Urzila Carlson

{{Short description|South African–New Zealand comedian (born 15 February 1976)}}

{{Infobox comedian

| name = Urzila Carlson

| image = Urzilla.jpg

| image_upright =

| alt =

| caption =

| birth_name =

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1976|02|15|df=y}}

| birth_place = Benoni, South Africa

| death_date =

| death_place =

| medium = {{Plainlist|

Stand-up
Panel shows

}}

| nationality = New Zealand

| other_names =

| education =

| years_active = 2008–present

| genre =

| subject = {{Plainlist|

Parenting
Emigration

}}

| domestic_partner =

| children = 2

| parents =

| relatives =

| notable_work =

| module = {{Infobox person

| embed = yes

| known_for = {{Plainlist|

}}

| signature =

| website = {{URL|http://urzilacarlson.com}}

| footnotes =

}}

Urzila Carlson ({{IPAc-en|'|ɜːr|ʃ|ɪ|l|ə}} {{respell|UR-shih-la}};{{citation needed|date=July 2024}} (born 15 February 1976) is a South African-born New Zealand comedian and actor, known for her stand-up performances as well as her appearances on television programs in both New Zealand and Australia. Carlson is a regular panellist on 7 Days{{Cite web |last=Chateau |first=Carroll du |date=2011-10-07 |title=Urzila Carlson: The comedian standing up for herself |url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/entertainment/urzila-carlson-the-comedian-standing-up-for-herself/ITB2CLU4T4CIKMHAMKKWHVD7QU/?c_id=1501119&objectid=10821751 |access-date=2024-12-21 |website=The New Zealand Herald |language=en-NZ}}{{Cite web |last=Kanowski |first=Sarah |date=2018-03-23 |title=Urzila Carlson: a life without regrets |url=https://www.abc.net.au/listen/programs/conversations/conversations-urzila-carlson/9558110 |access-date=2024-12-21 |website=ABC listen |language=en-AU}} and both the Australian and New Zealand version of Have You Been Paying Attention?.{{Cite web|url=https://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/comedy/urzila-carlson-treats-standup-like-im-at-a-barbecue-with-mates-talking-s-20180307-h0x631.html|title=Urzila Carlson treats stand-up 'like I'm at a barbecue with mates talking s---'|last=Quinn|first=Karl|date=8 March 2018|website=The Sydney Morning Herald |language=en|access-date=15 January 2019|archive-date=28 March 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190328142118/https://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/comedy/urzila-carlson-treats-standup-like-im-at-a-barbecue-with-mates-talking-s-20180307-h0x631.html|url-status=live |quote =The 42-year-old South African-born, Auckland-based lesbyterian... }} She was also a panellist on The Masked Singer Australia for the show's second and third seasons{{cite web |url=https://www.viacomcbsanz.com/news-and-insights/the-first-unmasking-urzila-carlson-is-ready-to-play-detective/|title=The first unmasking. Urzila Carlson is ready to play detective.|date=16 July 2020|website=ViacomCBS ANZ|publisher=Network Ten|access-date=16 July 2020|archive-date=16 July 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200716090505/https://www.viacomcbsanz.com/news-and-insights/the-first-unmasking-urzila-carlson-is-ready-to-play-detective/|url-status=live}} and a contestant on the second season of Taskmaster NZ.

Early life and education

Urzila Carlson was born in 1976 at the Queen Victoria Hospital in Johannesburg.{{Cite web |title=URZILA CARLSON: THE LONG FLIGHT TO FREEDOM |url=https://www.theatreview.org.nz/production/urzila-carlson-the-long-flight-to-freedom/#in-your-face-wit |access-date=2024-12-21 |website=Theatreview |language=en-NZ}} She grew up on the Ingwelala nature reserve next to Kruger National Park and has a brother and a sister.{{Cite news |date=2018-10-02 |title=Comedian Urzila Carlson is new South African Tourism Ambassador |url=http://www.travelmonitor.com.au/category/news/todays-news/comedian-urzila-carlson-is-new-south-african-tourism-ambassador/ |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20190417134454/http://www.travelmonitor.com.au/category/news/todays-news/comedian-urzila-carlson-is-new-south-african-tourism-ambassador/ |archive-date=2019-04-17 |access-date=2024-12-22 |work=Travel Monitor |language=en-US}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/entertainment/twelve-questions-with-urzila-carlson/LLSRDSIX5JKNZDNIJBDC6CKUDQ/|title=Twelve questions with Urzila Carlson|last=Dann|first=Jennifer|journal=The New Zealand Herald |date=29 November 2016|access-date=15 January 2019|language=en-NZ|issn=1170-0777}}{{Cite web |date=2016-10-13 |title='Rolling With The Punchlines' Is Urzila Carlson's Fascinating Memoir |url=http://www.lotl.com/Culture/Rolling-With-The-Punchlines-Is-Urzila-Carlsons-Fascinating-Memoir--1474/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190328142201/http://www.lotl.com/Culture/Rolling-With-The-Punchlines-Is-Urzila-Carlsons-Fascinating-Memoir--1474/ |archive-date=28 March 2019 |access-date= |website=LOTL}} Her father was a violent alcoholic, and her parents separated when she was 6 or 7 years old.

