Latest news with #SouthAfrican-NewZealander
Sydney Morning Herald
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Sydney Morning Herald
‘I'm super-cute': Comedian Urzila Carlson's struggle to stay single
This story is part of the July 26 edition of Good Weekend. See all 15 stories. Each week, Benjamin Law asks public figures to discuss the subjects we're told to keep private by getting them to roll a die. The numbers they land on are the topics they're given. This week he speaks to Urzila Carlson. The South African-New Zealander comedian and actor, 49, became the highest-selling act in the history of the Melbourne International Comedy Festival in 2019. She co-stars in the Netflix movie Kinda Pregnant. SEX Urzila, you've landed on 'Sex'. Sex! I've had it. Deal with it. [ Laughs ] What's the first thing that comes to mind? [ Groans ] At this point, it feels like admin. I'd rather read a book, have some melatonin and an early night. Can we both just masturbate [separately] and come to bed early? By the time you've fed the kids, looked after the house, pets and f--- knows what else, who's got the energy for it? I can't be f---ed with f---ing. You're a queer icon now, but what was the coming-out process like for you? I didn't really prioritise it, but I was nervous about what would happen in my community. I was living in South Africa and it's a lot more conservative there: they don't even take kindly to premarital sex, let alone coming out. I came out at 26, which I didn't think was late back then, but now it is: kids are much more comfortable. Anyway, I'm a big believer in [sexuality] being fluid. I understand why the alphabet [LGBTIQA+] keeps growing. You're single right now. Are you currently looking? I'm definitely not looking. I'm the opposite. I'm hyper-focused on staying single and not partnering up. Which is really hard: I'm super-cute. DEATH Is it true that early on in your childhood, your father – who was an alcoholic – came looking for you and your family, armed with a gun? Yes, my father was a very violent, aggressive drunk. Now when I look back on it, he obviously had post-traumatic stress disorder from the Angolan War [a 1975-2002 civil war in which South African forces were at times involved]. But he needed therapy for that: he doesn't get to take that out on his family. But my mum never shit-talked him – ever. That's important. My wife and I got a divorce a few years ago, and I said to her, 'I'll never fight with you.' And we're still best friends. You choose to have a family together, you need to keep your shit together. When people keep fighting after they've split up, I'm like, 'Why are you still fighting this person? You got what you wanted. You're alone now. You're rid of them. Now's your time to be happy.' The fighting should have happened while you were with them. Who was the last person you lost whose death really affected you? It was a friend who passed away a couple of years ago. We used to work together; I met her when I was 18. I gave the eulogy at her funeral the same day I recorded a special on YouTube. I don't even promote that special. It was such a dark day and I was just mentally and physically exhausted. I should have cancelled it. I thought it would be all right, but it wasn't.
The Age
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Age
‘I'm super-cute': Comedian Urzila Carlson's struggle to stay single
This story is part of the July 26 edition of Good Weekend. See all 15 stories. Each week, Benjamin Law asks public figures to discuss the subjects we're told to keep private by getting them to roll a die. The numbers they land on are the topics they're given. This week he speaks to Urzila Carlson. The South African-New Zealander comedian and actor, 49, became the highest-selling act in the history of the Melbourne International Comedy Festival in 2019. She co-stars in the Netflix movie Kinda Pregnant. SEX Urzila, you've landed on 'Sex'. Sex! I've had it. Deal with it. [ Laughs ] What's the first thing that comes to mind? [ Groans ] At this point, it feels like admin. I'd rather read a book, have some melatonin and an early night. Can we both just masturbate [separately] and come to bed early? By the time you've fed the kids, looked after the house, pets and f--- knows what else, who's got the energy for it? I can't be f---ed with f---ing. You're a queer icon now, but what was the coming-out process like for you? I didn't really prioritise it, but I was nervous about what would happen in my community. I was living in South Africa and it's a lot more conservative there: they don't even take kindly to premarital sex, let alone coming out. I came out at 26, which I didn't think was late back then, but now it is: kids are much more comfortable. Anyway, I'm a big believer in [sexuality] being fluid. I understand why the alphabet [LGBTIQA+] keeps growing. You're single right now. Are you currently looking? I'm definitely not looking. I'm the opposite. I'm hyper-focused on staying single and not partnering up. Which is really hard: I'm super-cute. DEATH Is it true that early on in your childhood, your father – who was an alcoholic – came looking for you and your family, armed with a gun? Yes, my father was a very violent, aggressive drunk. Now when I look back on it, he obviously had post-traumatic stress disorder from the Angolan War [a 1975-2002 civil war in which South African forces were at times involved]. But he needed therapy for that: he doesn't get to take that out on his family. But my mum never shit-talked him – ever. That's important. My wife and I got a divorce a few years ago, and I said to her, 'I'll never fight with you.' And we're still best friends. You choose to have a family together, you need to keep your shit together. When people keep fighting after they've split up, I'm like, 'Why are you still fighting this person? You got what you wanted. You're alone now. You're rid of them. Now's your time to be happy.' The fighting should have happened while you were with them. Who was the last person you lost whose death really affected you? It was a friend who passed away a couple of years ago. We used to work together; I met her when I was 18. I gave the eulogy at her funeral the same day I recorded a special on YouTube. I don't even promote that special. It was such a dark day and I was just mentally and physically exhausted. I should have cancelled it. I thought it would be all right, but it wasn't.
