Watch FIFA World Cup 2026™ LIVE, FREE and EXCLUSIVE

Ricky Gervais: Legacy means nothing

Ricky Gervais says he isn't concerned at all about what future generations will think of his contributions to society.

Host Ricky Gervais arrives at the Golden Globe Awards

Ricky Gervais isn't concerned what future generations think of his contributions to society. Source: AAP

Ricky Gervais thinks worrying about his legacy is "meaningless".

The 52-year-old British star is the mastermind behind comedy classics like The Office, and he is renowned around the world for his humour.

But he says he doesn't worry about what future generations of humans might think of his work after he dies.

"I don't think of things like that," he told British newspaper The Sun.

"I don't even think about how people will think of me when I die. It's meaningless. And I don't worry about death, I only worry about how you die."

He is mucg more concerned with is enjoying life in the present moment.

"But I do worry about my legacy when I'm alive. I want to keep doing this for as long as I can," he said.

"I want to be like John Cleese and be able to look back when I'm 70 and go, 'Oh my God, Fawlty Towers is still voted one of the greatest comedies of all time'. I want to think like that.

"My legacy after I die isn't so important to me because it doesn't really make sense."

The comedian's last film is Muppets Most Wanted. Gervais has always been a fan of the children's franchise and found it a treat to work with the colourful characters.

"I'm a big kid. I love the magic, the disbelief. I don't see the humans around them, I see talking animals," he told UK magazine ShortList recently.

"No [I didn't see the puppeteers]. I had to remember to say hello to them. I'd say hello to The Muppets. I had to remember there was a human being I had to look in the eye, eventually."

* Muppets Most Wanted is in Australian cinemas now.


2 min read

Published

Updated

Source: AAP


Share this with family and friends


Get SBS News daily and direct to your Inbox

Sign up now for the latest news from Australia and around the world direct to your inbox.

By subscribing, you agree to SBS’s terms of service and privacy policy including receiving email updates from SBS.

Follow SBS News

Download our apps

Listen to our podcasts

Get the latest with our News podcasts on your favourite podcast apps.

Watch on SBS

SBS World News

Take a global view with Australia's most comprehensive world news service

Watch now

Watch the latest news videos from Australia and across the world