Andy Serkis

Summary

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The Late Show Pod Show with Stephen Colbert

Guest: Andy Serkis
Date: May 2, 2026
Episode Theme:
An in-depth, humorous, and revealing conversation with Andy Serkis covering his legendary career in performance capture, the making of his new "Animal Farm" film, the quirks of directing himself as Gollum, mountain climbing adventures, and more.

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Main Theme

This episode centers on Andy Serkis’ remarkable ability to inhabit both fantastic and deeply human roles, his transition into directing—including his new adaptation of George Orwell’s "Animal Farm"—and adventures both on set and atop mountains. The segment is colored by the playful banter and mutual admiration between Serkis and Colbert.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Dual Role: Actor and Director

• Directing Himself as Gollum in "The Hunt for Golem" (01:35–02:43)
  Colbert celebrates Serkis’ unique skillset as both actor and director. Serkis humorously describes the challenges of directing himself in the Gollum/Smeagol roles, staging a mock argument between director Serkis and his most famous alter egos:

  "We were doing some camera tests...I had to knock on the trailer. I was like, Gollum, Smeagol, hello? ...And then Gollum comes up to the door and he says, 'Oh, for God's sake, Serkis, what do you want?'" — Andy Serkis (02:05)

  "Take me a proper director like Peter Jackson." — Gollum (as voiced by Serkis, 02:39)

  The segment highlights the meta-humor and artistry behind Serkis’ performances.

2. Vocals, Health, and 'Golly Juice'

• Protecting the Gollum Voice (02:43–03:47)
  Colbert and Serkis discuss the physical demands of the infamous Gollum voice and share “Golly Juice”—Serkis’ homemade concoction to soothe vocal cords, composed of honey, lemon, and ginger.

  "We've used it for years now, 25 years...It's called Golly Juice." — Andy Serkis (03:09)

  They toast, with Colbert quipping,

  "That is the real deal, you know.” — Stephen Colbert (03:38)

  And reflect on the toll such voices take:

  "It does absolutely...it ravages my larynx. Come to me, my precious." — Stephen Colbert (03:47)

3. Bringing "Animal Farm" to Life

• Why Adapt "Animal Farm" Now? (03:47–04:43)
  Serkis recounts reading Orwell’s novel as a boy and being moved to one day retell the story with his own perspective.

  "I just remember reading this incredible tale...It hit me in so many different ways, and it made me want to eventually... retell that tale." — Andy Serkis (04:15)

• Creative Choices & Voice Cast (04:43–06:21) Serkis describes how the new adaptation frames the story through the eyes of a young piglet corrupted by Napoleon (voiced by Seth Rogen) and shares a scene with Gaten Matarazzo and Woody Harrelson as the leads. A key quote from the clip:

  "Everything's just so different and new and confusing now. It's hard to know what to do." — Lucky the piglet (05:56)

  Serkis and Colbert briefly discuss the timeless relevance and emotional depth of the tale.

4. Adventures Off Screen: Climbing Mountains

• Origin of Mountaineering Passion (06:24–07:06)
  Colbert is surprised to discover Serkis is an avid mountaineer. Serkis credits his childhood bus rides to school as inspiration after reading about the first ascent of Everest.

  "It was a very profound experience, that bus. I read a book about the first ascent of Everest and it just completely encapsulated me..." — Andy Serkis (06:51)

• Meeting Edmund Hillary (07:06–07:24)
  Serkis recalls a cherished moment meeting the famed Everest climber:

  "He signed his autobiography to Gollum. Lots of love, Edmund. I mean, it was...I have never been so starstruck in my life." — Andy Serkis (07:13)

• Climbing the Matterhorn Solo (07:24–07:47) Colbert marvels at photos of Serkis summiting the Matterhorn solo:

  "Didn't have any friends. All right, where are you here?" — Stephen Colbert (07:31) "I'm on the very summit of the Matterhorn." — Andy Serkis (07:34) "It's quite. Quite terrifying, but quite wonderful." — Andy Serkis (07:39)

5. Memorable Farewells and Gifts

• Animal Farm Keepsake (08:10–08:28) Before signing off, Serkis gifts Colbert a memento from the Animal Farm film:

  "Make Animal Farm Fictional Again." — Stephen Colbert reading the inscription (08:21)

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• "Take me a proper director like Peter Jackson."
  — Gollum (as Andy Serkis), joking about the challenges of directing himself (02:39)

• "That is the real deal, you know."
  — Stephen Colbert, after drinking 'Golly Juice' (03:38)

