Iliza Shlesinger knows what women are really laughing at.

Comedian Iliza Shlesinger has earned the right to dress how she likes, say what she wants, and bring you to laughter while doing it.

In addition to her in-demand live shows, the author and podcast host has released seven Netflix specials to date, as well as Iliza Shlesinger: Over & Over, a "fan-u-mentary" that offers a peek behind the curtain into everything that goes into the creation of her specials. Also listed on her resume are numerous acting credits in projects such as Spenser Confidential, Pieces of a Woman, Instant Family and The Iliza Shlesinger Sketch Show.

Her latest comedy special, A Different Animal, has also just premiered on Prime Video.

Speaking on Mamamia's No Filter podcast, the 42-year-old performer reflected on what it was like rising through the stand-up comedy ranks, and how the way she dressed on stage was often a mirror to how she felt about her career at the time.

"I've been doing comedy for 20 years, so I definitely came up at a time where it was still a little weird to see a woman doing comedy," she told No Filter. "Not that we hadn't been out there — and not that women hadn't come before me — but I never dressed up on stage, because I didn't have that additional 90 seconds to get the audience used to the fact that I had a nice body.

"I wanted you to hear my jokes right off the bat.

"So I was always very casual on stage, and I wanted to be comfortable," she continued. "But in the specials, it's your chance to know that you're surrounded by fans. This is something that you earned.

"I think it's exacerbated when people make fun of it online," she said. "All because the truth is, if you're the kind of girl that would wear sweatpants and a ratty shirt around your boyfriend, you're that girl anyway. You don't just become a hideous troll.

"Also, when do we get a break as women? When can I be relaxed? Or do I have to always be uncomfortable to show that I'm fuckable, you know? I think there's something beautiful in a woman just being like 'I've had two kids'.

"I think I'm allowed to set it down for a night or and pick it back up whenever I'm ready."

Listen to Iliza Shlesinger on No Filter. Article continues.

The name of the romantic comedy that Iliza wrote, executive produced, and starred in is Good On Paper, a sentiment that could also be used to describe her real life. From the outside, the mother of two appears to blissfully juggle a happy marriage with a very successful and public career. But as she prepares to return to Australia in April with her brand-new show, The Get Ready Tour! she is happy to share that behind the scenes, it's a bit of a different story.

"I think life is about priorities and what you prioritise," she told No Filter. "I prioritised my career and having a family, while other people may have prioritised other parts of their careers, or networking, or travelling. Part of my job is travelling, but it's hard to talk about any of these things, because to assert who you are and what you have, for a lot of women, feels like a condemnation of the choices they did or didn't make.

"I think that that's a huge stumbling block, because it all stems from insecurity.

"And if you want to know why it looks like I have everything, it's because I have full-time help," she continued. "Do not get it twisted, we have a nanny living with us and another nanny who helps with my daughter.

"So the answer is other women. That's how you have it all."

Iliza went on to say that she is aware of what a privilege it is to have paid help, but also explained the issue of women turning against one another for simply explaining how their lives work.

"Make no mistake about it, the money that I make, I spend it on these nannies," she said. "There's no inheritance, there's no additional income, it's all me. So that money is spent on that instead of driving (a fancy car).

"Again, it's all about priorities. But I knew before we had children that I was not going to give up doing stand up and pursuing all the other dreams I have because of this.

"So I'm going to make both work, and it's going to be exhausting, and it's going to be heartbreaking, but this is the way that I've chosen to do it.

"I do think we weaponise women's ability to simply state what works for them," she continued. "Then what happens is we get bogged down by having to qualify everything with saying 'Oh, and by the way, if this doesn't work for you, then that's that'.

"Men don't have to do that. If I say, 'I love being a mum', I shouldn't have to qualify it with 'Also, I have help that I pay for'.

"As women, when we qualify things, it is all out of fear of being called a b**ch. It's all out of fear of being called out of touch. But the truth is, people are going to have those critiques and those criticisms no matter what you say."

It's this mix of honesty, humour, relatability and wit that ensures Iliza Shlesinger also knows what keeps women laughing, talking and sharing their stories.

A Different Animal is out on the 11th March, you can watch it here. And if you want to see Iliza when she comes to Australia, you can get tickets here.