Yahoo
21-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
'Kinda Pregnant' star Urzila Carlson reveals unexpected danger of movie's funniest scene: 'Five stunt people dive into the pool to come and help me'
The Netflix movie Kinda Pregnant is stacked with an impressive cast, including Amy Schumer, Jillian Bell, Brianne Howey, Lizze Broadway and Will Forte, but the stand-out star in the film is comedian and actor Urzila Carlson. The South African-New Zealander was responsible for many of the funniest lines in the movie, and as she revealed to Yahoo Canada, all but two lines were improv. But easily one of the movie's most memorable scenes, the gender reveal piñata moment where Carlson's character falls into a pool, was even more outrageous on set than we saw in the movie. From a safe word gone wrong to complications with the stunt, and cold water, Carlson revealed what we didn't see on screen. In addition to Kind Pregnant, Carlson is also bringing her "Just Jokes" tour to North America in May and June, with tickets currently on sale. What if something you know catches you with it? Do you smell that? It's like burnt plastic. Why am I listening to you? You have 3 active restraining orders against you, which says to me, there are 3 people out there who seize my passion. I show up at their work, I show up at their house, I show up at their mother's house. I'm fucking everywhere. I'd love to know because your character in particular has these really great kind of like one line. absolutely hysterical moments. How much of that was in the script? How much of that was you? How much of that was collaboration with Amy? How did that kind of work? Well, I watched the movie too, and I think there's only 2 lines in there that was in the script. So the rest is just off the cuff stuff and, you know, sort of back and forth with Amy or with whoever's in the scene. Um, I'm very lucky that I was sort of just given a go for it in this, in this movie, which is amazing. So we'd always start like there was so much just improving going on on set. That I think we made every scene about an hour longer than it needed to be. But, uh, we had so much fun cause then I'll, you know, like, I'll do what was in the script, and then Amy will say something else. Like there's a scene in the office that was like maybe 2 lines each long. Um, but then she would start saying other stuff to me, and I'm like, Oh, we're just, we're doing this? Cause, cause this is my first movie, so I didn't know how it worked. So then she would say something like that restraining order, there's a line about, you have active restraining order. And I was like, Oh, OK, that's not on the script. And then I just, you know, um, go for it. I want to talk about the gender reveal party, um, scene where you fall into the pool because it's also absolutely hysterical and just like the entire commotion of that scene. What was it like on that day to film that moment? OK, so it was wild. I have a, um, I had a stunt. Stun person, um, Jordan. And then on the day, and I, I woke up that morning and I knew it was gonna happen. You know, when you know. So it was freezing cold, you know, it's March in New York, and we get to the set, like, it's a house where we're filming at. And, um, they said to me, potentially, I'm gonna go in the water. I have to be in the water cause I have a line to deliver in the water, but Jordan will, will do the drop, right? So I'm like, OK. They said, but not to worry, uh, the pool will be heated. So when, when I got there that morning, they were filling it. The pool was still being filled. I'm like, this pool ain't gonna be heated. I know how heating works and this ain't it. And then, um, So then, on the, they said, Look, would it be possible for you to do the stunt? And I was like, Wait, what does this entail? Because it's got a thick rubber layer that's over the pool. Under it, it's got that blue, you know, with a bubble thing to keep the heat, which the pool did not have. So that was a waste. Uh, but then it's hooked in with like these steel bars, like right around, and they have explosives on, on the bars, and then they shoot it out and then you drop in the pool. So I'm like, I, uh, hang on. So I'm standing on the cover, right? Like, I'm no, you know, scientist here, but what'll happen if the, the explosives go off, those metal, where, where does that go? Surely that'll fly up. Like, I don't want it to hit me in the eye and I ruin my modeling career. And they go, No, no, Jordan's done a few trials with this, and it, it never pops up that high. I'm like, Uh, OK. Um, I was petrified. So they go, All right, they talk me through the whole thing. I catch this pinata. I take a few steps back, I balance myself. I go, I'm all right. And then it shoots out and I fall in the, in the water. Uh, I had to pick a safe word, uh, because that's how it works here. Um, they said, Pick a safe word. I go, Don't worry, you'll know if I need to get out. Like, I'll make it extremely clear. And they go, No, no, you need to legally, you need to have a safe word. So Jillian Bell, uh, she goes, uh, uh, Kate, in the movie, she goes, Make a banana. I went, All right, banana. Um, and they go, OK, good. So I'm in, so they shoot it. I go in. That really heavy rubber thing closes in on me. I do, for a moment think I am gonna die, but I don't. I come out and then I have to deliver a line, but in my accent, and while I'm flailing around pretending to drown cause my character can't swim. Pinnata and banana sounds very similar. So 5 stunt people dive into the pool to come and help me, so they're grabbing at me to try and save me, and I'm trying to deliver the line. So in that process, they nearly kill me because. I'm like, Livy, I'm, I'm doing the line. The water was so cold. It was. And then Alex Moffatt goes down the slide and but that wasn't even in the script. He's just coming in as support, and, you know, so it was so funny. Like I was howling while I was in that water. I have to ask you. Because you're, I'm Canadian and you're coming to Canada on your comedy tour in a few months, which is very exciting, and I think after people watch this movie, they're especially going to be really excited. Um, what makes you excited about coming to North America in particular and being able to to do your comedy here? Well, I mean, I, I love standup. Standup is my number one love. Everything else I do is to drive stand up, to get new stories, to get new people, to get new. Like I've, I've also started touring to the UK more, and I've even done a tour through Europe. Just because, and, and the tour through Europe was amazing because I think it was so pure, because I don't think people know me as well. They, well, obviously, I know they don't know me as well there, so people just come. And when, when you can make foreign people laugh, that is the best thing. I'm really looking forward to it because I always say, New Zealand and Australian audiences have been supporting me for years, um, and I love them and they love me. But that means I don't trust them. Because they laugh anyway, because they love me, and I love that about them. But if I go to a new territory and people go, I've heard of her, I gonna go see the show. The love isn't there yet. We still need to fall in love with each other, so. That's what I'm looking forward to, I'm I'm doing North America so I can fall in love with a new audience.
