Actress and comedian Catherine Cohen is opening up about one of the most frightening experiences of her life and how an unexpected connection with Hailey Bieber gave her hope during recovery. Speaking to The Hollywood Reporter, Cohen revealed that she suffered a minor stroke at just 31 years old. Doctors later discovered she had a hole in her heart that required surgery, turning what she described as one of the darkest moments of her life into the inspiration behind her new one-woman off-Broadway show, Broad Strokes.
While recovering in the hospital, Cohen found comfort in reading about Hailey Bieber, who revealed in 2022 that she had experienced a transient ischemic attack (TIA), often referred to as a “mini-stroke,” caused by a small hole in her heart known as a patent foramen ovale (PFO).
“I read that Hailey Bieber had the exact same kind of stroke that I had, and it was my first flash of, ‘I’m going to be okay,’” Cohen shared. “She was already okay. She had a baby, she had her life together. I was looking through her Instagram thinking, ‘This is going to be me.’”
Rather than letting the terrifying experience define her, Cohen began documenting everything on her phone, from conversations with doctors to her family’s reactions, believing that even in trauma there were moments of unexpected humor.
Those notes eventually became Broad Strokes, her first narrative-driven stage production. Running at New York’s Lucille Lortel Theatre from July 14 through Sept. 5, the show blends comedy, music and deeply personal storytelling as Cohen reflects on survival, recovery and the pressure of always wanting to be “the main character.”
The production also marks an important milestone in Cohen’s career. Directed by Tony Award winner Alex Timbers, the show follows her acclaimed comedy specials The Twist…? She’s Gorgeous and Come For Me, while arriving during a breakout period that has also seen her land roles in Only Murders in the Building, Sentimental Value and an upcoming Prime Video romantic comedy.
Looking back, Cohen admits she initially worried audiences wouldn’t want to hear such a personal story.
“My fear was being maudlin,” she said. “I was desperate to keep it light.”
Now, she hopes Broad Strokes proves that even life’s most painful chapters can become stories worth sharing, reminding audiences that healing doesn’t always happen in a straight line, but sometimes it can still make people laugh.