Claire Lim, known to her fans as Wee Claire, is a television presenter, Twitch streamer, podcaster, and comic-con panel host. A lifelong geek, who grew up loving comics, sci-fi and movies. In the last year, she’s presented many panels for MCM, including Loki with Tom Hiddleston, Sophie Di Martino and Jonathan Majors, Sandman with Tom Sturridge, and Mason Alexander Park. For Salt Lake City Comic Con this year, Claire hosted panels for the Walking Dead and more. In his extended interview, she talks about her early life, her geek passions and her career so far.
Last October, I had the pleasure of going behind the scenes with you at MCM London and seeing you work from the other side of the curtain as it were. In that, and in our conversations previously, one thing stands out: You genuinely love geek culture. What led to this? What were your early years like?
It's purely down to mum. When I was younger, we watched The X-Files and Star Trek The Next Generation together. I still have a soft spot for Trek as it happens. I was really into sci-fi. There were always movies playing in our house and thanks to my mum, they were mainly sci-fi and action!
What about comics? I remember some of our first conversations being about Spider-Man.
Spider-Man. And I was really into Jim Lee's X-Men. I loved those! But I think the thing that really made me realise I loved talking about this stuff was Red Dwarf.
How so?
I would make radio shows with my older brother. All about the previous night's Red Dwarf episode. Almost like podcasts! Just like podcasts today, in fact. Only we would do them on cassette tape. Because it was the '90s (laughs).
He was young. I was super young. We would go over the lines from the show, re-enact scenes, and talk about why the lines were funny... we would just laugh lots, and we would dissect the characters. I didn't know why I enjoyed doing that at the time – you don't when you're younger- but I've realised now that I liked the themes of sci-fi.
When did the radio shows stop?
They kind of didn't! It carried on through my younger years and my teens. I enjoyed writing, too. I did well at school and loved to write essays and I loved to dissect things, but I wanted to dissect film, TV, and comics! And back then, I didn't really know there was a career path for that.
As soon as I realised that there was a path for that, I think I started to subconsciously move toward it and I was always attracted to the idea of actually making things. I loved the idea of presenting but being creative and actually making something appealed greatly.
I had this idea to make wee shows but you have to remember this is before YouTube - it just seemed impossible! Nowadays it's really easy. But being creative in that way wasn't encouraged by my parents, as it didn't seem like a "stable" option career-wise. and it definitely wasn't encouraged at school. All the careers I wanted, like being an artist, a comic book artist, jobs in the media, being a writer... the school I was at had a great art department and I used to sit in there for hours drawing and painting but to actually go on and do anything creative as a career? That wasn't something they pushed.
You were being guided towards something other than those?
“Why don't you become a lawyer, why don't you do something to do 'with computers'” were the responses I got. But I sort of knew that my future lay in something other than being another body in an office. So when I sit and I think about it, I think it's passion that's got me to this point. It's pure... stupidity (Laughs) and passion.
For me, sci-fi, comics, movies... it always seemed as if they were the purview of introverts. Were you an introvert growing up, do you think? Even though now what you do is the complete antithesis of that...
I'm kind of like an introvert in extrovert's clothing, I think that's the best way to describe me. I think people look at me and think I like the limelight, or I like being on stage or I like having lots of eyes on me but if I'm honest, I just love my job. It's about the love of doing a job you really feel happy in, and you shouldn't ever pursue something for the fleeting dopamine hit of "attention". That was never the goal. As I said, I'm not extroverted in that way. Growing up, I was a dreamer and I sat in my room for a long time by myself but there was still a need to communicate that somehow, I did want to share what I was doing via playing guitar, drawing, or whatever else I was doing. Just because you're an introvert, doesn't mean you don't want to share parts of yourself with the world. I found creative endeavours very healing, and I still do.
Even though I had my brother, I still spent a lot of time on my own. I didn't have too many friends, so I spent a lot of time dreaming and riding my bike! We didn't live in the city center in Glasgow. We lived just outside it, nearer the countryside. So I rode my bike everywhere and imagined another life. I love visualising - I still do it. I imagine a dream life, things I want, and places I want to be. And when I'm not doing my job, I'm completely alone – which I prefer!
(Laughs)
I have to have that quiet time. So I would say that I have introverted traits, but for the things I want and the things I want to do I have to be outward-facing and I guess people may deem that to be outgoing. But I would say my real spirit and soul are introverted!
