On this week’s show (16th February), Graham welcomes Hollywood great Jodie Foster, Oscar-winner Olivia Colman, US comedy superstar Wanda Sykes, doyenne of British TV Lorraine Kelly, US actors Austin Butler and Josh Brolin, DJ Calvin Harris and singer Rag 'n' Bone Man.
Jodie, talking about starring in the new season of TV drama True Detective: Night Country as detective Liz Danvers, says, “She is just awful; everything you can hate – racist, selfish, and very horny. I can’t say much about the final episode, but it is the best, it is extraordinary. No one sees that end coming.”
Confirming the rumour that she was cast in the original Star Wars, she says, “I got the part of Princess Leia but couldn’t do it because I was already doing a Disney film.” Adding jokingly, “My life could have been so different, and I would have liked to have had the hair!”
Olivia, asked about her new mystery comedy Wicked Little Letters, says, “I was amazed to find out it was a true story. I thought no one in 1920’s Littlehampton would swear or behave so badly. It was very sweary on set too which was really fun, just great.”
Talking more about the film, she says “It was like ‘Wagatha Christie’ set in the 20s. There are a lot of parallels between what happened then and the trolling of today. We think it’s a new thing, but it was happening back then.”
Lorraine, talking about her debut novel The Island Swimmer, and revealing she edited most of it whilst travelling around Zimbabwe in a tented jeep, says, “The Wi-Fi was terrible, so I went to the anti-poaching station to use theirs. They were a bit reluctant until I showed them a picture on my phone of me and David Attenborough. They were like, ‘Oh my God, you’ve met him?’ Of course he’s like a god there so I got the Wi-Fi. The book is here because of David Attenborough. He doesn’t know, or indeed care, I am sure.”
Asked about her appearance as the Owl in Masked Singer, she says, “I didn’t tell anyone about it except my husband. It was madness, but such good fun. I am 65 this year and I have decided just to do silly things, and this was very silly.”
Wanda, talking about her new Netflix comedy special Wanda Sykes: I'm an Entertainer, says, “I am a real people pleaser and like to make them laugh.”
Asked about the infamous Oscar’s night with Will Smith and Chris Rock, she says, “Chris is a friend of mine so I thought I would stay to watch him. When everything happened, I thought it was a set up but it was a real slap that was so loud. I remember thinking, ‘What’s happening?’ It was very upsetting that no-one did anything and we all just got on with the show.”
Austin and Josh join Graham to chat about the sci-fi epic Dune: Part Two.
Asked if he was surprised to be in part two as his character appeared dead in the first film, Josh says, “We thought so, but this is not a sequel, it’s a continuation of the story.”
Talking about acting with such a young cast, he says, “I worried that being newbies they would not care nor have a good work ethic, but I have a lot of respect for them because they put the work in.”
Austin, talking about his strange appearance in the film says, “I had another film coming up and the director begged me not to shave my head, so I had to have three hours of makeup to give me a bald head and no eyebrows. It was incredible.”
Calvin Harris & Rag 'n' Bone Man perform the world exclusive of their new single Lovers In A Past Life live in the studio before Calvin and Rory join Graham for a chat.
Asked why it has taken so long to get back together after the success of Giant, Calvin jokes, “I have been waiting for Rory to call me.”
Rory, asked if there will be more collaborations between them, says, “Potentially.”
The Graham Norton Show, BBC One, Friday 16th February 10.40pm.
Next week (23rd February) Graham’s guests include Cate Blanchett, Kate Winslet, Adrian Lester, Dua Lipa, and Justin Timberlake.
Picture: So Television
