Rhys Nicholson

About Rhys

With an enormous passion for live performing and a well-earned reputation for intelligent, premium comedy, Rhys Nicholson’s work continues to receive awards and accolades around the world. A star of the stage and the screen, there is no doubting their domination of Australian comedy, and their inevitable impact on the global scene.

Rhys was hand-picked to open for comedy legend Conan O’Brien on his 2019 Australian tour, followed by their USA television debut as the stand up guest on CONAN (TBS). This was immediately followed by the recording of their third stand up special Nice People Nice Things Nice Situations. The show was released on Netflix worldwide, making Rhys one of only three Australians with a solo show on the streaming giant at that time. The show’s success additionally earned them a nomination for Best Stand Up Comedy Special at the AACTA Awards in 2021. Rhys has additionally received two AACTA Award nominations in the 2024 Awards, Best Stand Up Comedy Special for Big Queer Comedy Concert (Amazon Prime) and Best Comedy Performer for Ru Paul’s Drag Race Down Under (STAN).

Alongside a booming stand-up career, Rhys has become a favourite across our small screens. Scripted appearances include being cast as a series regular in the Sci-Fi comedy The Imperfects (NETFLIX), and a recurring role in FISK (NETFLIX). On top of this, Rhys appeared on all four seasons of Drag Race Down Under (STAN), featured as a contestant on Network 10’s Taskmaster Australia, and was invited to appear twice on the re-boot of Thank God You’re Here in 2023 & 2024.

Rhys is also a regular guest on The Weekly with Charlie Pickering (ABC), along with featuring on many of Australia’s entertainment shows, including Guy Montgomery Spelling Bee (ABC), Spicks and Specks (ABC), Question Everything (ABC), and Would I Lie To You (ABC). Additionally, viewers may have caught them hosting the 2023 & 2024 ARIA Awards (STAN), New Years Eve Broadcast (ABC), and World Pride Broadcast (ABC).

2023 saw the release of Rhys’s debut book, Dish: Spiels, Scoops, Emotional Outbursts and the Occasional Recipe, published by Penguin Random House. Rhys has been a beloved mainstay of comedy festivals in Australia and beyond since their inaugural show, with subsequent tours through all major Australian cities, New Zealand, the UK, the USA, and Canada, and an impressive trophy cabinet featuring such prestigious awards as Best of the Fest and Directors Choice at Sydney Comedy Festival, and Best International Show at the New Zealand International Comedy Festival.

They have enjoyed appearances on the televised Melbourne International Comedy Festival’s All Stars Gala (ABC), participating frequently with short spots, but also in the prestigious role of host.

Recent years have seen them take their critically acclaimed shows abroad where they performed at the renowned invite-only Just For Laughs Montreal, Edinburgh Festival Fringe, London’s Leicester Square Theatre, Soho Playhouse New York, Just For Laughs Toronto and theatres throughout the United States and the UK.