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 like to analyze what I do too much, but I certainly never meet a single person and say, 'You're the next character.' People think that's what I do. They also think that I sit down and observe and try to imitate random people. I've never done that at all.
There are bits of me in all my characters.
I'm not a big comedy show-watcher, but I love Ricky Gervais' stuff and Sacha Baron Cohen's things. But I'm not an expert on them. I've seen them once.
I'm totally not media shy and do interviews all the time and go to events and totally play along and actually enjoy talking to journalists most of the time.
I've met big-name actors doing Hollywood films, and they've said that all they want is an in at HBO and their own show.
I'm definitely attracted to the idea of people that have these big aspirations that the audience know might never happen, but they're lost in them.
In Australia, I'm built up as this comedy hero, which was never my intention.
It takes me ages to write stuff.
When I wrote 'We Can Be Heroes,' I was just so excited about the concept of playing loads of characters, and a television series allows you to do that.
Mostly, what I watch are reality shows and documentaries.
Like, Australians definitely don't walk around dressed up in blackface going, 'Ha-ha.'
People are always nice; I never get anything mean said to me on the street.
I think after doing a few shows now, people are ready to put me down.
I was sure 'Summer Heights High' would be a cult ABC thing; I had no idea it would be such a big hit.