She’s graced stages across North America, appeared on America’s Got Talent, Netflix, Just For Laughs, and Don’t Tell Comedy, and shared the spotlight (and the punchlines) with her husband, fellow comedian Matt O’Brien. But long before Julia Hladkowicz was making audiences laugh on international stages, she was a shy kid from Ottawa finding her voice as “the Chicken” in her elementary school play.
Growing up in the capital, Hladkowicz describes her childhood with signature wit. “Oh, you know, it was a typical Ottawa childhood,” she says. “Frolicking in the tulips, skating the canal, hanging out with government officials, rubbing elbows with politicians. Usual kid stuff.” Her love of performance took root early, nurtured by afternoons at Centrepointe Theatre, weekend trips to the ByWard Market with her mom, and summers spent knitting, gardening, and goofing around with her sister and grandparents. “I was actually a pretty shy kid,” she recalls, “but when I got a big laugh as the Chicken in Jack and the Beanstalk, it felt great. That was it for me.”
By high school, she was all in. Choosing Canterbury Arts High School over Glebe, Hladkowicz dove into drama, improv, and dance. “I had glasses, braces, and a perm,” she laughs. “So, I got funny. It was the only way.” When top theatre schools didn’t pan out, she pivoted, enrolling at Humber College for Comedy Writing and Performance at just 17. “I applied on a whim,” she says. “I can’t believe how young I was. But that’s where it all started.”
Her early days on stage were rough and glorious all at once. “I had confidence and quirk, but I was… not good,” she admits. “I didn’t know who I was as a human, let alone as a comedian.” Stage time at Toronto’s Spirits Bar & Grill and a warm welcome from the late Joanna Downey gave her the foundation she needed. She got better, earned a spot with Yuk Yuk’s, and began touring across Canada, “sometimes in clubs, sometimes in a hockey fundraiser at a poorly lit community centre.”
Recognition followed quickly. She was nominated for the “Fresh Meat” Award in honour of Tim Sims, performed on the legendary Bitch Salad showcases, and was embraced by Toronto’s queer comedy scene. Commercial work soon became her bread and butter, including two Lindt ads alongside tennis icon Roger Federer. “In 2015 I was a New Face at Just For Laughs,” she says, “and in 2016, I did my first TV taping. That year ended with a sold-out New Year’s Eve show at Massey Hall, then we packed up my dad’s old Mazda and drove to L.A. eight days later.”
That leap led her straight into the bright lights of America’s Got Talent . “Honestly, I wasn’t going to audition,” she says. “Then Matt got a showcase, and the booker asked if I wanted to do one too. I figured, why not?” The process was surreal, part spectacle, part marathon. “It’s the only show where a comedian is competing against a nine-year-old singer or a 30-person dance crew from Berlin,” she laughs. “You’re just hanging out in a massive airplane hangar with everyone, trying to stay focused.”
She and Matt performed back-to-back, an unforgettable television moment. “I was freaking out a bit,” she admits. “Terry Crews is clutching my shoulders, a camera’s in my face, Matt’s killing it, and then it’s my turn. So I walked out and started twerking. To no music. I don’t know why, but it broke the tension.” Mel B’s immediate reaction was “I can already tell I like you,” and that set the tone. “She told me she loved me! I was obsessed with the Spice Girls growing up, so that was a full-circle dream moment.”
Despite both receiving four yes votes from the judges, neither advanced to the live shows. “It was a bummer, but that’s showbiz, baybeee,” she says, laughing. “We’re married, competing on reality TV, both get yes votes and standing ovations… what more do you want, eh?!”
Ontario-born comedian Julia Hladkowicz takes the stage for Season 20 of America’s Got Talent in 2025, delivering laugh-after-laugh after surprising the judges and audience by appearing just after her husband’s act.
AMERICA’S GOT TALENT — “Auditions” Episode 2009 — Pictured: Julia Hladkowicz — (Photo by: Trae Patton/NBC)
Now based in Los Angeles, Hladkowicz continues to write, perform, and create. She and Matt recently faced off on Roast Battle Canada. “It’s nice being married to someone who fully understands this insane career,” she says. “We keep each other laughing. We make silly videos, run podcasts, and have a new one, Do Not Recline, coming before the end of the year.”
Her comedy heroes range from Robin Williams—whom she met early in her career—to modern icons like Rory Scovel and Nikki Glaser. “I admire comics who are authentically themselves,” she says. “Nikki’s incredible, she writes nonstop and still finds time to lift up other comedians.” Her own material often stems from everyday life. “One night Matt was snoring, and I couldn’t sleep,” she says. “I wrote down, ‘MEN SNORING IS THE PATRIARCHY.’ That became one of my favourite jokes.”
Offstage, Hladkowicz credits her family for shaping her humour. “My mom’s hilarious without meaning to be, and my dad introduced us to plays and classic comedies like Airplane!,” she says. Diagnosed with ADHD later in life, she reflects that comedy became a natural outlet. “I always felt a bit ‘other,’ and humour was my way of fitting in.”
For those hoping to follow in her footsteps, she doesn’t sugarcoat it. “Don’t do it! It’s a trap,” she jokes. “But if you must, immerse yourself completely. Go to open mics, be nice to everyone, and don’t compare yourself. It’s a long road, so enjoy every minute.”
This December, she’s back in Ottawa for a one-night co-headline show with Matt O’Brien at Laugh Lounge on December 13th. “Flying around the holidays with our rescue chihuahua is stressful,” she laughs, “so we’re celebrating Christmas early this year.” Her perfect Ottawa holiday? “Fireplace roaring, Christmas tree sparkling, a glass of wine and a cheese plate, watching Christmas Vacation with family. There’s no better feeling than being snug as a bug in a rug when it’s cold outside.”
Follow Julia on Instagram @juliacomedy
