Buzz Watch: Ricky Gervais Wants to do Drama?

Authored by Jay Baage on October 3, 2006 - 7:27am.

Ricky Gervais is no doubt the coolest Brit in Hollywood. After being all about comedy with TV series The Office and Extras, he is trying out a new role in upcoming movies For your Consideration and Stardust. Gervais is now ready to get serious. Or is he? You be the judge. In a recent interview with the Magazine Heat, he says that he wants to create the next 24 or Sopranos.

The following is an excerpt from the interview:

So you would like to do a drama series?

Yeah, but I wouldn't necessarily film it in Britain. I'd want it to be like 24 or The Sopranos. I wonder why we've never done anything like those shows in this country. Maybe it's something to do with the climate or our accents or something. But I'd want to try to do a big, brilliantly made drama. And I wouldn't necessarily be in it ...

You said that about Extras ...

[Laughs.] Oh, I know. But you know what? I love acting now ... I got to act with Robert De Niro recently [in the film Stardust] and I loved it. One day's work. And I spent the day ad-libbing, trying to put him off and make him laugh.

And did you succeed?

Yeah. And when he eventually lost it and laughed, I wanted to run round the room celebrating. Then, when we finished, I did that thing of suddenly letting everything flood out and being a nerd. I said, "I think you're brilliant ... you're the best actor in the world ... I've seen everything you've ever done ... " And he looked at me and said, "Thank you very much ... "

So you enjoy doing cameos in big movies now?

Well, yes, I'll always do something if I think it'll be a great experience. Especially if it's just going to take a day or two ... I'll always remember that day with Robert De Niro. And this is the difference between Hollywood and over here: I did this cameo in the new Ben Stiller film (Night At The Museum) and when I arrived, I was taken to this beautiful hotel with an incredible suite. Then I went on set and I'm given this unbelievable trailer, and the director Shaun Levy comes up to me and goes, "Is your trailer OK?" and I said, "It's fine. It's bigger than my hotel room!" and he said, "Well, we can get you a bigger hotel room ... " That's the difference ...