Chris Lilley
Chris Lilley
Christopher Daniel "Chris" Lilley is an Australian comedian, television producer, actor, musician and writer. A two-time winner of the Logie Award for Most Popular Actor, he is known for his creation and portrayal of several characters in the mockumentary television series We Can Be Heroes: Finding The Australian of the Year, Summer Heights High, Angry Boys, Ja'mie: Private School Girland Jonah from Tonga...
NationalityAustralian
ProfessionComedian
Date of Birth10 November 1974
CountryAustralia
I don't just want to upset people and shock people by saying something really outrageous.
You feel the pressure of going to university because you need a back-up plan, which is why I enrolled.
You can't get any better than TV on HBO, ABC and BBC3.
It's barely OK for me to be dressed up as a black guy. But part of me kind of enjoys provoking people.
I'm pretty lucky. I don't get too many haters.
To be honest, after all the crap that happened with 'Summer Heights High,' I was like, 'I'm not going to write anything controversial or edgy ever again; I just can't handle the blame.'
I'm not interested in being one of those comedians who wants to look good and be this 'cool' funny person. I don't care how weird or ugly I look.
Films do seem prestigious and glamorous, but when you create something, you want people to see it. TV still reaches so many more people; it still really appeals to me.
When no one knows you, and you're just trying to break into stuff, it's so good because you can write whatever you want and just say it; it's just between you and the audience. There's no process or worrying about anyone else interfering with what you're doing.
I'm so independent in writing stuff and controlling what I do. Sometimes I get calls from people asking to be in their movie, but I'm always writing or editing, and I can never get around to doing it. I'm so much more interested in my own stuff. I think I drive my agent crazy.
Mostly, what I watch are reality shows and documentaries.
I would love to play a British character one day. My accent wavers between Scottish and Irish very easily, though.
I find myself believing everything that journalists tell me.
I'm not really a management-type person. It doesn't suit my personality to be bossing people around.