Josh Thomas can make his eyebrow touch his nose. Go on, try it

Each week, Benjamin Law asks public figures to discuss the subjects we’re told to keep private by getting them to roll a die. The numbers they land on are the topics they’re given. This week, he talks to Josh Thomas. The comedian, actor and presenter, 36, is best known for four seasons of his AACTA Award-winning TV comedy-drama Please Like Me. He also created and stars in the TV show Everything’s Gonna Be Okay.

Josh Thomas: “It’s so annoying having to have a body. Ugh.”Credit: Louie Douvis

MONEY

What money lessons did your parents instil in you? That you shouldn’t spend it. To this day, they’re like, “Why are you spending it?” I’m like, “That’s what it’s for.” I just had my mum come on tour with me in the US and she’s still like, “Why don’t we just get some bread and jam and have sandwiches in the park?” I’m like, “I’m on tour. I’m earning money. I’m going to buy us lunch.”

There’s something sweet about that, though. It sounds like she doesn’t need much and is easily pleased. No, that’s absolutely not what it is. It’s that she delights in the fact that we’re saving money. I don’t find any joy in saving money at all. It feels so drudging to me.

Given your parents’ disciplined – or austere – relationship with money, what did they think of you wanting to become a comedian? Well, I quit university to become a comedian. But the degree I was doing was a bachelor of creative industries, majoring in television … it’s not as if I was studying to be a lawyer. When I was doing season three of [game show] Talkin’ ’Bout Your Generation, my dad was like, “Why don’t you get a part-time job?” His suggestion was the Army Reserve. I exploded with laughter. I was like, “Have you ever met me?” When my mum was also worried about my career, I remember saying, “I earn more money than you.”

What was your last happy-purchase? For Christmas, I got my boyfriend a jellyfish tank.

Does he love jellyfish? No. There was no reason to get him a jellyfish tank.

And what was your last regret-purchase? Sequinned pants.

POLITICS

You recently posted a clip of you debating Bob Katter years ago on Q&A with the caption, “When I used to be so brave!” Can you expand on that? Do you feel less brave about politics now? I used to really come at people if I didn’t agree with what they thought. That was fun. But as I get older, I’m just less coming-with-my-opinions because you stop thinking you’re right all the time; you think things are way-more-complicated-actually, even. So I’ve become less confident in what I think and better at listening to other people. There’s also a general disillusioned feeling. In my 20s, I did feel that we were making consistent progress and the world was getting better: more socially open, accepting and respectful of people’s individual choices. That’s not what’s happening now.

You’ve been based in the US for a while. Now you’re at a distance, what do you think Australia’s getting right? Honestly, after six years in the US, I just think Australia is so good; it’s a really safe, comfortable country. We would love less wealth inequality, but when you compare it to most countries, I kind of feel like we’re crushing it. Also, I was in the US for COVID-19. For people in Australia – especially Melbourne – that was really difficult. Australians were so upset about the political climate and being locked in their houses. All fair; that’s really traumatic. But [the scale of death] wasn’t at Australia’s door in the same way [as in the US] because we were protected by our government. And in the US, the food is disgusting; roads don’t work; government doesn’t function. As a left-wing person, I think it’s important to be positive about what the government is doing sometimes because the alternative is shrinking and destroying the government, which is terrifying.

At the same time, is there anything about Australia that makes you wince or cringe? The racism. The “No” vote [on the referendum for the Voice to Parliament] was terrible. You travel overseas and ask anybody who’s not white who’s been to Australia, “How was it?” and they’ll be like, “Wow, Australia’s really racist.”

BODIES

We’re going to talk about your body now. Oh, I hate that I have a body. I don’t find any joy in it. It’s so annoying having to have a body. Ugh.

Have you always felt like this? Look, I got fit once when we were shooting [for TV]. Then I thought, “Well, good! I’ve done it.” Then I stopped.

So you liked the state of being fit, but you didn’t like the process? No, I don’t like it. I don’t like going to the gym. I don’t like using my body, really. I wish I did. When I’m touring – 25 shows, five cities, in five weeks – it’s a lot of just trudging around in this body. Then it starts hurting, then I have to trim my body hair, then it smells weird …

How do you pull your body through all that? Sleeping pills and Red Bull. But this is boring to talk about. Ask me the other questions!

What are you happy that your body can do? [Long pause] It’s such a shocking question to be asked.

Wow, that was such a long pause. Wait, what was the question?

What is something about your body that pleases you? I only use it for sex, and even then, I’m only dragging it out to do this.

When was the last time you were naked that didn’t involve showering or sex? I’d never be naked unless I was having a shower or sex.

So the idea of a Japanese bathhouse or nudist beach … Absolutely not. Are you kidding? I’d burst into tears.

Do you have a secret party trick? I can make my eyebrow touch my nose. [Demonstrates]

Oh my god. Yeah. See? I can make them touch.

Josh Thomas is touring nationally until May.

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