Unmistakable humour

Comedian Rhys Darby, 36, has an “unmistakable” voice, retaining his “thick New Zealand accent despite increasingly frequent roles in Hollywood films,” The Sydney Morning Herald’s Kylie Northover writes in a profile headed, ‘Darby acts himself … and a little Murray’. Post-Conchords, Darby made his big-screen debut opposite Jim Carrey in Yes Man, soon finding himself in demand for other roles. He starred in Richard Curtis’s The Boat That Rocked, and is the lead in two new films, Coming and Going from the US and New Zealand film Lovebirds. He’s not about to move to LA and start wearing oversized sunglasses. “I’m keen to stay in New Zealand,” says Darby, who was recently in Melbourne performing stand-up show It’s Rhys Darby Night at The Comedy Theatre. Apparently, he’s tipped to replace Steve Carell in the US version of The Office. Darby smirks, but won’t be drawn. “Besides the thing you can’t ask about, I have created my own show for TV — a cool action adventure comedy show based on the Bill Napier character. There’s a bit of adventure in it, a seaplane …”