Urzila Carlson Replies To All Her Fanmail And Doesn't Eat Organic

One thing that separates Urzila Carlson from other comedians of her calibre is that she replies to every single fan email. She can't help it. For Carlson, comedy is all about connection.

"I know a lot of comedians suffer from depression, but I get so many people who are sick and stuck in hospital or suffering from depression and not leaving the house," she says. "And when they email me, they'll tell me they've been watching my YouTube videos. It's weird, the people who watch a lot of YouTube clips are often the ones going through a hard time. So I talk to them. It's like a support group. I've learned a lot, I love it. We talk all day."

"If you live in a caged farm, all you want to do is die. Then the farmer comes along and makes all your dreams come true."

Speaking on mental health, Carlson is so sick and tired of people holding each other to impossible standards that she's written an entire show about it - aptly titled Unacceptable. "If you don't like something, bloody say something about it," she tells me with a verbal backhand of authority. "There are so many people who don't eat gluten now because they feel a pressure not to, but my sister's celiac and it makes you gravely ill. And then you have people complaining about being farty. You're just farty - get over it!"

A regular panelist on Network Ten's Have You Been Paying Attention? Carlson is fast becoming the latest in a long line of Kiwis to be claimed as an honorary Aussie. "I'd say Australian audiences are a bit more vocal with their love and/or hate, whereas audiences in New Zealand are a bit more polite," she laughs - adding that Australians aren't as good at laughing at themselves as they might think. "That's what every country says, except for maybe Russia or Germany. Everyone reckons they're really good at laughing at themselves."

Born in South Africa but raised in New Zealand, there's no denying that the unapologetic comedian has a unique perspective on a number of subjects, ranging from marriage equality to suicide prevention. However, none is more fervent than the struggle to afford organic chicken. "Look, it is expensive to do the right thing," she admits with a cackle. "Don't do yourself in because you're trying to please other people. You have to think of your own sanity. If you live in a caged farm, all you want to do is die. Then the farmer comes along and makes all your dreams come true. If you live in the beautiful green pastures of an organic farm, you have ambitions, man. You might be in love — you don't want to die."