A bit weird and getting paid for it

Pic: John Tsiavis
The Sun-Herald
Sunday May 15

Comic chameleon Chris Lilley tells Erin O'Dwyer how his family view his career - and what motivates him to continually challenge himself.

In a quiet corner of a St Kilda pub, Chris Lilley is pondering his own comic genius. Self-reflection is not something that comes naturally to the humble and quietly spoken 36-year-old.

"It's hard because when I come to doing interviews I have to analyse it and break it down," says the actor whose alter egos have more friends on MySpace than he does.

"But I'm just doing what I feel is right at the time. It's a creative thing, it's like a painting, I make choices instinctively and then I have to look back about it and think, 'Oh, what was that about?' "

It's the question that begs to be asked when it comes to Lilley. Perhaps because, like all the best comedians, he is so skilful at making us cringe, even as we fall about laughing. Surely, he must be trying to tell us something.

Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/tv-and-radio/a-bit-weird-and-getting-paid-for-it-20110514-1en2c.html#ixzz1MMOern8V