Ricky Gervais‘s comedy career and approach to controversy have earned him recognition as a creator unafraid to challenge norms, all while accumulating accolades like BAFTAs, Emmys, Golden Globes, and now a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on May 30. From writing children’s books to directing television, the comedian’s resume is as diverse as it is impressive, with even a Guinness World Record for the most downloaded podcast.
Despite this breadth of talent, Gervais remains characteristically modest about his achievements. When considering his upcoming Hollywood honor, Gervais joked,
“I need help getting up, so that’d be embarrassing with photographers there,”
—Ricky Gervais, Comedian
Although highly accomplished, he finds praise misaligned with how he views himself.
“It’s funny because I just think I’m the laziest person in the world. I don’t wanna do anything. I’m not impressed with anything I do anymore,”
—Ricky Gervais, Comedian
He admits that sometimes little victories do impress him, particularly outside of his professional life.
“Well, that’s not true. I’m impressed if I do a good shot at tennis. I go, ‘Oh, how did you get your fat little body over to that shot? That was really good, Rick.’”
—Ricky Gervais, Comedian
How Fun and Creativity Steer His Body of Work
For Gervais, the thread linking his various pursuits is a sense of fun and an insistence on following his own creative instincts, even if that means choosing a path less traveled in entertainment.
“I’ve always wanted to just have fun from [the time I was] a child. I’ve always wanted to keep that,”
—Ricky Gervais, Comedian
He believes that all children have innate creativity, but it is often lost as adults discourage playful thinking in favor of practicality. Gervais frames creativity as a form of play, recalling the adrenaline rush of a new idea, whether or not it is controversial.
“I think every child is creative, and I think they have it knocked out of them. Like people say to them, ‘Well, that does no good. That doesn’t earn you money.’ I think creativity is playing. I think that’s all it is. I approach it like that. I have an idea; I get an adrenaline rush. I think, ‘That could be good’ or ‘Some people will hate it.’ I get excited. And then it’s like, how good that you get at your craft is how little you ruin that idea because that’s as good as an idea gets is when it’s in your head. That’s why I do everything myself, because I suppose I want to be responsible. I want the blame and the credit. Making it is the fun for me.”
—Ricky Gervais, Comedian
Stepping Into Controversy as Part of Comedy
Not one to shy away from heated topics, Gervais’s career is punctuated by controversy. One early incident came in 2007 on his UK tour “Fame,” which sparked outrage due to a joke referencing the real-life killings in Suffolk. His later standup specials have also drawn criticism for material seen as insensitive to the LGBTQ+ community.
“I’ve always said that most offends come from when people mistake the subject of a joke with the actual target. And they’re not necessarily the same, but because everyone’s human and everyone’s got a thing they don’t like you to joke about,”
—Ricky Gervais, Comedian
He further notes the predictable audience reactions to material with taboo or contentious subjects.
“I do 20 jokes. They’re all about a contentious or taboo subject. And everyone laughs at 19 and they don’t laugh at the one that affects them. And they can’t help that. They can’t help that,”
—Ricky Gervais, Comedian
For Gervais, comedy is about exploring the boundaries of discomfort, provided the humor is never directed at individuals personally.
“I think jokes shouldn’t be personal. I think comedy is an intellectual pursuit, but it’s hard to get over that because we remind people of things in jokes. And no one wants to be reminded of bad things. I sort of like that contention. I like that people feel slightly uneasy when I start a joke, and they worry about what it is.”
—Ricky Gervais, Comedian
The Art and Reasoning Behind His Humor
Each of Gervais’s routines is meticulously crafted, reflecting his early years studying biology and philosophy at university. This analytical way of thinking is evident in not just his standup but also the dark comedy shows “Derek” and “After Life,” as well as the film “The Invention of Lying.”
“I’ve always sort of cared about the big subjects, really, and I’ve always cared about people,”
—Ricky Gervais, Comedian
He states that his creative projects are all connected to his fascination with human nature and morality.
