On this week’s show (14th February) Graham welcomes iconic Baywatch star Pamela Anderson, British actors Stephen Graham and Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Will & Grace star Sean Hayes, Eastender’s Ross Kemp, and American singer songwriter Gracie Abrams.
Pamela, discussing her acclaimed performance in The Last Showgirl, says, “I am enjoying the moment – it has been very exciting doing a movie at this stage of my life and it’s really wonderful.
“It’s a very relatable story and I had a lot of empathy for the character – I fell in love with her. It is a very touching and beautiful and not at all violent or exploitative towards women. We shot the movie in 18 days, which was wild. Playing Roxy in Chicago on Broadway was the warm-up for this role and I am so proud to be a part of it. I love independent cinema, and I can’t wait to do more.”
Talking about how the role came about she says, “I was making pickles and writing a cookbook and making my life beautiful no matter what but I had this kind of sadness thinking I had so much more to give. So, when the script arrived I thought, ‘I am going to grab this part by the throat and do it.’”
Asked if this is a whole new chapter for her, she says, “I hope so. There are lots of things in the works, so I am deciding what I want to do next. I want challenging roles, I want to transform and see what I am made of. I feel like I have only just scratched the surface.”
Stephen, talking about starring in A Thousand Blows, says, “Part of its uniqueness is that 90% of our characters were actual people that walked the streets at that time. Fact is better than fiction.”
Asked about being in such good physical shape for the role, he says, “I had six months to prepare so we did it properly – it was great fun getting into it. I also enjoyed the science of it, the food, and having a fantastic boxing coach. I’m still doing it and really enjoy it.”
Talking about the fight scenes and whether he was doing the boxing, he says, “The stunt doubles didn’t get a look in. Everything was choreographed to within an inch of its life.”
Asked if there will be another series, he says, “Hopefully.”
Gugu, talking about producing and starring in the psychological thriller series Surface, says, “Being a producer has been an incredible learning curve. I like that you have more of a voice and when you are the lead actor too you become a bit of a team leader which is great.”
Asked about playing a character that has lost her memory she says, “I would occasionally have to ask the show runner ‘what do I remember in this scene? I can’t remember what I don’t remember.’ Because you film out of order and context it is sometimes a little bit confusing.”
Asked if there will be a season three, she says, “Fingers crossed.”
Sean talking about his bravura performance in the play Good Night, Oscar; and his ability to play the piano, says, “I have studied it since I was five, it was my major in college – I thought I was going to be a film composer and conductor. I would be in the orchestra pit going out of mind doing the same thing night after night. I had a great time, but I wanted to be on the stage.”
Asked about receiving an Emmy for his performance in Will & Grace, he says, “I was so nervous when I got up to make the speech, I thanked everyone and then said, ‘I’d also like to thank the writers for putting such funny things in our mouths.’ I forgot to add at the end of that sentence, ‘to say.’ I was so embarrassed. It had been my one time to shine.”
Ross Kemp joins Graham to chat about the 40th anniversary of Eastenders.
Talking about his return to the soap as Grant Mitchell for the show’s anniversary, he says, “Being back reminded me of the impact the show had on serious subject matters like HIV, child pregnancy and domestic violence. I am very proud of what it has achieved over the years.”
Asked about the importance of the show’s ‘duff duff’ cliffhanger endings, he says, “I didn’t really care about getting them but I did care about inserting myself into scripts I hadn’t been written into so I could get paid more, so you’d often saw me popping up at the bar in a scene and ordering a pint!”
Gracie performs her current single That’s So True live in the studio before joining Graham for a chat.
Talking about working with Taylor Swift, she says, “She is the most unbelievable mentor and is so kind and generous.”
And finally, Graham pulls the lever on more foolhardy audience members brave enough sit in the world-famous Big Red Chair to tell their funniest stories.
The Graham Norton Show, BBC One, Friday 14th February 10.40pm.
Next week (21st February) Graham is joined by Ewan McGregor, Kate Hudson, Naomie Harris, Chis O’Dowd, and Self Esteem.
Graham Norton Picture credit: BBC/So Television/Christopher Baines