• "Everything's just so different and new and confusing now. It's hard to know what to do."
  — Lucky the Piglet, from the "Animal Farm" clip (05:56)

• "I have never been so starstruck in my life."
  — Andy Serkis, on meeting Edmund Hillary (07:13)

• "Make Animal Farm Fictional Again."
  — Inscription on gifted memento (08:21)

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• Gollum/Smeagol and Directing Himself: 01:35–02:43
• Golly Juice & Voice Preservation: 03:09–03:47
• Animal Farm Inspiration & Clip: 04:15–06:21
• Mountaineering Stories & Edmund Hillary: 06:24–07:24
• Climbing the Matterhorn: 07:24–07:47
• Animal Farm Keepsake: 08:10–08:28

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Tone & Style

The episode is lively, witty, and collegial, blending Colbert’s sharp, affectionate humor with Serkis’s self-deprecating charisma and candid storytelling. The warmth and intelligence of both host and guest shine throughout, making the discussion engaging for both casual fans and those with a deep appreciation for performance, adaptation, and adventure.

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Transcript

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[Andy Serkis]

It's the Late Show Poncho with Stephen Colbert, folks.

[Stephen Colbert]

My next guest tonight is an actor and director, you know, as a gorilla, a chimpanzee, a demented hobbit, and occasionally a human being. Please welcome back to the Late Show. Andy Serkis. Still got it. As agile as ever. Good to see you again.

[Andy Serkis]

Oh, it's so nice to see you.

[Stephen Colbert]

Listen, we know you as an actor who can portray anyone and if need be, anything but. You're also a director. You're about to start filming, shooting the hunt for Golem down in New Zealand, which I'm very excited about. You're directing yourself in the title role of Golem, and I'm just curious. You're a great actor. What does Andy Serkis director make of Andy Serkis actor?

[Andy Serkis]

Well, you know, funny enough, we were doing some camera tests not so long ago with Gollum and Smeagol, and they went back to their trailer and it was very difficult because I had to knock on the trailer. I was like, gollum, Smeagol, hello? Hello? And there was no answer. And then Gollum comes up to the door and he says, oh, for God's sake, Sergus, what do you want? I said, please, can you just come back and do one more take? Smeagol then pops up from behind him and says, please doesn't want to do another impression. We've done it. We've given it all precious. And then Gollum turns around to me and says, take me a proper director like Peter Jackson.

[Stephen Colbert]

Wow. So it's an honest. It's a frank exchange of ideas is what you're saying. Honesty is all you can. Here's the thing. Obviously, we all love that voice that you do, or voices that you do. And it sounds very painful, like you must be, like, just shredding your voice when you do that. It doesn't at all. Well, I heard you have a remedy for that. Yes, which we made some for. Can you tell people what it is? And then we'll.

[Andy Serkis]

We've used it for years now, 25 years, you know, going back to the day, and it's called Golly Juice. And Golly Juice is basically honey, lemon and ginger. But I've always felt it lacks to.

[Stephen Colbert]

And what did it lack?

[Andy Serkis]

It lacked a little certain something which, you know, I mean, there's plenty of things one could put in with honey, lemon and ginger.

[Stephen Colbert]

Right.

[Andy Serkis]

I'm just wondering.

[Stephen Colbert]

Just to keep it sterile.

[Andy Serkis]

Nice.

[Stephen Colbert]

Cheers.

[Andy Serkis]

Thank you.

[Stephen Colbert]

That is the real deal, you know.

[Andy Serkis]

That's good.

[Stephen Colbert]

I could use this, because at least for the next few weeks, I've got a voice. I do. That is terrible.

[Andy Serkis]

Yeah.

[Stephen Colbert]

And I'll tell you what, Andy. It does absolutely. It ravages my larynx. Come to me, my precious. Okay, you. You have just directed an animated version of George Orwell's Animal Farm. I have. It's not only a famous story, but a famous cautionary tale, but abuse of power. And what made you want to tell this story?

[Andy Serkis]

I mean, I read the book when I was about 12, going on the bus to school, the 273 bus to Ealing where I went to school. And I just remember reading this incre. Tale, this fairy tale, which obviously had dark themes underneath. I didn't fully understand what they were at the time, but I just knew. It hit me in so many different ways, and it made me want to eventually when I would be in a position to retell that tale.

[Stephen Colbert]

We have a clip here. Is there anything we need to know?