Career

Carlson's first job was as a typesetter for a South African newspaper, which she did for 12 years. By the age of 24 she was "production manager for Africa's largest newspaper group with 13 newspapers and 6 magazines," and won awards for graphic design and photograph retouching.

She moved to New Zealand in 2006 and transitioned into comedy in 2008, when she was 32.

She has appeared on the Australian shows The Project,{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?si=0qcbvvX0P79wjn9m&v=7E5fTcD22Fw&feature=youtu.be |title=Urzila Carlson {{!}} The Project |date=2019-11-28 |last= |type=Video |access-date=2024-12-21 |via=YouTube}} Studio 10,{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AA3ehQShal4 |title=Urzila Carlson: The Standout Of Stand-Up {{!}} Studio 10 |date=2022-09-25 |last= |type=Video |access-date=2024-12-21 |via=YouTube}} Spicks and Specks, Orange Is the New Brown,{{Cite web |last=Burke |first=Tina |date=2018-09-07 |title=Nazeem Hussain, Urzila Carlson and Matt Okine to star in Seven's new sketch show |url=https://www.nowtolove.com.au/entertainment/tv/nazeem-hussain-urzila-carlson-matt-okine-orange-is-the-new-brown-51071/ |access-date=2024-12-21 |website=Now To Love |language=en-AU}} Have You Been Paying Attention?, Hughesy, We Have a Problem,{{Cite web |last=Samantha |first=Mafucci |date=7 January 2019 |title=Who Is Urzila Carlson? New Details On The Comic From 'Comedians Of The World' On Netflix |url=https://www.yourtango.com/2019320559/who-is-urzila-carlson-new-details-comic-comedians-of-the-world-netflix |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190328131916/https://www.yourtango.com/2019320559/who-is-urzila-carlson-new-details-comic-comedians-of-the-world-netflix |archive-date=28 March 2019 |access-date=21 December 2024 |website=YourTango |language=en}} and two seasons of The Masked Singer. She has also appeared on New Zealand shows 7 Days, Have You Been Paying Attention? and Super City.

Her stand-up routines include The Long Flight To Freedom. Carlson performed at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival Gala from 2016 to 2018.

She released a memoir in 2016 called Rolling with the Punchlines.{{Cite book |last=Carlson |first=Urzila |title=Rolling with the punchlines |publisher=A & U New Zealand |year=2016 |isbn=9781877505638 |location=Sydney |oclc=1057621440}}

In 2021, she was a contestant on the second series of Taskmaster New Zealand.{{cite web |date=29 May 2021 |title=Taskmaster NZ to return with new line up of comedians |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/entertainment/tv-radio/300319416/taskmaster-nz-to-return-with-new-line-up-of-comedians |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210720125901/https://www.stuff.co.nz/entertainment/tv-radio/300319416/taskmaster-nz-to-return-with-new-line-up-of-comedians |archive-date=20 July 2021 |access-date=29 July 2021 |website=Stuff }}

In 2022, she was a guest judge on Drag Race Down Under.{{cite web |last1=Loschiavo |first1=Will |date=2024-11-01 |title=Urzila Carlson: Beyond Comedy |url=https://outinjersey.net/urzila-carlson-beyond-comedy/ |access-date=10 November 2024 |website=Out in Jersey}} Carlson appeared on the Australian season of Guy Montgomery's Guy Mont-Spelling Bee.{{Cite web |last=Story |first=Hannah |date=2024-08-06 |title=How Guy Montgomery's Guy Mont Spelling Bee evolved from lockdown balm to Australian TV show |url=https://www.msn.com/en-au/news/australia/how-guy-montgomery-s-guy-mont-spelling-bee-evolved-from-lockdown-balm-to-australian-tv-show/ar-AA1olGuL |access-date=2024-12-21 |website=MSN}}

