Rhys Darby is a man who claims, “Everything has happened so quickly.” After rambling on the stand-up comedy circuit for years in New Zealand, he made the break overseas, only to find his nasal Kiwi twang scoring him a role in the Flight of the Conchords BBC radio show. When HBO created the TV show stateside, band manager Murray Hewitt became an overnight sensation. Hollywood was watching and Darby was cast opposite his hero Jim Carrey in Yes Man, which opens on January 1.
FLICKS: What’s the question you get asked the most?
RHYS DARBY: What’s it like to work with Jim Carrey?
Let’s ignore that one, then.
Good.
Have you tried the Yes Man philosophy of saying ‘yes’ to everything?
Yeah, I remember that song when I was young, which had an effect on me. It was part of the pre-Hillary Commission thing. You know that ‘Have a go’ song? [sings] ‘Now do it more, things you’ve never done before… have a go!’ Like in the movie, how he just rips those bits off the noticeboard to try things – it was a bit like that for me when I was down at WINZ.
Why did they pick you for this role?
This character is not a thousand miles away from Murray. If I was playing a character who was someone I’d never come close to playing before, I think I would have freaked, or fainted, or not done it well. But luckily it was within my ‘zone’, so to speak.
What were you up to when you were cast?
I was in London when I got the call. Because after the Conchords I went back to the UK just to go back to what I knew, which was doing stand-up, to keep the money coming in. I was very low on funds at that point. And I was unwell. So it was a shining beacon when I got that phone call from my agents in America.
Any personal touches?
The ‘fisting’ line is improvised. And when I say ‘I’ve won a couple of dance competitions’ – I put that in as a special nod because, when I did stand-up here, two of my shows were about me being a free-style dance champion. We used to have dance competitions at The Classic [Auckland’s comedy bar] that I would win. So I was quite chuffed that I was able to put that in as an in-joke for my friends.
I see that Yes Man has gone straight to number one in the US, beating Seven Pounds.
Oh, brilliant!
How does it feel to be in a bigger movie than Will Smith’s?
Oh, I’m overjoyed, I tell you! Unbelievable. I knew Jim was going to get it, because his movie is a happy movie – it’s uplifting, and it’s a comedy. And I think Will Smith’s is, um, the opposite.
Have you been sent scripts to read?
Yeah, I have read lots of scripts. There’s one that I’d like to play the lead in. They’re kind of sitting on that at Warner Brothers. So I guess I will have a lead role, hopefully soon, but I’m quite happy to play another sidekick just to get a bit more experience.
Why did you leave our picturesque shores?
I left because I had really high hopes for myself. I was always going to leave. I was always going to see how far I could go with it. I wanted to be able to do well enough overseas so that when I did return home, doors would open for me and I could create something here.
TV comedies here are pretty terrible at the moment.
Yeah, absolutely. And I’ve gained the experience of seeing how shows shouldbe made, and how good they should be. I wouldn’t think for a second about not having the American guys who created the Conchords involved in something I made in New Zealand. I would bring them back. Then things could be green-lit, so let’s hope that happens.
What’s the most annoying aspect of your success?
I just get this paranoia that people are looking at me when I’m walking around the shops. And looking at what I’m looking at: ‘Oh, so he’s into that, is he?’
Have you got plenty of female admirers, then?
Yeah, I like to think I have. Definitely online. I’ve got a fan-site or two and people make me gifts and things. But my wife makes a strong position online to say, you know, ‘this is my guy, so just back off, ladies’.
Yes Man opens on January 1. Read more and see session times or watch the trailer.