I guess if you grow up in quite rural places there is the allure of the 'bright lights, big city'. I imagine that watching the things you watched, Red Dwarf, Star Trek, and reading comics... all that only increased that allure. Were you chomping at the bit to get out there and get to a place where you could more readily access more of this kind of pop culture?
Yeah, I was miserable. I hated being at home.
(Laughs)
I really hated it. One of my earliest memories was that I remember arguing with my mum. And I put everything, all my toys, all into a little bag and said “I'm leaving now!” and my mum said, “OK, go!” I went “Bye!” and off I went up the driveway.
Did you get far?
I was four! No! I was too little and too scared. But I remember feeling like it was the right thing to do in my soul! (Laughter). Glasgow is a great city. It's a big city, loads of bands come through there, lots of artists, you can see anything you want, do anything you want... But for me, it just wasn't big enough! So, I was watching films and television shows and feeling like I'd grown up in the wrong country. I'd watch things like Speed and Point Break (I'm a big Keanu fan), and I'd think ‘I'd like to be in a place like that’!
Years later, when I touched down at LAX, I could hear the Speed music in my head! (Claire proceeds to hum a spot-on rendition of the theme from Speed). I was like “We're here! We've made it!” I could hear that music in my head and I was like... I've done it! It felt right. I think I've always been attracted to 'big' places, full of weird people and strange opportunities. I like weird, big, and strange, and I like things to be difficult, which sounds weird I know - I don't like things to be too easy. Life is very short and the easy way out, for me, feels like death. So I like a bit of a struggle. It feels like a challenge - like playing a really annoying video game – that's how I view life! Like a very irritating, fun video game. But I kind of want to '100%' it!
You want to win?
Well, I like challenges and I think trying to go for your goals in that way is the biggest challenge.
Let’s stay with that. What were some of your earliest jobs and challenges?
Well, I started out as a writer. I think if you want to have a career in presenting, you have to have good writing and research skills, regardless of whether or not you studied journalism, you have to have those instincts or develop those instincts. Now, journalism wasn't something I studied, but I ended up writing for newspapers and magazines for many years, and I think I got those chances because I started running a music fanzine.
Really? For which bands?
It was an Idlewild fanzine called Broken Violin, which was a lyric from one of their tracks, because I LOVED Idlewild! But pretty soon, Broken Violin grew from just being about Idlewild to being about bands on the Glasgow music scene, because I really liked the idea of community. And I loved talking to smaller bands and giving them a chance or helping push art that you might not otherwise hear much about. I still love doing that. I just did a film panel in front of fifty people for a documentary called 'Eternal Spring'.That was hugely important to me because it's a smaller film that has an important message. I really loved talking to bands and helping get their creativity out there. Those are the things that mean something to me, creativity and community. Those are two things that have followed me all through my life, no matter how big or small the job and that's why I loved doing those fanzines.
Did doing those give you interview opportunities? Do you remember your first interview?
Unsurprisingly, it was Idlewild! It was at Stirling University because they were playing the student union there. I was nervous because I loved Idlewild, but... You know, I still get nervous interviewing people, because I don't want to mess up. Actors, bands... They don't make me nervous, but the thought of messing up does because I want to be taken seriously and do well at my job, and I wanted that, even back then. So I did a lot of research and knew a lot about Idlewild. I went in and we had a really good chat. It was a good interview.
All this from a Fanzine! At the time, that got you noticed as a writer?
Yeah. My feeling is if you want to be an actor, a writer, a presenter... whatever: just go do it. Even if it's just for yourself at first, because if you're just talking about it, you're never going to be that thing - do the thing, don't just talk about the thing! So I thought, OK, I want to write. I'll be a writer. I'll start a fanzine! So I started looking into how to get PR's contact details. This was in the '90s, so no internet – or barely any internet.
But you broke through?
I've always been quite good at research, and I'm very tenacious and very determined. You have to have a big old dollop of determination, and even if people knock you back, you have to have a very thick skin and just keep going and going...
And the writing was great! I loved meeting bands and talking to bands. I loved hearing their stories and despite my predilection for being alone in my downtime, I like people! Genuinely, when I sit down and interview bands or celebrities, or actors, I love their stories, I'm interested in what they have to say. I love hearing how someone becomes a voice actor, or hearing the craziest tour story someone has ever told me, or... weird stuff! People are really weird, in the best possible ways, and you meet a lot of interesting people. But that was sort of where I got my start. Through fanzines then writing.
