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
There are bits of me in all my characters.
I find myself believing everything that journalists tell me.
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.
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.
When I was in school, I was always writing scripts and dressing up as characters. I'd constantly be that guy who'd get up on stage. I used to write imaginary TV shows, like soap operas, for fun.
If you over-think, it affects things too much; I work instinctively, like painting in a way. Think too much, and you ruin everything.
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 not really a management-type person. It doesn't suit my personality to be bossing people around.
I'm not a big fan of 'Jersey Shore' and those kinds of shows where people are really playing up to the cameras.
I would love to play a British character one day. My accent wavers between Scottish and Irish very easily, though.
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.
I'll probably be still playing a school girl when I'm 60.