Ricky Gervais: Women Usually Used as ‘Props’ in Hollywood

Ricky Gervais, creator of classic comedy shows like The Office and Extras, has found more mainstream Hollywood success in recent years (starring in a Muppet movie is as mainstream as it gets), but he’s not that fond of Hollywood culture, and said as much in a recent interview with RadioTimes.com.

Gervais said he tries to give substantive roles to women in his work because he doesn’t see a lot of that happening elsewhere in Hollywood.

“I love writing interesting female characters because usually they’re props, particularly in comedy… Even in Hollywood, they’re usually air heads or if they’re ambitious they’re straight away cold and need to be taught a lesson. They need to show that getting a man is more important than getting a career. Or they’re just props for men to do funny things.”

Gervais’ newest show is Derek, a mockumentary of sorts that follows the lives of workers in a nursing home. When Gervais got to host the Golden Globes three times, he held nothing back in his biting monologues on the industry.

[photo via screengrab]

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Follow Josh Feldman on Twitter: @feldmaniac

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