On this week’s show (19th December) Graham welcomes Hollywood comedy greats Paul Rudd and Jack Black, actor and singer Jessie Buckley, actress and comedian Michelle de Swarte, and singer-songwriter Tom Odell.
Paul and Jack chat about their new comedy Anaconda.
Asked how the film came about, Paul says, “Jack and I are both huge fans of Tom Gormican’s The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent and when this script showed up it seemed to have similar DNA in that it was a clever meta comedy take on a re-boot. I was very excited to work on it particularly when I found out Jack was involved.”
Jack adds, “It is really very funny and crazy. I had never read anything like it. I was mainly excited to work with Paul because he makes me laugh so much. I made sure he was definitely attached to the film before I signed anything.” Adding, “When I read a script, I need at least three ‘worth the price of admission’ moments and this definitely has some powerful scenes.”
Talking about being a child actor, Jack says, “I was a real ham and loved putting on shows. I got a part in an ad when I was young and it was such a rush. I have been chasing that excitement ever since.”
Asked if he has done any Shakespeare, Paul reveals, “When I first got a manager, I had no credits to put on my CV, but I’d once done an afternoon masterclass with Sir Ben Kingsley when I was in school. My manager put this down as, ‘Paul played Hamlet in a production directed by Sir Ben Kingsley’ I lived in fear that he would one day see my CV!”
Jessie, talking about playing William Shakespeare's wife in the critically acclaimed Hamnet, says, “It is a real peek behind the curtain of who the family man Shakespeare might have been. It’s about love, loss, motherhood and storytelling. It was such a gorgeous shoot.”
Asked about it being a hugely emotional watch, she says, “There have been some beautiful moments in putting it out into the world. I watched it first when I was eight months pregnant and I was not okay. It was so embarrassing to cry at my own film, but it was so beautiful.”
Michelle, talking about her journey from catwalk to standup, she says, “I had so many awful moments while modelling – I fell twice during a Gucci show, and then had a tampon string hanging out. After that, I thought comedy may be the way forward!”
Asked about her stint as a judge on RuPaul’s Drag Race UK, she says, “I absolutely loved it and I feel like I have trained my whole life for it – it’s comedy, fashion and judging.”
Tom performs When I Close My Eyes from his current album A Wonderful Life (Epilogue) live in the studio before joining Graham for a chat.
And finally, Graham pulls the lever on more foolhardy audience members brave enough to sit in the world-famous Big Red Chair to tell their funniest stories.
The Graham Norton Show BBC One and iPlayer Friday 19th December 10.40pm
The Graham Norton Show returns on New Year’s Eve, when his guests include Laura Dern, Will Arnett, Tom Hiddleston, Carey Mulligan, Tim Key, Owen Cooper, and Alison Limerick.
Picture: BBC/So Television/The Graham Norton Show/Christopher Baines
