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
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 think after doing a few shows now, people are ready to put me down.
I think surprises make TV entertaining.
I'm interested in youth culture - when your parents are running your life, but you think you're the big man - but I'm not trying to make a statement.
I never like to think of any character as being over. I'm always thinking of different ways of bringing them back.
I think my parents had a hard time dealing with me.
I just do what I think is funny and what's exciting to me.
People think that I'm some kind of genius who's got these statements to say, and I'm not really.
I find myself believing everything that journalists tell me.
There are bits of me in all my characters.
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.