The Graham Norton Show - Series 18, Episode 17 - Will Smith, Ryan Reynolds, Catherine Zeta Jones, Toby Jones, Laura Mvula - British Comedy Guide (original) (raw)

Will Smith, asked where he stands on the boycott of this year's Oscar's says, "I am a member of the Academy and the thing that's most important for me is that the spirit of the awards has to be maintained. The media creates the 'us' and 'them' but for me there is no 'us' and 'them,' it's 'we'.

"I feel very strongly that there is a regression in America toward separatism and racial and religious exclusion, so for me, it's about putting my hand up and reminding my community, the Hollywood community, that we have to lead. Diversity is America's superpower - that's what makes it great and in Hollywood we've got to be pushing that forward even in a time of wider regression. As my grandmother said, 'Lead with love and light and only good will come out of it.'"

Asked if he has any new music plans, he says, "I've been working on something and this time I'm not lying! We've recorded about 25 songs and have four or five I actually like! Jeff (DJ Jazzy Jeff) and I will be back here (in the UK) this summer to do shows - real shows."

Talking about Suicide Squad and the cast tattooing each other, Will says, "This why 40 year olds shouldn't hang out with 20 year olds. This is what happens and I knew it was wrong but they didn't. Everybody tattooed one another. Margo Robbie wanted to do mine but I was absent that day! I do not have one."

Ryan Reynolds, talking about his own tattoos says, "I had them done when I was 19 or 20 when I didn't know better. When you are that young you just go into a parlour, look at the wall and say, 'I'll take that one, oh and if you have time, I'll have those too.'"

Admitting he's not a good liar he recalls a recent incident at the Canadian border, "My wife is a foodie and loves these apple pies they make in Vancouver where I grew up so we grabbed a bunch of them and we were heading back down to the States and across the border, and you are not allowed to take fruit and vegetables across. The guard knew something was going on as I've the worst poker face ever and he had me on a hook. He said, 'You remember you did that movie Just Friends and at the end you sang I Swear?' I said, 'Yes,' and he said, 'Go ahead.' He was saying dance monkey and I danced! I sang that thing in the best falsetto I had and I was on my way through the border eating pie by the next stop."

Talking about the time it took to bring Deadpool to fruition, he says, "It's the best and worst relationship I've ever had - it took 11 years. We even made a taster but that sat on the shelf for four years until someone leaked it on the web and then within 24 hours it got the green light. I tried to make it happen for all that time but the fans got it made." And talking about his superhero costume in the film, he says, "When I saw it for the first time I wept like a little girl - it was a work of art."

Revealing he wasn't always a heartthrob, he says, "I reached puberty around 27! I was hopeless. When I was 11 years old I liked one girl so much I rode with her on the bus in the wrong direction for 45 minutes. When I finally went to get off I looked back to give her what I thought was a smouldering look and got my backpack caught in the closing doors. I had to run along banging on the side of the bus. And I could never look at her again."

Catherine Zeta Jones, talking about her Welsh accent says, "It always gets stronger when I'm talking to my family. When I first met Michael I was talking to my mum on the phone and when I finished, he said, 'That Welsh language is just beautiful,' and I said, 'What are you talking about? I was talking in English!"

Talking about her fondness for golf and playing with her husband, she says, "I'm pretty good, better than him and we have a bet that if he ducks a shot he has to drop his pants. It's not just my husband it's any man I play. There has been an issue with paparazzi so I make him go into the bushes. A deal is a deal."

Asked about Dad's Army and her decision to do the film, she says, "When I saw the plethora of fantastic actors I wanted to be part of it. And, it's so nostalgic for me. It was part of my childhood - my whole family would watch it and my dad can quote big scenes verbatim. The shooting of it reminded me of The Darling Buds of May. It was everything I hoped it was going to be."

Shown a picture of herself in The Darling Buds of May, Catherine quips, "I could play Ma Larkin now!"

Toby Jones, talking about taking on the iconic role of Captain Mainwaring in Dad's Army, says, "It was 100% daunting. It was something I thought very carefully about and then I saw the script and more importantly I saw the other actors that were getting involved and it became 'unturndownable.' It became a selfish decision - it just looked like so much fun to do and I wanted to do those stupid things with such great actors."

Laura Mvula performs Overcome live in the studio before joining Graham for a chat about her new album.