Andy Warhol’s Interview Interview: Ricky Gervais

PHOTO: DESIREE NAVARRO/ EVERETT COLLECTION.

Ricky Gervais has been called a lot of things over the course of his career—and indeed seems to relish all the reactions he provokes. As the English stand-up, prankster, and creator of the hallowed TV series The Office readies for the second season of his uncharacteristically heartwarming new sitcom endeavor, Derek (on Netflix now), he trades a few barbs with Andy.

ANDY WARHOL: What did you have for breakfast?

RICKY GERVAIS: Wow. Straight for the deep stuff eh? Fruit and fiber cereal and a coffee.

WARHOL: Have you been to the White House?

GERVAIS: Yes. I went with Ben Stiller. We were in town of the premiere of Night at The Museum 2. We were called upon to pop by but I had to go in my pajama bottoms as my clothes weren’t back from the hotel laundry (absolutely true). That wasn’t even the funniest thing about the visit. A group of tourists though Ben was Adam Sandler. Haha.

WARHOL: Do you keep a diary?

GERVAIS: No. I put the odd thing in a blog now and again.

WARHOL: Are you a good cook? (If so, what’s your specialty).

GERVAIS: No. Beans on toast with Cheddar cheese crumbled on top.

WARHOL: Is there anything you regret not doing?

GERVAIS: Making my mum stop smoking.

WARHOL: Do you have any intimate secrets? No? C’mon, you must have one.

GERVAIS: But if I were to answer, it would no longer be a secret, so I’d be lying.

WARHOL: Do you dance at home?

GERVAIS: Only to make my girlfriend cringe.

WARHOL: What’s the most amount of people you’ve performed for?

GERVAIS: “Most amount of people?” You mean by weight? The biggest number is probably 250 thousand at Wembley Stadium for the Live 8 concert.

WARHOL: Do you dream? (What’s the last one you remember?)

GERVAIS: Do I dream? Who doesn’t dream?

WARHOL: Do you think that it is vanity to worry so much about what you look like?

GERVAIS: Are these your best questions?

WARHOL: Would you ever marry one of your fans?

GERVAIS: Is English your second language?

WARHOL: Who would be your dream date?

GERVAIS: I don’t dream.

WARHOL: What’s your favorite color?

GERVAIS: You’ve given up now, haven’t you?

WARHOL: What are you reading right now?

GERVAIS: A questionnaire that someone typed with their feet.

WARHOL: What’s your favorite movie?

GERVAIS: OK. Now we’re talking. The Godfather.

WARHOL: Do you want to be respected for your beauty?

GERVAIS: These questions were originally for someone else weren’t they?