“Everything I do sort of has to do with humanity. It’s to do with everything from morality to body language, just how people act, what people are worried about, all their fears. … It’s like I’m taking them by the hand through a scary forest, and they come out the other side and it’s all sunny, and they go, ‘Oh, that was all right’ or ‘I see that. That was clever, wasn’t it?’”
—Ricky Gervais, Comedian
The Myth and Reality of Gervais’s Public Persona
While Gervais’s reputation may conjure an image of a provocative “loose cannon,” he insists that much of this is the result of deliberate showmanship and marketing when, in reality, his approach is thoughtful and controlled. Referring to his Golden Globes hosting gigs, he sets the record straight about his process.
“The marketing thing is that, ‘It’s live. He could say anything. Oh, my God. He’s brutal. Oh, he doesn’t care about anything.’ All those are untrue. I write those jokes. I look at them from every angle. I make sure they’re bulletproof. I go out with a beer, I pretend to be a loose cannon, but I’m not. I’m never drunk. I have like a sip. And I can justify anything. I’m never that brutal. It just seems like it.”
—Ricky Gervais, Comedian
His reputation rocketed following his 2010 debut as Globes host, when the American press, he recalls, harshly criticized his appearance.
“The press of America was like I murdered someone,”
—Ricky Gervais, Comedian
Beneath the façade, Gervais says he does care deeply about how his words and art are received, but acknowledges that polarizing audiences is unavoidable.
“This myth that I don’t care about anything … I desperately care what people think of my words and my art and all those things. It’s just that you have to know that some people will hate it. Once you realize there as many people out there that will hate you as like you, you are cool. I know what’s gonna happen with my next standup — the same people are gonna hate it, and the same people are gonna love it. Because everyone’s different. And you have to polarize,”
—Ricky Gervais, Comedian
He likens the artist to a sailor who accepts the storms that will inevitably come.
“If you don’t polarize, you have to do something so anodyne, you might as well not do anything. So you just have to be ready for the waves. You are a sailor; you chose to get on the boat. There’s going to be waves. You can’t get out and go, ‘I didn’t know it was gonna be all bumpy.’ I know it’s gonna be bumpy, so I prepare for it. I put on good boots and I put on waterproof mac. And I learn to steer.”
—Ricky Gervais, Comedian
His Take on Censorship and the Right to Offend
Gervais draws a clear distinction between personal taste and institutional censorship, asserting that audiences have every right to dislike, boycott, or disengage from his work. He maintains, however, that this is separate from formal efforts to silence comedians.
“Everyone’s allowed not to like you, not to like your stuff, not to buy your tickets, not to go to see your films. That’s different to a Hollywood studio telling people they shouldn’t tweet their personal beliefs because it damages the product. Censorship isn’t deciding to turn your own TV off, it’s someone coming round and making you turn your own TV off. And I think that’s what some people sort of mistake for censorship. I make my own decision. When is that joke good enough to be hated? Is that joke worth being hated for? And usually I go, ‘No, I can make it more palatable,’ or’ I can make it more understandable.’ Or, I can just not ruin their day.”
—Ricky Gervais, Comedian
The Joy Behind the Persona
Beyond the controversy and intense reflection, it is simple pleasures that bring Gervais the most happiness. When asked what he would most want to experience again, his answer is humble and heartfelt.
“The first thing I thought of was: I haven’t got a dog at the moment, and I was brought up with dogs and cats. Me and Jane, we go for a walk every day just to meet dogs wherever we are. New York or London. And then you start meeting the same dogs and they know you, and then the dog recognizes you from a hundred yards. And I go, ‘Hello.’ And it’s like, I don’t know what it is. It’s like some sort of happy pill. So a dog, — just watching a dog makes me happy. If a dog’s playing, I just slow down. It’s just pure joy.”
—Ricky Gervais, Comedian
Ricky Gervais’s comedy career and approach to controversy continue to fuel discussions around the role of comedians in society, the boundaries of free speech, and the importance of personal joy. As he prepares to receive his star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, Gervais stands as a complicated—and candid—figure who has learned to steer through the turbulence of his chosen profession.
