to my childhood and to a time when my mother was living and we were enjoying our love of Barbra Streisand together. So, Barbra is up there for me in terms of comedy and performance. 

Mandy Patinkin in Princess Bride.

The  next comedy scene that I just think is gold is Mandy Patinkin in Princess Bride. He just makes me laugh, yah know… 'My name is Inigo Montoya, you killed my father, prepare to die.'

Wally Shawn in Princess Bride

Yes, I am having two from the same film. Wally Shawn is just so funny, I love it and if any of these movies are on; When Harry Met Sally, Funny Girl, The Princess Bride; I stop and watch, no matter where I am.

Bette Midler: Clams on the Half Shell

I’m gonna say for the next one, Bette Midler, Clams on the Half Shell on Broadway. Fantastic - and that’s when I fell in love with Bette Midler.  I knew that I wanted to be Bette Midler and I wanted to do what Bette Midler did and I wanted to be around Bette Midler. My goal in life was to be a Harlette - even though I really couldn’t sing or harmonise or belt or do any of the things that the Harlettes could do, never mind being sexy and great at dancing,

 I didn’t let that deter me, I still thought I’m gonna be a Harlette or be on Broadway like Bette was. She started her career in Fiddler on the Roof and I think she’s divine, ladies and gentlemen. 

The Mary Tyler Moore Show

One of my favourite comedy moments is from the Mary Tyler Moore Show; the best sitcom that’s ever been on television, in my opinion. It’s the last episode, the last scene, when Mary and the gang from WJM are in the newsroom and they’re saying goodbye to each other and they hug, and then they move in unison to get a tissue and then they move back and they sing ‘It’s a Long Way to Tipperary’. It really breaks me down every time I see it and it’s so funny, and it’s so beautiful, and I love it. 

The Sound Of Music

 And the last one is from The Sound of Music. It’s when the nuns have taken the carburetors out of the Nazi cars and they walk in and it’s the woman who played Mrs  Quartermaine on General Hospital all those years ago, that’s the woman who said, ‘Reverend Mother, I have sinned’, and she took out the carburetor from underneath her habit.

That just to me, was one of the most wonderfully played comedic scenes I’ve ever seen. It really meant a lot to me emotionally too, especially nowadays ladies and gentlemen. Do all you can, honey. 

[We can’t embed this one, but it’s here]

• Rosie O’Donnell: Common Knowledge  is on at Gilded Balloon Appleton Tower at 8.45pm from August 1 to 10 during the Edinburgh Fringe

Published: 24 Jul 2025