Quotes by Stephen Merchant

About Stephen Merchant:

Stephen James Merchant is an English writer, director, radio presenter, comedian, and actor. He is best known for his collaborations with Ricky Gervais, as the co-writer and co-director of the popular British sitcom The Office, co-writer, co-director, and co-star of Extras, and co-host of The Ricky Gervais Show in its radio, podcast, audiobook, and television show forms. The Ricky Gervais Show in radio form won a bronze Sony Award.
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

It's not like I think: 'By the age of 40 I've got to be an international household name.' When the opportunity to perform comes up, then I'll take it. It's really good fun. But because I don't crave the attention or the buzz, it's not like I'm desper...

Stephen Merchant

I'm too tall. I am 6ft 7in, so I've been most people's height at some point in my life, and 6ft 4in is the best. You're tall, but you don't have to bend when you go through a door.

Stephen Merchant

I guess as you get older you sort of see the mechanics, even with the best comedians. There's admiration for people I admire, but it's not guttural laughter. It's a wry 'Oh, well done, sir.' But I sort of miss that slightly; I miss the raw joy of com...

Stephen Merchant

When I was a teenager, I met a comedian who I admired, and he was very rude to me. That's why when people come up to me I try not to be rude. I don't want to name who he is, but it really put me off watching his stuff since.

Stephen Merchant

Maybe there's a sort of veneer of optimism about U.S. comedy, whereas perhaps in England, we don't mind ending it on a sourer note.

Stephen Merchant

I suffered when I was in my late twenties and early thirties. I was awkward, I stuck out, I was nerdy.

Stephen Merchant

I know that this sounds grand, but I don't try to compete with other people. I like to think there's enough pie for everyone. The kind of people I'm competing with are my heroes - Woody Allen, Billy Wilder - who I know I'm going to fall short of.

Stephen Merchant

I've always been a fan of physical comedy. It kind of hits you in a different way; it bypasses the intellect and hits you in the gut.

Stephen Merchant

I'm looking for a woman with the body of Kelly Brook and the mind of Stephen Fry.

Stephen Merchant

My heroes - people like Woody Allen - were stand-up comedians. Therefore, I always felt I should give it a go.

Stephen Merchant

Once I began doing stand-up, I didn't get a kick out of the applause or being the centre of attention - but I did get a kick out of the jigsaw puzzle aspect of it, searching for the right bit, adding another few pieces each night until the bigger pic...

Stephen Merchant

I was trying for years to woo people through humour, but it seems flash cars are much easier.

Stephen Merchant

I don't have any hidden depths; I'm a very superficial person. It's a constant frustration to me.

Stephen Merchant

When we did 'The Office,' no one knew who we were, so it was easy to champion us; you could own us. Once you become successful, people don't have that any more, so it becomes more polarised. Some people want to champion you, and others want to slag y...

Stephen Merchant

You hear some people saying, 'I'm alive on stage; it's where I feel most complete...' I don't understand that at all; I find that weird and depressing. I don't dislike the audience; it's just when I'm up there, they're in the darkness. There's just a...

Stephen Merchant

It never really occurs to me that I'm doing cringe comedy. It's something that people tell me afterwards, and I say, 'Again? Really? I never set out with that intention.'

Stephen Merchant

I've jokingly said that everything I'm doing now is filling up the hours before I die, but I do feel that slightly. I have no religious beliefs so this is the ride. This is it. So I'm just like anyone, I suppose, trying to fill out the days in the mo...

Stephen Merchant

I wish I could write 'Taxi Driver,' or 'Blue Velvet,' something brave, audacious, dramatic and dark. I don't know if I have the darkness in my own soul to be able to tap into it, unfortunately.

Stephen Merchant

Generally, I'm terrified of shopping. I like the idea of being well-dressed, but I've always struggled to get anything that fits. I envy those that go into old vintage shops.

Stephen Merchant

People don't mind insulting the tall. We're supposed to be fine with being awkward and skinny. I'm very easy to psychoanalyse. I was a gangly, awkward teenager who could make people laugh and thought that was a way to be socially more comfortable.

Stephen Merchant

Author Bio

  • NameStephen Merchant
  • DescriptionEnglish writer, director, radio presenter, comedian and actor
  • BornNovember 24, 1974
  • CountryUnited Kingdom
  • ProfessionActor; Comedian; Screenwriter; Radio Host
  • AwardsWriters Guild Of America Award; Emmy Award