How did you get into presenting?
I had worked in the media for many years and knew a producer at the BBC wanting to find new contributors for a new platform called BBC The Social, which was in its infancy at the time. He gave me a 30-minute crash course in video editing and told me what they wanted. I learn very fast so I picked it all up quickly and agreed to make videos for them and the rest is history!
And you found your groove there?
I loved the idea of creating content that was unique to me and my interests but it took me away from the writing because writing is a long process and the videos didn't feel as laborious to me, plus I love weird visuals and coming up with new ideas. So after this, I kept knocking on doors and going “Hey! Do you like this idea? Do you like that idea?” (laughs). And I went back to what I did when I was sixteen, with the fanzines. I went and found film P.R. emails and asked to interview people, only now I was doing it for other companies like the BBC and not for my wee fanzine. So that was my start in presenting really. This was all I ever wanted to do, plus, it's not like I have another career to fall back on. In an apocalypse, I'd be useless – I've got no other skills! This is the only skill I've got!
(Laughs) Do you have any favourites of all the people you've interviewed over your career so far?
One of my favourite on-camera experiences was with Jamie Lee Curtis. It was the first in the most recent trilogy (Halloween, Halloween Kills, Halloween Ends), back in 2018. I was really nervous because she's an icon, and I wanted to make sure I got the questions right. At the junket, one by one, every writer and presenter was coming out of that room saying she was difficult and that she was scary, and that they thought they had messed up. They all looked like they were having a dreadful time, which made me feel even more nervous. So, I did something I'd never done before: I ripped up all the questions I'd prepared! I NEVER do this, by the way. Never. But I scrapped every question and reframed all of them. So I went in and, instead of talking about how she was, 'a strong woman in film', I asked about her character's trauma and how the film was about that, and how she deals with that and she immediately said: “Thank you so much for saying that! Yes, she's a badass, but she's dealing with so much trauma!” And that was exactly what she wanted to talk about. I absolutely melted. I was so happy! And when I left, I overheard her saying to her PR “I really liked her, she was good!” And I thought 'That's cool!', because you just want to know you've done a good job. So Jamie Lee and, I think, Linda Hamilton.
I love her. What was she like?
She's a very striking woman. Very friendly, very warm-hearted. This was an off-camera interview, and we got to speak for about 20 minutes, but from the moment I walked in she was like “You're so cute!” And she kept patting me on the back and hugging me! And I thought 'Can you be my mum?' (laughs) So she was great.
I found those two women so interesting. Of course, there's the Jeff Goldblums of the world. I loved speaking to him because he's wacky but – not that he doesn't have a lot to say and I'm just using him as an example – Jamie Lee and Linda had things to say! Whereas it's very much the Jeff Goldblum show when you talk to him – although he's still very cool and super funny, I enjoyed my chat with him. Linda and Jamie Lee, were just very interesting, very intelligent, and very astute, and that's very inspiring to me. They've just such fascinating lives.
I'll bet. They're two actors who never get enough press, in my opinion. What about on-stage interviews?
I would say Sean Astin was very nice. What struck me about him was... You know, when you go into the 'green room' at events, some people are shy, or keep to themselves, or don't talk. Nobody is unfriendly, they'll smile and nod and acknowledge you, but it's weird. It's like the first day at school and by the end of the weekend, you're all pals! (laughs) But Sean was immediately like: “Hi, I'm Sean!” and shook my hand. I introduced myself and told him, “I'm doing your panel”, and he was very much “Oh, cool! Where are you from, Claire?” and straight away, you get this sense he's just a lovely bloke. We ended up doing 'The Potato Meme' on stage, and he was just very relaxed and fun. I've never... I've not really had any bad experiences - people are either very professional and you just get what you get, or they're super nice. I've never had a terrible experience.
I remember seeing you on stage at the October 2021 MCM, where you were interviewing Tom Hiddleston, Sophie Di Martino, and Jonathan Majors from Loki. I kind of feel like I really saw you light up when you were talking to Jonathan Majors because it felt like he went off-script! He was very much there to do his own thing. So it's interesting to hear you talk about how you like people who are wacky and are willing to be a bit stranger, a bit weirder.
Absolutely! I loved doing that particular panel. They were all great people to chat with in different ways.
