Kenneth Branagh and Lily James made an appearance on “The Late Late Show with James Corden“, and their friendship was the talk of the town. The famous actors have worked together not once, but twice, and their chemistry shines through every time.
Their first collaboration was in the movie “Cinderella”, where Kenneth had the privilege of casting Lily in the lead role. Lily’s performance was fantastic, and it was a wonderful experience for both of them. They later joined forces for a production of “Romeo and Juliet” in the West End, with Richard Madden also in the cast.
During their conversation on the talk show, Lily jokingly revealed that she always felt overlooked by Kenneth for other roles. But Kenneth clarified that it was not intentional, mentioning that she wasn’t available for certain projects. They had a good laugh about it, and their camaraderie was evident.
The conversation then took a heartwarming turn when Lily shared how Kenneth personally called her to inform her that she got the role in “Cinderella”. She was filming “Downton Abbey” at the time, in an area with no phone service. Finally, when she got reception, she received the call from Kenneth, and it was one of the happiest moments of her life.
The talk show host, James Corden, asked Kenneth if he had a preference for personally delivering good news to actors, to which Kenneth replied that those moments were life-changing. He recounted a time when he was in a room with Kevin Feige, the president of Marvel Studios, deciding on the cast for “Thor”. Such moments are not only exciting but also unforgettable.
Moving on from their personal anecdotes, the conversation shifted to their latest film, “Belfast”. Kenneth expressed his emotions regarding the film, which is a personal story inspired by his family and their experiences. He mentioned how the film resonates with people who relate to the migrant story it portrays, and how it has been a source of great pride for him and his family.
As the interview progressed, the topic of awards ceremonies came up. Kenneth, who has been nominated for an Academy Award five times before, shared his thoughts on winning and not getting carried away with expectations. He mentioned that he tries to avoid thinking too much about winning, as it is the competition and being in the conversation that matters.
The conversation then took a lighthearted turn as they discussed the glamor of red carpets and big events. Lily hilariously shared a not-so-glamorous moment she had at the Berlin Film Festival while attending the premiere of “Cinderella”. Despite wearing a stunning pink Dior dress and diamonds, she was also dealing with a painful urinary infection. She had to rush to a gas station toilet in her fancy attire before returning to the red carpet. Talk about a true Cinderella moment!
Before wrapping up the interview, Kenneth talked about his other film, “Death on the Nile”. He described it as another Agatha Christie story featuring the famous detective Hercule Poirot. The film is set in Egypt and revolves around a murder on a boat, with a thrilling “whodunit” plotline that Agatha Christie is known for.
They also touched on the all-star cast of the movie and the fun they had organizing dinners and game nights. Kenneth mentioned that Gal Gadot and Annette Bening are quite competitive, and Annette proves to be a fantastic host and organizer during these gatherings.
Overall, the chat show episode was filled with laughter, personal stories, and insight into the actors’ upcoming projects. The heartwarming friendship between Kenneth Branagh and Lily James was evident throughout the conversation, making it an entertaining and lively episode of “The Late Late Show with James Corden“.
