Urzila Carlson
Book Urzila Carlson for speaking engagements & events.
Multi-award-winning South African-New Zealander, Urzila Carlson, has become one of the biggest
names in comedy in Australia and New Zealand.
A television favourite in both countries, Urzila is a series regular on both the Australian and New
Zealand versions of the award-winning comedy panel show Have You Been Paying Attention?. Her
trademark deadpan humour and cheeky wit has seen her win fans the world over for her
television appearances and live shows. A touring powerhouse, Urzila has toured the globe and
sells out live shows year after year.
In 2019, Urzila became the highest-selling comedian in the 33-year long history of The Melbourne
International Comedy Festival, one of the three largest comedy festivals in the world. She also
took home the coveted People’s Choice Award the same year and made her Netflix debut as part
of the streaming service’s unprecedented world-wide comedy series, Comedians Around the
World which saw Urzila handpicked as was one of 47 comedians to perform a half-hour special
filmed at Just For Laughs in Montreal.
“Effortlessly likeable… stream of belly-laughs” – The Age, Melbourne
Originally published in 2016, 2019 also saw the re-release of Urzila’s fascinating
autobiography Rolling With the Punchlines, which added best-selling author to her ever-growing
list of achievements. And now 2020, is set to be Urzila’s biggest year yet, as she will release her
standalone one hour Netflix stand-up special, which is being recorded live in December 2019. This
prestigious opportunity has launched the international careers of many comics and will, introduce
Urzila to a new legion of comedy fans.
An undeniable tour de force of the comedy world, Urzila hasn’t stopped since taking to the
comedy stage in 2008. She has sold out seasons in London, Edinburgh, Melbourne, Sydney, Perth,
Adelaide, Brisbane, Auckland, Wellington, Queenstown and Christchurch. Her television
appearances include Hughesy We Have A Problem, The Project, Spicks and Specks, Dirty
Laundry, Have You Been Paying Attention?, The Great Debate with Barry Humphries, ABC Comedy
Up Late, 7 Days, Super City, Road Madness and the Melbourne International Comedy
Festival galas. Urzila was also one of the key cast members of Nazeem Hussain’s comedy sketch
program Orange is The New Brown which premiered on the Seven Network in 2018 to critical
acclaim.
“Standout performance… side-splitting” – Rip it up, Adelaide
Urzila has earned an impressive array of awards, including Best Female Comedian at the New
Zealand Comedy Guild Awards (no less than six times), New Zealand International Comedy
Festival’s coveted People’s Choice Award (2014 & 2015) and the Sydney Comedy Festival’s
Director’s Choice Award (2017). In October 2018, Urzila also became the new Australasian
Ambassador of South African Tourism for both Australia and New Zealand, a great honour for the
South African native.