Kiwi comedienne Urzila Carlson during her chance encounter with superstar Cher during the Sydney Mardi Gras last month. Photo / Supplied
Kiwi comedienne Urzila Carlson during her chance encounter with superstar Cher during the Sydney Mardi Gras last month. Photo / Supplied
They were two among a crowd of thousands celebrating Sydney's Mardi Gras last month when their eyes met.
One, timeless pop singer Cher, was on the VIP side. The other, Kiwi comedienne Urzila Carlson, was jammed among throngs of media and hangers-on.
Auckland-based Carlson, a fixture of New Zealand and international comedy festivals and a regular 7 Days panelist, had been asked to help cover the event for Australian broadcaster SBS.
She'd also been asked not to interview Cher. Another host was already arranged to talk to the Believe hitmaker.
But sometimes life is a bit like stand-up comedy — a moment can feel right, and you've just got to go with it.
"I thought, 'If I don't take this opportunity ...' I don't believe in living with regret. I swear in that moment ... we looked [right] at each other. I just started talking to her, I had nothing prepared."
She asked what, after so many years in the industry, was the 71-year-old's favourite music and why, Carlson said.
"[She said] 'It's not the kind of music, it depends on the song. It can be heavy metal, it can be country ... it's the words in the song and the way it makes you feel and how it makes you connect to your life in that moment'.
"I thought, 'Oh my God, what a great answer from an absolute legend'."
She was less enamoured with her own "stuttering, blushing" performance, but that's life.
"You just can't be cool [in that situation]. It just leaves the building."
Comedienne Urzila Carlson will debut a new show, LOSER, at the New Zealand International Comedy Festival next month. Photo / Supplied
The show was born from a conversation with her brother, when she realised the word loser was always negative, unless you were talking about losing weight.
"Why? If you meet someone awesome, would you not want there to be more of them?"
Losing was also universal and, therefore, relatable.
"We're all losers in some form and at some point, the worst thing will happen ... get ready losers, let's tackle our failures."
The New Zealand International Comedy Festival is on from April 26 until May 20 and features international comedy stars like Arj Barker and Paul Chowdhry and local favourites Rose Matafeo, Tom Sainsbury and Guy Williams among others.
