Who Is Hannah Gadsby's Wife? All About Jenney Shamash

Hannah Gadsby and their wife, Jenney Shamash, wed in 2021

Hannah Gadsby has found love with wife Jenney Shamash.

The comedian — who uses they/them pronouns — fell in love with the American producer while quarantining during the COVID-19 pandemic in their home country of Australia.

Prior to getting married in 2021, Shamash produced Gadsby’s second Netflix special, Douglas, notably named after one of their dogs. In a 2023 interview with The Seattle Times, Gadsby described their third comedy special, Something Special, as a “love letter” to Shamash.

Their third stand-up project for the streamer focused heavily on the couple’s romance and marriage. Though it was a significant relationship milestone, Gadsby told PEOPLE that exchanging vows didn’t change their everyday lives. That said, since the big day, they’re happier — both together and individually.

“Look, our life, as it stands, didn't change. But we really loved getting married and sharing that [with others],” the comedian explained. “I was really thrown by how happy people were for me. It was like, ‘Oh, that's what this is about? Well, that's nice.’ ”

Gadsby’s fourth comedy special — and third with Shamash as producer — titled Gender Agenda premieres on Netflix on March 5, 2024.

So who is Hannah Gadsby's wife? Here is everything to know about Jenney Shamash and her relationship with the comedian.

She is a producer

Shamash served as a producer on Gadsby’s second Netflix comedy special, Douglas, which premiered on the streaming platform in 2020.

The set touched on Gadsby’s newfound stardom and how their autism diagnosis affects different aspects of their life. Shamash’s work earned her an Emmy nomination for outstanding variety special that year.

For Something Special, Shamash reprised her role as Gadsby’s producer and tried her hand at directing, too. Shamash’s wit and perspective also landed her credit as one of the special’s writers, according to Gadsby.

“I’m very passionate about acknowledging the collaborative process. This show was written with Jenney in many ways. Working together, touring together, we would talk about the material and she’d help,” they said in a 2023 interview with Them.

“I actually think that happens a lot with comedians. I don’t think many acknowledge it, but it [no matter] who’s in your intimate circle, they’re involved in the writing of the show,” Gadsby explained.

Shamash also produced Gadsby’s March 2024 Netflix special, Gender Agenda.

She met Gadsby in 2018

Gadsby and Shamash met in 2018 when the comedian was preparing to perform their now-famous stand-up comedy show Nanette off-Broadway.

Shamash was assigned to produce the project, and she immediately hit it off with Gadsby when they arrived in New York. The two became fast friends, and Shamash later became a permanent member of Gadsby’s team in time for the production of Douglas.

Speaking with The Times in 2022, Gadsby said traveling together brought them closer but also shared that their intimacy grew because Shamash knew about their journey with autism. Gadsby said their 2017 diagnosis didn’t present a barrier or challenge in their relationship but strengthened their bond.

“Having not understood myself for so much of my life, I feel like I speak two languages,” Gadsby said, adding that Shamash had been very supportive. “I’m only just learning my natural language.”

She married Gadsby in 2021

Gadsby and Shamash wed in January 2021, according to an emotional tribute the comedian posted on Instagram in April of that same year.

The big news caught fans happily by surprise as Gadsby had kept their relationship tightly under wraps until that point, refraining from posting about Shamash on social media.

“I would like to introduce all y’all to Jenney Shamash. She is a producer extraordinaire. She is very funny and is really talented at reciting facts," Gadsby captioned a photo of them and a video of Shamash's voicemail greeting.

The comedian continued, "It is a joy to behold. We got married in January and we are very chuffed about it. ... My heart felt thanks to everybody who voted for marriage equality.”

Gadsby has shared their proposal story

In their Netflix comedy show, Something Special, Gadsby dove headfirst into newlywed life and took a trip down memory lane, sharing how they and Shamash got engaged.

In a teaser shared on Instagram, the comedian started one of their jokes with, “I was actually having a panic attack when I proposed.”

Gadsby continued, adding that one of Shamash’s favorite things to say when they’re having “a bit of a meltdown” is “don’t panic,” which got a hearty laugh from the audience.

However, Gadsby added that the second part of Shamash’s go-to line always seems to do the trick: “Who do you want to be?”

On that particular day, Gadsby had the perfect answer for Shamash. “She’s gone, 'Who do you want to be?’ and I’ve gone, 'Your wife,’ ” Gadsby recalled with a smile.

She lives in Australia with Gadsby

Since tying the knot, the couple have settled down in Victoria, Australia, where they live with their dogs: Jasper, Daisy and Nuna Riverdale Velcro Roomba.

While Gadsby loves being back home, they said it’s been a bit of adjustment for Shamash, who was born in California and worked many years in New York City.

“Culture shock for Jenno, she’s the coastal elite,” Gadsby told The Times.

They’ve had to overcome cultural differences

During a 2023 press junket, Gadsby candidly revealed how they and Shamash struggled with miscommunication and cultural differences early on in their relationship — including when it came to understanding each others’ accents.

“We miscommunicated quite a bit as well. ... As with all our extra syllables, and you with all your R sounds. I think Jenno has found it quite fascinating,” Gadsby told the outlet Into.

Gadsby credits her for making comedy a “positive” experience

“Touring is incredibly difficult for me,” Gadsby revealed to Them in 2023. The comedian explained how having Shamash involved in the Something Special comedy tour made all the difference.

“[Something Special], particularly, was incredibly difficult because I broke my leg twice," they continued. "So there was a lot of logistical drama — the world is not accessible — and having autism on top of that ... It can be really painful for me."

Gadsby concluded, “So [Jenney and I] had to really hunker down. We’re a real team. Even though it was really hard off-stage, it was a joy on-stage. We got it up together. That is informing the joy on stage as much as anything else."

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