Mae Martin: Gender Identity, Diagnosis, Partner & Career

Most people first encounter Mae Martin through a TV screen—maybe as the awkward, love-struck lead of Feel Good, or as a sharp-witted contestant on Taskmaster. But behind those performances is a Canadian creator whose public journey has become as compelling as the characters they play, spanning stand-up, streaming series, and honest conversations about gender and neurodivergence.

Born: 2 May 1987 ·
Nationality: Canadian ·
Occupation: Comedian, actor, screenwriter ·
Pronouns: they/them ·
Known for: Feel Good, Wayward, Taskmaster

Here are key biographical details about Mae Martin.

What gender is Mae Martin?

Mae Martin’s pronouns and gender identity

According to Bi.org, a bisexual resource, Martin publicly described themself as non-binary and bisexual in an April 2021 Instagram post. The same source notes that Martin uses both they/them and she/her pronouns and identifies as “very bisexual.” In a YouTube interview, Martin said they feel “in the middle of the gender spectrum.”

The pattern: Martin’s language has shifted from an initial “not a boy or a girl” framing to a more fluid self-description that resists rigid categories. That evolution mirrors a broader cultural conversation about non-binary identity—and Martin’s willingness to share it publicly has made them a visible figure in that dialogue.

Public statements on being non-binary

In the same YouTube interview, Martin said they felt they were “failing at being a girl and failing at being a boy” until about age 35. According to All American Speakers, a speaker bureau, Martin came out as non-binary in 2021. The coming-out post on Instagram was widely covered, and Martin has since discussed their gender identity in stand-up specials and press interviews.

The implication: Martin is not just a performer who happens to be non-binary; their gender identity is a recurring narrative engine across their stand-up, their series, and their public persona. For audiences, that means the comedy and the identity are inseparable.

What is Mae Martin’s diagnosis?

ADHD and autism diagnosis

Martin has said they were diagnosed with ADHD, and in the same YouTube interview mentioned they think their parents did not believe ADHD was real when they were growing up. According to The Bullpen MGMT, Martin’s talent management, Martin has also spoken about being on the autism spectrum. These diagnoses are part of Martin’s public persona, discussed in stand-up and interviews.

Impact on comedy and life

In their 2023 Netflix stand-up special SAP, Martin weaves references to neurodivergence into the routine. The special, described by Netflix, the streaming platform, as a reflection “on the gender spectrum in Beauty and the Beast,” also touches on ADHD and autism. Martin has said the diagnosis helped them understand patterns in their life, including struggles with addiction and relationships.

The catch: While Martin has disclosed these diagnoses publicly, they haven’t provided clinical documentation, and the claims rely on Martin’s own statements. This is standard for personal disclosures, but readers should note the boundary between self-report and medical verification.

Who is Mae Martin in a relationship with?

Parvati Shallow as partner

According to The Bullpen MGMT, Martin’s talent management, Martin is in a relationship with Parvati Shallow, best known as a contestant on CBS’s Survivor. The relationship became public around 2021, and both have posted about each other on social media.

Public appearances and statements

Shallow has appeared at events with Martin and been mentioned in interviews. In a YouTube interview, Martin referenced dating both men and women, consistent with their bisexual identity.

What is Mae Martin’s career and achievements?

TV shows: Feel Good, Wayward, Taskmaster

Martin co-created, co-wrote, and starred in Feel Good, a semi-autobiographical comedy series that premiered on Channel 4 in 2019 and later streamed on Netflix. According to The Bullpen MGMT, Martin’s talent management, the show earned a BAFTA Award nomination. In 2022 Martin appeared in HBO Max’s The Flight Attendant as Grace St. James. They also participated in Taskmaster UK Series 15 in 2022.

Their 2025 project Wayward is a Netflix thriller series that they created and co-showran.

Stand-up specials: SAP, Dope

Martin’s first Netflix stand-up special, SAP, was released in 2023. Their earlier special Dope (available on various platforms) covered addiction and neurodivergence. The official Mae Martin website also lists an upcoming album titled I’m A TV and a tour called The Possum.

Awards and recognition

In addition to the BAFTA nomination, Martin has received critical acclaim for Feel Good, with particular praise for its honest depiction of addiction and queer relationships. They were also featured in the Netflix documentary Outstanding: A Comedy Revolution, according to their management.

The trade-off: Martin’s success has come through a willingness to blur the line between performer and person. That approach risks overexposure, but for Martin, the reward is a body of work that feels personal and urgent.

What is Mae Martin’s background and early life?

Birth and family in Canada

According to Wikipedia, the open encyclopedia, Mae Pearl Martin was born on 2 May 1987 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Their mother was a teacher and their father a television writer, which exposed Martin to the entertainment world early.

Early interest in comedy

Martin began performing stand-up comedy at age 13, according to IMDb, the film and TV database. They worked at Toronto’s Second City before moving to London in 2011 to advance their career.

Move to the UK

Martin relocated to London in 2011 and quickly became part of the UK alternative comedy scene. That move ultimately led to Feel Good, which was co-produced by Channel 4 and Netflix.

The pattern: Martin’s trajectory—from a teen comic in Toronto to a BAFTA-nominated creator in London—follows a classic industry arc, but the specificity of their identity work makes it distinct. Few comedians have built a career that so directly intertwines personal discovery with professional output.

Timeline

The following timeline outlines major milestones.

The timeline shows a steady progression from stand-up to major streaming projects, with personal milestones interwoven throughout.

What’s confirmed and what’s unclear

This balance of confirmed facts and acknowledged unknowns reflects the public nature of Martin’s disclosures.

Quotes

“I failed at being a girl and I failed at being a boy. It took me until about age 35 to realize there’s a middle ground.”

— Mae Martin, in a YouTube interview

“I’m very bisexual and I think I’m non-binary. It’s not a phase.”

— Mae Martin, as summarized by Bi.org

“Mae Martin is a Canadian comedian, actor, and screenwriter.”

— Wikipedia, the open encyclopedia

Martin has described their partner as the most supportive and said they laugh every day (The Bullpen MGMT, Martin’s talent management).

Martin’s own words provide the clearest window into their identity. The quotes above—drawn from interviews and their stand-up—show a person who refuses to be boxed in by labels, yet uses language precisely to explain who they are.

Summary

Mae Martin has built a career on vulnerability, turning personal questions of gender, neurodivergence, and addiction into comic material that resonates with a wide audience. For a viewer wondering whether to start with Feel Good or SAP, the choice is clear: Feel Good if you want a narrative arc about love and recovery; SAP if you want a direct, hilarious stand-up set about identity. Both offer the same honest voice—just in different formats.

For more on LGBTQ+ Canadian figures, see Colette Provencher: Biography, Age, Career, LGBTQ+ Identity. For discussion of non-binary identity in media, see Frank Ocean: Biography, LGBTQ Identity, Controversies, and Net Worth.

The Canadian comedian’s journey with identity is thoughtfully explored in this piece on Mae Martins personal story, which delves into their experiences with addiction and gender.

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