[Andy Serkis]

Okay, so a crucial thing is that the lead character in this. Because in the book, it's a very objective tale, but we wanted to see it through the eyes of a young piglet who believes himself to be one of the animals at the. At the beginning of the story, but then gets corrupted by Napoleon, who's played. Excuse me, by Seth Rogen, brilliantly, but this is. But he sees himself as an animal, and he lives in a stall with his horse friend, played by Woody Harrelson. And this is Gaten Matarazzo playing this young, innocent piglet. And Boxer. And Boxer, the great shire horse who's got such a strong work ethic. And this is a story where you see their relationship.

[Lucky (Character in Animal Farm Clip)]

Yvonne, I got you a surprise. Boxer. It's extra milk.

[Stephen Colbert]

Oh.

[Boxer (Character in Animal Farm Clip)]

Aren't we supposed to share everything?

[Lucky (Character in Animal Farm Clip)]

There's no more supposed tos anymore. Besides, I milk them. And you work hard, so here you go.

[Boxer (Character in Animal Farm Clip)]

Oh, I don't know. I don't. I mean, it gives me a weird feeling in my heart, like. Well, like I'm doing a terrible thing by drinking milk that isn't mine. I mean, I guess that's just me.

[Lucky (Character in Animal Farm Clip)]

I don't know, Boxer. Everything's just so different and new and confusing now. It's hard to know what to do.

[Boxer (Character in Animal Farm Clip)]

You worry too much, Lucky. Remember what I always say, Just look up at the stars. They take all our worries away.

[Stephen Colbert]

Good old boxing.

[Andy Serkis]

Oh, Bolt. Sleep.

[Stephen Colbert]

No spoilers. I found out recently, I actually found out from a mutual friend of ours who told us this and we have some photos here to prove it. You have a very. You have a hobby or a pastime? An adventure that holds no charm for me. You climb mountains?

[Andy Serkis]

Yeah.

[Stephen Colbert]

How did you become a mountaineer? What got you into this again?

[Andy Serkis]

This was the 273 bus, going to school. It was a very profound experience, that bus. I read a book. I read a book about the first ascent of Everest and it just completely encapsulated me and made me want to climb mountains. And then I just started doing some rock climbing. Some local.

[Stephen Colbert]

Well down in New Zealand. Did you ever meet Edmund Hillary?

[Andy Serkis]

I did meet Edmund Hillary. He came down to set when we were filming and we sat and had lunch with him. And in actual fact, he signed his autobiography to Gollum. Lots of love, Edmund. I mean, it was. I have to say, I have never been so starstruck in my life.

[Stephen Colbert]

Here you are at the Matterhorn. Did you ascend the Matterhorn?

[Andy Serkis]

I did the solo ascent of the Matterhorn.

[Stephen Colbert]

No, thank you. Solo?

[Andy Serkis]

Yeah.

[Stephen Colbert]

Didn't have any friends. All right, where are you here?

[Andy Serkis]

I'm on the very summit of the Matterhorn.

[Stephen Colbert]

That's the very summit of the Matterhorn?

[Andy Serkis]

Yeah, it is.

[Stephen Colbert]

What's the view like, Andy?

[Andy Serkis]

It's quite. Quite terrifying, but quite wonderful.

[Stephen Colbert]

And you like the terror?

[Andy Serkis]

I find it keeps you on edge, you know, it keeps you kind of sharp.

[Stephen Colbert]

And where are we here?

[Andy Serkis]

That's on a trek with my family, actually, to Everest Base Camp. Uh huh. Uh huh.

[Stephen Colbert]

My wife once signed up me and my boys to go climbing in the Tetons. Have you ever climbed in the Tetons.

[Andy Serkis]

No, no.

[Stephen Colbert]

They're very beautiful.

[Andy Serkis]

Really?

[Stephen Colbert]

I did not care for it. Well, Andy, always lovely to see you. Can I just.

[Andy Serkis]

Before you, I just want to give you a little gift from our little Animal Farm film, which I thought you might like.

[Stephen Colbert]

Yeah, I'll put it on, you read what it says.

[Andy Serkis]

Okay. It actually reads make Animal Farm fictional again.

[Stephen Colbert]

Animal Farm is in theaters May 1st. Andy Circus, everybody. Thank you for listening to the Late Show Pod show with Stephen Colbert. Just one more thing. If you want to see more of me, come to the late show, you YouTube channel for more clips and exclusives.

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[Stephen Colbert]

Absolutely.

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[Stephen Colbert]

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