On this week’s show (Friday, 5th November), Graham Norton welcomes Hollywood star Paul Rudd, Oscar-winner Halle Berry, legendary director Ron Howard, the irrepressible Miriam Margolyes, writer and actor Stephen Fry, and singer songwriter Gregory Porter.
Paul, talking about Ghostbusters: Afterlife, he says, “Ivan Reitman produced the original film, and his son Jason did this one so there was something really interesting happening. The story is very much connected to the original Ghostbusters and that familial lineage was also happening off camera. It was interesting to be there and watch father and son talking about characters and scenes. It was cool.”
Asked if the kids starring in the film knew about the original film, he says “They knew a lot and were very aware. I think the song has worked its way into the culture so much, and even the symbol of ghost with the red line through it. You don’t even have had to see the film to have an understanding and remember the film existed.”
Halle joins Graham Norton from NYC to chat about directing and starring in her new sports drama Bruised.
Asked how she ended up in the director’s chair, she says, “Originally when I read the script it was written for a 25-year-old white Irish Catholic woman, but I got the chance to reimagine her as a middle-aged black woman and was challenged to find the director. I realised that because the vision was so much in my head that I was going to have to tell the producers probably one of the funniest things they had ever heard – that I should direct it myself! It was crazy but to my surprise they said yes.”
Talking about the spectacular fight scenes, she reveals things didn’t always go to plan, “On day two of a five-day fight sequence I was kicked and broke two ribs. It threatened production so I made the decision not to tell anyone in case we were shut down. I carried on and I think the fighter side of my training took over. It was only when we finished that I told everyone, and I went to the hospital!”
Asked if she will direct more films, she says, “I hope so, I loved it, but I doubt I will ever star in it and direct again – both jobs are large enough. I have been bitten by the directing bug and I have a lot of stories I’d love to tell.”
Miriam, talking about her autobiography This Much is True, says, “I am glad to see it is selling – I didn’t expect it to!” Asked why she had waited until turning 80 to write the book, she jokes, “The spur was that I was paid an enormous amount of money!” Adding, “I am not a writer; I am an actress but because I have said some rude things on this show people know who I am. I don’t want just to be a mouth that says dirty things – I am more than that. I am a serious, thinking person and I care about the world and the people in it, and I wanted that in the book, so you get the whole person.
“Looking back on my life made me sad but mostly it was glorious because I was remembering my life which has been lovely, and I have been very lucky. It was good to do and Covid made it possible.”
Ron, talking to Graham Norton about his autobiography The Boys, says, “I’d been asked a lot over the years to write a memoir, but it was Tom Hanks that gave me the idea for the book. I told him I had been asked and he said, “I would just concentrate on your childhood – everyone wants to know how you navigated that and what was it like.’ It’s a very honest look back at our lives – the good and bad, but I think it is also an interesting family story.”
Revealing he was approached to direct the first Harry Potter film, he says, “I’d read the books and they were fantastic but, in all honesty, I had just finished The Grinch. That was fun and fascinating, but an unbelievably challenging and difficult production so I didn’t want to be in the fantasy world for another few years. I knew Harry Potter was good, but it turned out to be huge!”
Stephen talking about his latest book Fry’s Ties, say, “It was a silly idea. During lockdown I cleared up a lot of stuff and found drawers full of ties. I photographed one and put it on Instagram and then I did another and another – it was interesting, and people seemed to like it. I love ties – they remind you of a particular time of your life.
Revealing he started his passion for neckwear early in life, he says, “I inherited ties from a couple of grandfathers and a great uncle – I would stride up and down Norwich high street as a rather pompous 11-year-old.”
Gregory Porter performs Revival live in the studio before joining Graham Norton for a chat. Asked about his new album, he says, “it is a compilation of some of the stuff I have done before and new songs. It’s a snapshot of me as an artist right now.” Revealing his rather mundane pre-show ritual, he says, “I love to iron – it relaxes me. I iron before a concert, and it brings me down.” Talking about touring in the UK next year, he says, “The fans here are amazing – I own them a huge debt of gratitude.”
The Graham Norton Show, BBC One, Friday 5th November and available on BBC iPlayer.
Next week (12th November) Graham Norton’s guests include Lady Gaga, Adam Driver, Josh Gad, Nadiya Hussain, and Rod Stewart.
Graham Norton picture: BBC/So Television/Christopher Baines
