The Graham Norton Show - Series 13, Episode 8 - Will Smith, Jaden Smith, Michael Douglas, Bradley Cooper, Heather Graham, Selena Gomez - British Comedy Guide (original) (raw)

Will Smith, talking about working with Jaden in their new sci-fi movie, After Earth, which he produced, says, "I said to Jaden, 'Here's the deal. I'm going to give you most of the action and I'm going to give you most of the cool stuff, but I'm going to take most of the money! It feels fair to me. I came up with 95% for me and 5% for Jaden, configured on the amount of times he said 'Yeah' when I asked him to do something.'" Adding more seriously, "Allowing your kids to be part of this (movie) business is tricky and scary."

On why he's fond of kissing Jaden for the cameras, Will says, "I'm just so proud of him and I want him to feel the affection." To Jaden's embarrassment and mock disgust, he indulges his dad by letting him plant a peck on his cheek.

Jaden, talking about his first ever screen kiss, filmed with his mum and dad on the set, says, "I was cool about it and I was like, 'It's going to be what it is.'"

Asked if it's true that his dad has banned him from dating, he says, "He didn't say you can't date but he did say, 'I'm going to give you a word of advice. You don't want a girlfriend right now, you've got a big movie coming out and it's going to complicate your life.' I hang out with girls but I don't date."

Mindful of the age of his young guest and the presence of the Hangover stars, Graham asks Jaden if he has seen the movies. Much to his father's surprise, Jaden confesses he has sneakily seen them all, and even shouted out loud in the cinema when he was unexpectedly name checked in Hangover II, "They were talking about 'The boy that got lost, the Karate Kid, Jaden Smith.' It was so cool. I was like, 'I called them and asked them to say that,' to my friends."

Showing off their musical talents, Will and Jaden take to the mics for a spot of rapping. As a special treat for the show, and with a nod to his last appearance on the sofa, Will arranges for two surprise guests from his past to perform a very special rendition of the Prince of Bel-Air theme song that gets everyone dancing with delight.

Bradley Cooper, asked if he was tempted to leave the Hangover franchise after his breakout success, says, "Not even close - I was the first guy to jump back in. We have all hit the jackpot in so many ways."

Talking about his MTV award for Best Kiss with Jennifer Lawrence, he says, "After the second take she said, 'You're a wet kisser.' You don't want to hear that. It was not a compliment."

Heather Graham, asked about her role in Hangover III, and asked if it's a really blokey set, says: "There are moments when you feel so good because there are all these guys and you get all this attention as the woman on the set. Then there are other moments when they are so bonded with all their testosterone that you feel like you are sitting in the corner." Bradley interjects, "But we all loved it!"

With a little help from Will, Heather demonstrates her very impressive yoga skills.

An equally energetic Michael Douglas makes an hilarious entrance before joining Graham and the other guests for a chat about his new film, Behind the Candelabra. Asked if he knew he would be able to play Liberace so convincingly, says, 'No. But it was a great part and I was really fortunate. I had cancer for a couple of years and they waited for me."

Asked if there were any rules about not laughing during love scenes between him and Matt Damon, his co-star, he says, "There were one or two moments but Matt looked great - he was my little stud muffin. Rob (Lowe) cracked us up a lot, but from when we started filming we decided to play it 'straight' for lack of a better word!"

Talking about the movie airing on TV in the US whilst in the rest of the world it has a cinematic release, he says, "It was turned down by all the studios and we knew how tough it was to make an independent movie so HBO said, 'Let's do it.' We now have the best of both worlds - we are enjoying a feature film and in the States we have a built in audience. It's cool."

And, on the critical acclaim the movie has received, he says, "I've had the best reviews I have ever had in my life."

Talking about his Oscar winning production of One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, he says, "I asked my dad (Kirk Douglas) for the film and then I decided to cast Jack Nicholson in the role instead of him. That was a very difficult conversation to have and he still doesn't forgive me!"

Selena Gomez performs Come and Get It live in the studio.