YOU’VE got to hand it to Ricky Gervais. Not many men could take the kind of insults thrown at him in his latest film – let alone write them in the first place.

The Invention Of Lying, which Gervais wrote, directed and stars in, sees him play loser Mark Bellison – unlucky in love and work, but also the only person who can lie in an alternate reality where everyone tells the whole truth.

So when Mark goes to meet his beautiful blind date Anna (Jennifer Garner), for example, and asks her how she is, she takes one look at him and without a second thought, states: “Depressed and pessimistic about our date”.

Surely even Gervais – known for his self-deprecating humour and playing socially awkward characters like David Brent in The Office and Andy Millman in Extras – occasionally reaches saturation point, when the insults start to hurt?

“No,” he laughs. “I love it and I don’t know if that’s because I’ve got no ego at all or such a big ego that nothing can hurt me. Someone insulting me makes me laugh,” he adds, suppressing a squeaky giggle.

The film, which recently had its world premiere at the Toronto Film Festival, boasts a talented cast, including rising star Jonah Hill, as Mark’s suicidal neighbour, the “genetically-perfect” Rob Lowe, as his work and love rival, and cameos from Jason Bateman and his comedy writing partner Stephen Merchant.

For all his Emmy and Bafta award-winning success, Reading-born Gervais still finds it amazing that he’s become one of Hollywood’s golden boys.

“I can’t believe these people want to work with me. Truth is, I’m a bit of a chancer,” he adds, flashing that famously cheeky grin.

“I’m very lucky to be in this position and no one’s found me out yet!”

While the film marks his directorial debut, the 48-year-old has long been writing his own material – and broke into Hollywood after Extras and the US version of The Office became hits across the pond.

Since starring in last year’s Ghost Town, he’s lost some of the David Brent paunch from hitting the gym in the States, but he insists he won’t change in other ways, and will not be sucked into the LA movie machine.

“I don’t think I play the Hollywood game as such – I’m not really an actor for hire, I’ve done the odd bits, but they’re either returning the favour or just for a laugh.