I think it's fair to say you're the premiere, go-to panel host for MCM now. You do the London show, and the Birmingham show and they seem to love you (and quite rightly). Is there anything you have to go armed with for every interview? Things you have to remember that apply across the board? Or do you switch it up depending on whom you're talking with?
Interviewing someone for the first time is a strange experience because you're two strangers that have to look like you get on really well. So I guess the best thing is to find a way to sort of... emulate that feeling for the audience, because it's about their enjoyment, not your enjoyment, you know? It's not about me looking cool or looking good. It's about what the fans think. Doing comic cons like MCM is 100% fans first.
The community. The audience experience and participation are important to you? You do such huge audiences. I've been to some of those and I find them – even just sitting there – quite intimidating.
MCM has such a great community. You have to remember that people are there to have a good time and enjoy themselves, and I think, particularly with the Loki panel from last October that you mentioned, I could have burped into the mic and people would have gone “WOOOOO!”(laughs). They were just so excited to just be there! And when I was doing that panel I thought 'Wait a minute... I'm a fan of this stuff! I'm excited to be here too! I'm a nerd, they're nerds! They're feeling exactly the same things I am and they're super excited!' So you have fun with it and play with it. I want people to have a good time
I like people to have a good time. I want people to laugh. I love people smiling. I love it when they ask amazing questions themselves during the fan Q+As. There was someone at The Sandman panel I did at MCM London recently, who asked about trans actors and it was clearly very important to them and I really felt for them. I love that feeling, that connection. This is an important moment for people and some people wait all year round for this, and getting up to ask a question and receive a reply from people they admire is hugely important to them, so that really means something. If I can give something to the community, even if it's just facilitating some sort of joy for folks via being a panel moderator, even if only one person is affected, that makes me very happy!
Sometimes, people will come up to you – not often, because I'm just the moderator – and say “I really enjoyed that. Thank you for asking this or that.” And that's what makes it really worthwhile for me. It sounds cheesy. But that's the end goal. The physical manifestation of hugging someone or shaking their hand when they've really had fun at one of your panels... all that stuff is a really wonderful feeling. And I do like giving that joy back... because I'm a nerd!
Talk about the work element. What happens to bring you to that point?
Before I speak to somebody, I watch a hell of a lot of YouTube videos! And that's important - I watch, I don't read - Because I like to get a feeling of what somebody's like.
But the most important thing for me is to go in with research. Go in feeling the person a little bit in your mind before you sit down with them. Remember that they're there to do a job and that you're there to do a job and you both want the very best out of that situation for forty-five minutes. You both want to come to the same conclusion. And also: it's not about the interviewer! I watched many presenters where it's about them. And they try to do something quirky and weird, where it becomes about them... And it's not. For me, it's really about the fans first. That and feeling the vibe and... enjoying it! Because, what a weird job! And I thank my lucky stars for it. There are times when, if you watch videos of my panels, you'll see me listening to the person talking, and I'll look out into the audience and just smile because I love this. This is so much fun and I'm so lucky!
You've interviewed such a wonderful array of people, even just looking at the last year. Are there ever times when you've snapped out of what you're doing and thought to yourself 'I can't believe I'm here doing this, talking to these people!'?
There have been times when I've been too much in my head and then I've been asked a question by a guest and I've been like “Err....” (laughs). So I really do have to concentrate! I'm a bit of a daydreamer (as I said before, that hasn't left me!), so I do go into my head a little bit. With the Junkets, it's harder because you have to be very focused and get the job done. The editor will want you to go down a certain route because they want that for their own editorial purposes. For panels, it's fan-focused. And it's a nice chat, so you can enjoy it a little bit more, sitting on the couch. I remember one of the first big panels I did for MCM was in 2019. It was Sebastian Stan. They just threw me in! (laughs). Trial by fire! So I interviewed Sebastian twice over that weekend. In the first interview, he was a little quieter and I was super nervous because there were twelve hundred people in the audience! And so I couldn't enjoy it! However, when it came to the second interview, I just thought 'to hell with it! I've interviewed him once. I'm just going to relax!' And then, because of that, he really relaxed! He even said to me afterward how much he really loved that interview. He said to me, “You're good, man.” And he shook my hand and we hugged. So sometimes, I just have to smile and take stock. And sometimes I have to live in the moment.
Well, it's been great having this moment with you, Claire. Looking forward to seeing you at MCM in the future and thanks for taking the time to be here today.
Thank you! And see you at the next comic-con!