Recognition and awards

Carlson was nominated for the Helpmann Award for Best Comedy Performer in 2018.{{Cite web |title=Celia Pacquola wins Best Comedy Performer at the 2018 Helpmann Awards |url=https://comedy.com.au/news/celia-pacquola-wins-best-comedy-performer-2018-helpmann-awards/ |access-date=2024-12-21 |website=comedy.com.au |language=en-US}}

In 2019, she appeared in Netflix's Comedians of the World. The same year, she was presented with the Rielly Comedy Award from the Variety Artists Club of New Zealand for her contribution to New Zealand entertainment.{{Cite web |last=Cherry |first=Amber |date=2024-09-26 |title=Watch Urzila Carlson's Hysterical Comedy Special, 'It’s Personal' |url=https://800poundgorillamedia.com/blogs/the-laugh-button/urzila-carlson-comedy-special-its-personal |access-date=2024-12-21 |website=800 Pound Gorilla |language=en}}

She won Best Female Comedian at the New Zealand Comedy Guild Awards six times (2010-2014 and 2016).{{Cite web |date=2013-12-09 |title=Carlson retains comedy crown for fourth year |url=https://www.pridenz.com/gaynz/14299.html |access-date=2024-12-21 |website=GayNZ.com}}{{Cite web |title=2014 Guild Awards |url=http://www.comedyguild.org.nz/2014-guild-awards.html |access-date=2024-12-22 |website=New Zealand Comedy Guild |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=2016 Guild Awards |url=http://www.comedyguild.org.nz/2016-guild-awards.html |access-date=2024-12-22 |website=New Zealand Comedy Guild |language=en}}

Personal life

Carlson speaks South African English, Zulu, and Afrikaans. She emigrated to New Zealand from South Africa in 2006 after being subjected to a series of thefts, including her car being stolen, an armed robbery at work, and a break-in at her home in which she and her neighbours confronted the intruder with cricket bats. She became a New Zealand citizen in 2012 and renounced her South African citizenship.

Carlson is a lesbian, and came out to her mother when she was 24. She refers to herself as a "lesbiterian", a portmanteau of lesbian and Presbyterian.{{Cite web |last=Steve Bennett |date=2 January 2019 |title=Comedians Of The World – Urzila Carlson |url=http://www.chortle.co.uk/review/2019/01/03/42007/comedians_of_the_world_-_urzila_carlson:_argument_library |access-date=15 January 2019 |website=Chortle |language=en |archive-date=3 January 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190103160237/https://www.chortle.co.uk/review/2019/01/03/42007/comedians_of_the_world_-_urzila_carlson:_argument_library |url-status=live }} She married her partner Julie in 2014, and they have a son and a daughter together.{{Cite web |date=12 August 2016 |title=7 Days comedian Urzila Carlson welcomes baby boy |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/entertainment/celebrities/83109253/7-days-comedian-urzila-carlson-welcomes-baby-boy |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190121120617/https://www.stuff.co.nz/entertainment/celebrities/83109253/7-days-comedian-urzila-carlson-welcomes-baby-boy |archive-date=21 January 2019 |access-date=15 January 2019 |website=Stuff |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Weaser |first=Laura |date=2014-10-27 |title=Urzila Carlson’s Kiwi love story |url=https://www.nowtolove.co.nz/celebrity/celeb-news/urzila-carlson-kiwi-love-story-2979/ |url-status= |archive-url= |archive-date= |access-date=2024-12-21 |website=Now To Love |language=en}}

In 2018, she was named Australasian Ambassador of South African Tourism, representing the country as part of an ongoing campaign to encourage Australians, New Zealanders, and South African expatriates to visit the country.

As of 2019, she lives in Auckland.{{Cite news |date=12 April 2018 |title=Urzila Carlson goes global with Netflix comedy special Comedians Of The World |url=https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/entertainment/2018/12/urzila-carlson-goes-global-with-netflix-comedy-special-comedians-of-the-world.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190220063441/https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/entertainment/2018/12/urzila-carlson-goes-global-with-netflix-comedy-special-comedians-of-the-world.html |archive-date=20 February 2019 |access-date= |work=Newshub |language=en}}