Yahoo
21-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
'Kinda Pregnant': Urzila Carlson reveals movie's funniest scene was more outrageous, hysterical than we saw
After its premiere earlier this month, Amy Schumer's comedy Kinda Pregnant continues to be among the most popular movies on Netflix right now. While Schumer, Jillian Bell, Brianne Howey, Lizze Broadway and will make you laugh throughout the film, a stand-out star in the film is comedian and actor Urzila Carlson. The South African-New Zealander, who plays guidance counsellor Fallon in Kinda Pregnant, a friend and coworker of Schumer's character Lainy, is responsible for some of the most outrageously funny lines. She's also happy to to call out how bizarre and problematic it is that Lainy is wearing a fake baby bump. Even more impressively, most of Carlson's hysterical lines in the film were actually improvised. "I think there's only two lines in there that was in the script, so the rest is just off the cuff stuff, and sort of back and forth with Amy, or with whoever's in the scene," Carlson told Yahoo Canada. "I'm very lucky that I was sort of just given a, 'go for it,' in this in this movie, which is amazing." "There was so much just improving going on, on set, that I think we made every scene about an hour longer than it needed to be. But we had so much fun." A particularly funny moment in Kinda Pregnant actually had a lot more unexpected comedy, and risk, associated with it during filming. At one point in the movie there's a gender reveal party for Shirley (Broadway), who expecting a child with Alex Moffat's character Rawn. The concept was that someone would hit a piñata with a pink or blue interior. Unexpectedly, Shirley gives Lainy the bat the hit the piñata, but then the piñata flies into Fallon's arms, pushing her pack into the pool, and Fallon can't swim. As Carlson explained, there was a stunt person who was set to take on that scene, but on the day, Carlson was asked to do her own stunt, which involved stepping onto a rubber pool cover before sinking into the water. As Carlson explained, there were steel bars that were connected to the cover, and would release right when she's supposed to fall into the pool water. "I had to pick a safe word, ... legally you need to have a safe word," Carlson shared. "So Jillian Bell she goes, ... 'make a banana.' I went alright, banana." "So they shoot it. I go in, that really heavy rubber thing closes in on me. I do, for a moment, think I am going to die, but I don't. I come out and then I have to deliver a line. ... But in my accent and while I'm flailing around pretending to drown, because my character can't swim, piñata and banana sounds very similar. Five stunt people dive into the pool to come and help me. So they're grabbing at me to try and save me, and I'm trying to deliver the line. So in that process, they nearly kill me. ... The water was so cold. And then Alex Moffat goes down the slide, and that wasn't even in the script. He's just coming in as support." If you fell in love with Carlson in Kinda Pregnant, just like we did, you should also be excited about her upcoming North American tour in May and June, including a show in Toronto on May 23, New on May 31, Los Angeles on June 6, and ending in Vancouver on June 9. "I love stand up. Stand up is my number one love. Everything else I do is to drive stand up, to get new stories," Carlson said. "I've also started touring to the UK more, and I've even done a tour through Europe, and the tour through Europe was amazing, because ... they don't know me as well there ... and when you can make foreign people laugh, that is the best thing." "North America is kind of his uncharted territory for me. I've done some gigs in Canada, I've done a couple of gigs in New York, one in LA. ... I always say New Zealand and Australian audiences have been supporting me for years, and I love them, and they love me. But that means I don't trust them, because they laugh anyway, because they love me. And I love that about them. But if I go to a new territory, ... we still need to fall in love with each other. So that's what I'm looking forward to." Kinda Pregnant is now on Netflix. Tickets are currently on sale for Urzila Carlson's "Just Jokes" tour.
