Laura Hughes is an Australian Comedian, Writer and Actor. She has appeared in TBS series The Detour created by Samantha Bee and Jason Jones across two seasons in the role of Laura.

Laura completed her BA in Acting at Charles Sturt University and has professional experience in TV, film and stage in both Australia and LA.

After being inspired by the calibre of comedy in Australia, Laura decided to venture into the world of stand-up. Laura has been a fast-rising star in the comedy scene; Triple J RAW Comedy National finalist in 2011 and handpicked by the Melbourne International Comedy Festival as one of Australia’s up-and-coming stars for the Comedy Zone Showcase in 2012. Laura returned to the festival in 2013 with her debut solo show Welcome to Planet Earth.

Laura has appeared on Sam Simmons’ ABC TV comedy Problems, the Peter Helliar dating comedy It’s A Date and on the SBS sketch shows Legally Brown and Legally Brown 2. Laura appeared in the comedy series 8MMM on ABC TV, and the sketch comedy series Open Slather for Foxtel.

Laura won the Green Card lottery in 2011 and has since been splitting her time between Sydney and Los Angeles. In LA, she has spent her time working on her craft by studying at the prestigious improvisation schools Upright Citizens Brigade (co-founded by Amy Poehler) and Groundlings (which boasts impressive alumni including Will Ferrell, Kristen Wiig and Melissa McCarthy).

Laura directed her first short film You Wanna Order Pizza? which was selected as a finalist in 2014’s TropFest. This was her second time as a finalist. Her film The Mistake, which she produced and starred in, has since travelled the world with TropFest and gone viral on YouTube with over 4 million views.

In 2017, Laura’s series The Big Day was selected for ABC’s Fresh Blood and is available to watch online. Currently, she can be seen on ABC’s satirical lifestyle show At Home Alone Together.

 Television

TEN POUND POMS (Series 2 )
Role: Nurse. Dir: Various, BBC | Stan, 2024
REEF SCHOOL (Series 2)
Role: Various. Dir. Kate Murphy, ABC 2023
AT HOME ALONE TOGETHER
Role: Birgit. ABC TV 2020
THE DETOUR (Series 4)
Role: Laura. Dir: Jason Jones, TBS Productions 2019
THE BIG DAY (Web series)
Role: Various. Dir: Bryan Moses, 2018
THE DETOUR (Series 2)
Role: Laura. Dir: Brennan Shroff, TBS Productions 2017
OPEN SLATHER
Role: Various. Dir: Natalie Bailey, McWaters Productions Pty Ltd 2015
8MMM
Role: Koala. Dir: Dena Curtis, 8MMM Productions P/L 2014
LEGALLY BROWN (Series 2)
Role: Various. Endemol Australia Productions Pty Ltd 2014
DAYNE’S WORLD (Web series)
Role: Laura. Dir: Mike Nayna, Endemol Productions 2014
BACK SEAT DRIVERS
Self. Dir: Bryan Moses, ABC TV 2014
LEGALLY BROWN
Role: Various. Southern Star Productions 2013
IT’S A DATE
Role: Charlize. Dir: Jonathan Brough. It’s a Date Productions 2013
PROBLEMS
Role: Bus Crush/Sam’s mum/Mermaid. Dir: Trent O’Donnell, Guesswork Television 2012
DISENCHANTED
Role: Rapunzel. Dir: Aaron Bergman Jackson 2012
IN THE ZONE
Self. Dir: Kaylene Tyler, Channel 31 2012
SPIRITED (Series 2)
Role: Annie Winter Dir: Jonathan Brough, Southern Star Productions
LAID
Role: Woman 1 Dir: Trent O’Donnell, Porchlight Films
REVIEW WITH MYLES BARLOW, (Series 1 & 2)
Role: A Current Affair Reporter Dir: Trent O’Donnell, ABC TV

Film

BRAIN ON DRUGS (short)
Role: Laura. Dir: Desiree Nash, 2018
WIG (short)
Dir: Douglas James Burgdorff, 2018
THE TAIL JOB
Role: Mona Bickmore. Dir: David James Millar, Bryan Moses, Moses Millar 2016
YOU WANNA ORDER PIZZA?
Role: Bee. Dir: Laura Hughes, 2014
THE MISTAKE (Short)
Role: Lead. Dir Brian Moses 2012. * Tropfest Finalist
EATING ERIN ROBBINS (Short)
Role: Erin Robbins. Dir: Raymond Cinemato, JaR Productions 2012
SUING THE DEVIL
Role: Reporter in France Dir: Tim Chey, Mouth Watering Productions
THE GATES OF HEAVEN (Short)
Role: Kaitlyn Dir: Raymond Cinemato, Jar Productions
AFTER THE CREDITS (Short)
Role: Vanessa. Dir: Josh Lawson 2010
CREAM SODA
Role: Jessica. Dir: Jameel Saleem, Blue Road Entertainment 2010
DONATION ONLY (Short)
Role: Sarah Dir: Bryan Moses, Turnip Boy Films
MAKE-UP (Short)
Role: Sophie Dir: Bryan Moses, Fistworthy Productions

Live Shows

WELCOME TO PLANET EARTH
Solo show. Melbourne International Comedy Festival 2013
RAW COMEDY
Stand Up Comedy Performer Melbourne International Comedy Festival 2011
THE REGAL HISTORY OF OUR WILLY
Role: Charity Short and Sweet
NARRATE THIS
Role: Lead Short and Sweet

Education / Training

Bachelor of Arts from Charles Sturt University
Acting, Voice, Movement, Dance, Improv
Acting for Camera – NIDA
Voice Training – Robert Bickerstaff
Acting for Camera – TVI Studios, LA
Scene study, commercials, auditioning, cold reading, hosting, soap technique, improv

Awards

MONACO FILM FESTIVAL Winner – Best Original Short Story for Make-Up (2008)