Ricky Gervais cries during tribute to mother in webchat

Ricky Gervais has paid tribute to his late mother during an online webchat.

The Life's Too Short comedian was taking part in a Q&A session with the Wall Street Journal about his views on religion and why he is an atheist.

Gervais shared how he prefers to celebrate the Christmas period, and spoke fondly of past moments with his mother Eva, who passed away in 2000.

"[I'll be] eating and drinking too much with friends and family," he wrote. "Celebrating life and remembering those that did, but can no longer.

"They are not looking down on me but they live in my mind and heart more than they ever did probably. Some, I was lucky enough to bump into on this planet of six billion people. Others shared much of my genetic material. One selflessly did her best for me all my life."

He admitted that he shed some tears while speaking about his mother, and what she meant to him during the festive season.

"That's what mums do though," he said. "They do it for no other reason than love. Not for reward. Not for recognition. They create you. From nothing. Miracle? They do those every day. No big deal.

"They are not worshipped. They would give their life without the promise of heaven. They teach you everything they know yet they are not declared prophets. And you only have one.

"I am crying as I write this. It usually gets me this time of year. That's what's special about Christmas. It's when you visit or reminisce about the ones you love. And reflect on how lucky you are. How they helped shape you."

Gervais will host the Golden Globes awards ceremony for the third year in a row in 2012.

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