DESPITE the catastrophic experiences suffered by his luckless screen characters, Ricky Gervais is rather a good luck charm for Hollywood actors.
As David Brent in The Office and Andy Millman in Extras, everything he touches tends to fall apart or end up on the cutting room floor. But an appearance in Extras can transform the reputation of a Hollywood star.
Thanks to Extras we discovered Kate Winslet could make fun of her virginal roles, when she appeared in the series as a sweary nun.
And who knew Robert DeNiro could be tempted out for a pint if bribed with a slightly rude novelty pen?
Hollywood stars aren't the only people to come out smiling after Extras.
Although hapless Andy, the jobbing actor and writer, rarely triumphs on-screen, at 45 his creator is on his way to carving out a multimedia empire with TV shows, podcasts, books, stand-up and radio work.
So it was only a matter of time before Ricky would end up on film himself.
For a while, however, he rejected all manner of tempting, well-paid movie jobs,
including the Simon Pegg role of computer geek in Mission: Impossible III, and a role as Ian McKellen's butler in The Da Vinci Code.
Ricky says: "I met Ron Howard, who directed The Da Vinci Code, and he thought I'd be great for the butler role, but I told him I'd ruin his film.
"And I once got a script where I was supposed to play Will Smith's brother. I didn't even ask what that was about.
But I wouldn't pay 10 to see me in a film."
So Night At The Museum, opening today, is his first major appearance on the big screen, although he did provide a voice for a pigeon in the animated feature Valiant, and turns up next month in a couple of scenes as a British movie boss in For Your Consideration, a comic character not a million miles from tactless, oily David Brent
Ricky's first big feature is a starpacked, special-effects family comedy starring Ben Stiller as a security guard who discovers that after dark, exhibits come to life, including Teddy Roosevelt (Robin Williams), Julius Caesar (Steve Coogan) and Jedidiah (Owen Wilson), a six-gun-toting member of an Old West display. Hiding this secret brings Ben into conflict with Ricky, the museum director, Dr McPhee.
Despite the name, Ricky was never tempted to try out a Scottish accent. He says: "I'm never tempted to broaden my range. It's difficult enough to concentrate on acting, let alone whether the accent is okay.
"I said: 'I'm English, that's it. I don't do accents and no wigs.' "You're laughing," he adds, "but I really did say that.
"
Lots of actors want to produce and direct, but Ricky is busier than most. He's preparing his stand-up show Fame, which comes to Scotland in the New Year, promoting another book of Flanimals and penning a third series of Extras, which he hopes will include stars such as Arnold Schwarzenegger and Bruce Willis.
The key to pulling in big names lies with the cult status The Office enjoys in Hollywood homes.
"Practically everything we've done has come from the success of The Office," says Ricky, casual as usual in a black T-shirt and rumpled jeans. "In America it was only getting a million and a half viewers but I think most of that million watching worked in Hollywood!
"We saw it was everyone's favourite show, and we thought: 'Right, let's get them to put their money where their mouth is.
' So we approached people we knew had said their favourite show was The Office, and they said yes.
"If Extras had been awful or had had a bad time, you quickly use up your goodwill if you can't keep backing it up. But I still feel like they're doing me a favour.
I still feel when I get someone like David Bowie, they're doing me a favour, and
I'm always grateful."
BEN Stiller was one such Office fan. After he guested as himself on Extras, he decided to bring Ricky on to his turf.
"I just got an email out of the blue after Extras, and he said: 'I've got a part for you in this new film I'm doing. Do you want to return the favour? No pressure.
' " recalls Ricky
In five years Ricky's become one of the most influential comic stars in the business. His new wealth allowed him to buy a huge home in North London for himself and TV producer partner Jane Fallon. But Ricky says his tastes are simple.
Most of his money goes on eating out and taxis because he doesn't drive.
He grew up in Reading, the fourth son of a French-Canadian serviceman-turned-labourer and a dinner lady. The family lived in a three-bedroom council house and his childhood was happy.
He remembers how much store his parents set by hard work but, although he works hard on scripts, he likes to keep the acting side straightforward - starring in an action-packed picture would be his idea of acting hell.
He's never happier than when doing as little as possible, and he envies Colin Farrell for making a low- budget movie centred on a man trapped in a telephone box.
"My ideal film - I'm a very lazy man - would have been starring in Phone Booth," jokes Ricky.
"It was a nine-day shoot and for some of the time Colin was sitting on the floor of the phone booth. Running around - no. Sitting down - yes.
"When I'm directing, I always say things to co-writer/director Steve Merchant like: 'I think I'd sit down for this one.' And he goes: 'Are you just saying that because your legs are tired?' And usually he's right.
"
One trick of the trade he says he learned while making Night At The Museum was sometimes the director would play music to set the mood for the actors.
"When they did it for a scene between Ben and me at the end, I felt like a real actor," he says. And what was the music?
"Yellow Polka Dot Bikini by Timmy Mallet," he jokes. "It ruined the whole scene."
Night At The Museum is out now.
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