Ria Lina is a British comedian, actress, and writer, and a 2003 winner of an EMMA award.[1] She is known for her television appearances on Mock The Week, The World Stands Up, Mega Mela Malai Comedy and Sweet n Sour on BBC3. Prior to her career as a comic, Lina acquired a BSc in Experimental Pathology, an MSc in Forensic Science and a PhD in viral bioinformatics, and worked as an IT forensic investigator for the Serious Fraud Office.
The family then moved to the Netherlands when she was 14, where she studied at The American School of the Hague, graduating at 16. At 17, she attended the University of Saint Andrews, gaining a Bachelor of Science in Experimental Pathology in June 2000, before attending University College London as a postgraduate, obtaining a Doctor of Philosophy in Viral Bioinformatics in 2004. After a short break in which she had her first child, she returned to academia and read a Master of Science in Forensic Science and Technology at the London South Bank University before working as an Information Technology Forensic Investigator for the Serious Fraud Office.
Lina's first performance as a stand-up comedian was while still at Saint Andrews University in 1998, but she didn"t perform regularly until she moved to London in 2000 to do her Doctor of Philosophy. By time she had finished her Doctor of Philosophy she was an award-winning stand-up comedian working regularly on the United Kingdom comedy circuit. lieutenant is scheduled to be a Radio 4 special to be aired in 2016. Her previous shows "Thpethial" (2013) and "lieutenant"s Not Easy Being Yellow" (2012), have also been performed at the Brighton Fringe, the Leicester Comedy Festival, and in Asia as part of the Magner"s International Comedy Festivals.
Lina is also regularly seen on the United Kingdom comedy circuit, with her trademark mix of dry wit and bawdy ukulele songs and as a writer has contributed to two Ladyboys of Bangkok tours. Her most recent project, Taboo Raider, debuted at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in August 2015.
Finalist Amused Moose Comedy Award 2014
Winner of the Best Comedy/Comedian EMMA Award 2003
Winner of the King of Kings Comedy Store Award 2003
Carlton’s Multicultural Achievement in Performing Arts 2003 Nominee
Jongleurs’ Stand and Deliver 2003 Finalist
Babycham Funny Women 2003 Runner-Up
British Broadcasting Corporation New Comedy 2003 Semi-finalist
Winner of the London Comedy Festival Allstars Award 2002
Winner of the Comedy Store King Gong Show May 2002
Daily Telegraph Open Mic Award 2002 Finalist
Wilkinson Sword Cutting Edge of Comedy 2002 Finalist
Amused Moose New Talent Acting Award 2002 Finalist.
During her time as a student she continued to work in amateur dramatics and became a member of the National Youth Theatre in 1999.
