On this week’s show (20th December), Graham welcomes Wonka and Dune star Timothée Chalamet, Oscar-nominated Colman Domingo, British star Andrew Garfield, ‘Smithy’ and ‘Nessa’ themselves, James Corden and Ruth Jones, and Icelandic singer-songwriter Laufey.
Timothée, talking about playing a young Bob Dylan in A Complete Unknown, says, “I didn’t know much about Dylan but now, having worked on it for so long, I really worship at the church of Bob. I am deeply passionate about this man and his work. My friends are tired of hearing me talk about him ad nauseam. This man has been so impactful on culture and this film and this role are the ones I am most proud of.”
Asked about singing live, he says, “I had a lot of time to practice because we were meant to make the film five and half years ago, then there was Covid and then there was the actors’ strike, so I have years to prepare. I was confident about singing and by the time we got to do the film I wanted to sing and play the songs live.”
Talking about Dylan himself, he says, “Bob is an elusive, mysterious figure and a man of few words so I never got the chance to meet him. I would like to, but I am very respectful that it is true to his character that I would never get to meet him.”
Colman, talking about performing with real-life former inmates in prison drama Sing Sing, says, “It is about transformation and rehabilitation through arts. Our way into the story is about brotherhood. If you pour art and hope into someone the possibilities are endless. Working with these men was a beautiful thing to lean into and the film feels like it is something people need – it is very hopeful and sincere.”
And on next year’s biopic of Michael Jackson, in which he plays Joe Jackson, he says, “Whatever the court of public opinion is on how tough Joe was, whoever you play you’ve got to find what you like about the character. I found his strength and where he came from, and how he created the most phenomenal performers that ever lived.”
Andrew, talking about starring in the non-linear romance We Live in Time, says, “I love it and think it is a really beautiful film. It is a lovely sweet little gem of a thing about two ordinary people and all the extraordinary things in their life. It is full of heart, joy, depth, love, loss, and grief, and is a call to crack open the calcification of our hearts.”
Asked if it was emotionally gruelling to film, he says, “The more cathartic the scenes the more pleasurable they were to dig into. I think storytelling is a healing ritual.”
Adding, “In between the beautiful scenes there are some weird Indiana Jones style sequences with high octane thrills and spills, which was fun.”
James Corden and Ruth Jones chat about the Gavin & Stacey Christmas Special.
Asked if they always knew they would do this final episode, Ruth says, “Initially, when the last episode went out, I was keen to follow it up and James wasn’t, then he was keen and I wasnt. I think over the last few years we have been in different places with it. I was content to leave it on a cliffhanger, but then eventually we both landed in a place where we felt we owed it to fans of the show to finish the story.”
James adds, “It was quite pressured and hard to think about how to make the end satisfying to the audience and to the characters. Ruth and I got together on our own and it was only when we thought we had a story – about 70 pages into a 100-page script –.that we called the BBC.”
Asked if this really is the last of the show, James says, “It’s very hard to talk about because there are so many spoilers but when people watch it on Christmas, they will see why it will be, without question, the last time you will see these characters.”
Talking about the last day of filming, James says, “It was a very, very special day. We made sure that the last line people hear in the episode was the very last line we shot, which is a very rare thing. Everyone was there at the end with lots of crying. Joanna who plays Stacey pretty much cried every day. There were lots of goodbyes. It was very emotional.”
Laufey performs her new single Christmas Magic live in the studio, before joining Graham for a chat.
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 20th December 10.40pm. Also available on BBC iPlayer.
Graham returns on New Year’s Eve when he looks back at some of the most memorable stories, people, and events of 2024 and welcomes Robbie Williams, Rami Malek, Motsi Mabuse, and John Bishop to the sofa.
Graham Norton Picture credit: BBC/So Television/Christopher Baines
