Ricky Gervais' follow-up to his original version of "The Office" was "Extras," the story of Andy Millman's (Gervais) pursuit of fame. Millman works as an extra on various movies being shot in England. As his career progresses he is offered bigger parts, such as theater roles and even the lead role in a low-brow sitcom. A recurring theme throughout the course of the series 12-episode run is Andy's desire to be famous while producing work he is actually proud of. Every episode of the show has various famous guest stars and they play parodies of themselves, further skewering what it means to be famous and successful. One example of this is Kate Winslet, who in the episode is playing the role of a nun during the Holocaust. She explains that the only reason she took the role was to win an Oscar. Ironically, in real life (nearly four years after Winslet's appearance on Extras), Kate Winslet won her first Academy Award for playing the role of a concentration camp guard during the Holocaust. At the end of the series, Millman learns what is truly important in life and re-examines his views on fame and celebrity.
Gervais, Ricky, and Stephen Merchant. "Kate Winslet." Extras. BBC-2. London, England. 4 Aug. 2005.
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