There aren't many comedians with a higher current worldwide profile than Brit funnyman Ricky Gervais – the man from Reading blazing a trail on the big and small screens, hosting the Golden Globes along the way.
After manipulating our funny bones furiously in "The Office" and "Extras", Gervais dipped his toe in Hollywood with small roles in "For Your Consideration", "Night at the Museum" and "Stardust".
He upped the ante with a starring turn in the critically acclaimed "Ghost Town" before starring alongside Tina Fey, Jennifer Garner and Rob Lowe in his long awaited film directorial debut, “The Invention of Lying”.
The Invention of Lying takes place in an alternate reality in which lying - even the concept of a lie - does not even exist. Everyone from politicians to advertisers, to the man and woman on the street speaks the truth and nothing but the truth with no thought of the consequences. But when a down-on-his-luck loser named Mark (Ricky Gervais) suddenly develops the ability to lie, he finds that dishonesty has its rewards. In a world where every word is assumed to be the absolute truth, Mark easily lies his way to fame and fortune. But lies have a way of spreading, and Mark begins to realise that things are getting a little out of control when some of his tallest tales are being taken as, well, gospel. With the entire world now hanging on his every word, there is only one thing Mark has not been able to lie his way into: the heart of the woman he loves.
With "The Invention of Lying" out on DVD and Blu-ray on February 1st, we decided to look back at fellow Brits who made the leap from Blighty to LaLaLand with aplomb...
 | CHARLIE CHAPLIN Arguably the finest ever film comedian, south London boy Charles Spencer Chaplin upped sticks to America and got his big break in 1914's The Tramp. His character made him a silent movie star before he helped to create United Artists studio and achieved further success in the talkies. |
 | STAN LAUREL A former boarding house buddy of Chaplin, Arthur Stanley Jefferson swapped sunny Ulverston for the glamour of America in 1910. It wasn't until a chance pairing with pudgy Yank comic Oliver Hardy in 1927 that his career exploded, the two combining to glorious effect for three decades. |
 | PETER SELLERS Southsea native Richard Henry Sellers enjoyed a tremendous run with The Goon Show alongside fellow depressive Spike Milligan, before he decided to take on Hollywood. The 60s double whammy of genius in "The Pink Panther" and "Dr Strangelove" proved a peak for Sellers, with no further classic flicks his talent deserved. |
 | MONTY PYTHON Blessed with a cast of comic characters like Michael Palin, John Cleese and Eric Idle, the TV show transferred successfully to the big screen with "The Holy Grail" and "Life of Brian". Despite several attempts at solo efforts, they continued to perform far better as a team, none more so than Cleese and Palin in Brit smash "A Fish Called Wanda". |
 | DUDLEY MOORE Rocketing to fame as a result of his hilarious double act with Peter Cook, diminutive Dudley suddenly found worldwide fame thrust upon him after starring in "10" and "Arthur". Cook tried to echo his friend's success but couldn't crack the film world, while Moore enjoyed an 80s thrill ride. |
 | ROWAN ATKINSON With fellow TV rib tickler Lenny Henry bombing big time in US turkey "True Identity", you'd think Rowan would stick in Blighty. To his credit, though, he rolled up his sleeves to star in "Bean", "Johnny English" and "Mr Bean's Holiday", helping Working Title to their exulted position along the way. |
 | BILLY CONNOLLY British stand-ups have proved hit and miss when it comes to Hollywood, however Connolly seems to have found his calling with star turns in “Her Majesty Mrs Brown”, "The Last Samurai” and the upcoming big-budget "Gulliver's Travels". |
 | SACHA BARON COHEN The prodigiously talented graduate of TV's The 11 O'Clock (where Gervais also honed his schtick) seems to have outperformed other TV genius’ such as Steve Coogan in recent years. The phenomenal success of "Borat" built on his Ali G alter ego with further turns in "Sweeney Todd" and "Bruno" going down nicely. |
 | SIMON PEGG A victory for the good guys with proper gent Pegg blazing a trail on the other side of the pond on the back of his "Shaun of the Dead" and "Hot Fuzz" UK outings. Enjoyable perfs in "M:i:III" and "Star Trek" will be followed with another Nick Frost combo in Yank alien road movie "Paul". |
 | RUSSELL BRAND Love him or hate him, Brand is here for the duration. The Essex boy used his cheeky showing in "St Trinian's as a launch pad for US success. Co-starring duties in "Forgetting Sarah Marshall" and "Bedtime Stories" has led to top billing in 2010 Aldous Snow flick "Get Him to the Greek". |
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The Invention Of Lying Film Page
THE INVENTION OF LYING IS OUT IN DVD AND BLU-RAY ON FEBRUARY 1ST
