Intro Rewind: Julia Roberts

Summary

The Late Show Pod Show with Stephen Colbert

Episode: Intro Rewind: Julia Roberts
Date: August 30, 2025

Overview

This episode of The Late Show Pod Show features a lively and humorous conversation between Stephen Colbert and his guest, Julia Roberts, focusing on Roberts' new series "Gaslit," her experiences in Hollywood, and personal anecdotes about fame, friendship, and life. The episode also includes a playful segment called "Celebrity Boss" with co-host Becca, where Colbert answers lighthearted questions about his life as a celebrity and offers insight into the world of celebrity culture.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Celebrity Boss Segment

Starts: 04:05

• Premise: Becca, the podcast producer, interviews Colbert with questions typically directed at celebrities, playfully acknowledging his dual role as a boss and a public figure.

• Public Transit Anecdotes:

  • Colbert reminisces about his days riding buses and the subway in New York and Chicago before fame.
  • Shares a moving story about receiving a New Testament from a stranger on a bus, which he’s treasured for decades.
    • Quote: "I've treasured it for going on 40 years." – Stephen Colbert [07:30]

• Algorithm & Fame:

  • Colbert discusses whether social media algorithms recognize his celebrity status.
  • Mentions creating a "finsta" (fake Instagram) and being targeted with knee-related content due to a recent injury.
  • Quote: "They know I’ve got bad knees because they're feeding me knee videos." – Stephen Colbert [09:03]

• Fame in Dreams:

  • Colbert admits he doesn’t appear in his own dreams and still feels more like a comedy writer than a celebrity.
  • Quote: "I think that's my base identity—not as the guy in the front." – Stephen Colbert [10:22]

• Concerts & Perks:

  • Talks about buying tickets for concerts, getting on lists as a celebrity, and the joys of live music.
  • Colbert plans to see Paul Simon and reminisces about seeing Lake Street Dive.
  • Light teasing between Becca and Colbert about celebrity perks and whether he pays for shows.

• Julia Roberts Rom-Com Debate:

  • Becca and Colbert attempt to name their favorite Julia Roberts rom-coms, leading to Colbert admitting he hasn't seen many but is a fan of the genre.
  • Notable moment: Colbert recalls going to college with Dermot Mulroney, star of "My Best Friend’s Wedding." [14:04]

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2. Interview with Julia Roberts

Starts: 14:32

Intro & Role in “Gaslit”

• Stephen Colbert introduces Roberts, highlighting her new role as Martha Mitchell in "Gaslit," a series about the Watergate scandal.

• Roberts discusses Martha Mitchell's unique position as the outspoken wife of Nixon’s Attorney General, John Mitchell.

  • Quote: "She should have been glamorous and quiet and she was glamorous and loud... She became wildly popular." – Julia Roberts [17:09]
  • Colbert notes Martha would have “done great on Twitter.” [17:49]

Research & Surprises About Martha Mitchell

• Roberts shares her discovery that Martha, though outwardly bold, suffered anxiety and was dyslexic—challenges unexpected in a public figure of the time.

• The Nixon administration leveraged and later suppressed her fame, with her husband confining her to a hotel to stop her from leaking information.

  • Quote: "She actually had a lot of anxiety being in front of people... they really put her out in the forefront as much as they could, until they didn't." – Julia Roberts [18:08]

Accents & Upbringing

• Conversation about Roberts’ Southern roots and whether actors “train away” regional accents.
  • Colbert admits his own accent resurfaces when angry or drunk.
  • Roberts: "I think for most Southern people, you don't realize you have a Southern accent... it's fabulous." [20:44]
  • Both lament how American media often stereotypes Southern accents.
    • Quote: "You're raised like American media makes it seem like... if you have a Southern accent, you’re not smart." – Colbert [21:08]

Working with Sean Penn

• Roberts describes acting alongside Sean Penn (who’s nearly unrecognizable in heavy makeup for "Gaslit"):

  • Praises Penn's patience, warmth, and talents, playfully noting he would hate for people to know how sweet he is.
  • Recalls knowing Penn since she was a teenager and reflects on their deep friendship.
  • Quote: "[Sean Penn]'s a dream. He cares so deeply about film, character, and people." – Julia Roberts [24:21]

• Colbert shares a humorous video clip:

  • Sean Penn, in a previous tribute, fantasizes about watching Julia Roberts eat in 3D and helping her with food in her teeth.
    • Memorable moment: "I could watch her eat for hours on end, even if the food got stuck in her teeth. I want her to make an eating movie in 3D." – Sean Penn [25:10]

Quarantining & Friendship with George Clooney

• Colbert asks Roberts about "bubbling" and quarantining with George Clooney during the filming of "Ticket to Paradise" in Australia.
  • Roberts jokes that Clooney always brings tequila and is an even better friend than people expect.
  • Reminisces about staying at Clooney's Lake Como house while filming "Ocean's 12"—and the protective treatment she received as a pregnant cast member.
    • Quote: "You would have thought I was made of glass... really charming." – Julia Roberts [27:42]

Marriage Advice

• Both Colbert (28 years married) and Roberts (20 years) share their secrets:

  • Colbert: "Apologize."

  • Roberts: "Kissing."

  • Both agree that forgiveness and affection are key.

    • Quote: “You apologize, and then you just start making it up.” – Julia Roberts [29:16]

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Colbert's Keepsake:
  “I've treasured it for going on 40 years.” – Stephen Colbert [07:30]

• On Social Media Targeting:
  "They know I’ve got bad knees because they're feeding me knee videos." – Stephen Colbert [09:03]

• Fame’s Reality:
  "I think that's my base identity—not as the guy in the front." – Stephen Colbert [10:22]

• Sean Penn’s 3D Eating Movie Fantasy:
  "I want her to make an eating movie in 3D... you could take your virtual toothpick and say, 'I got that, babe.'" – Sean Penn [25:10]

• On Clooney’s House:
  "You would have thought I was made of glass... really charming." – Julia Roberts [27:42]

• Marriage Advice:
  "You apologize, and then you just start making it up." – Julia Roberts [29:16]

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Timestamps for Important Segments

| Timestamp | Segment | |-----------|---------| | 04:05 | Start of "Celebrity Boss" game with Stephen Colbert and Becca | | 14:32 | Julia Roberts joins, introduction to "Gaslit" and Martha Mitchell | | 16:41 | Who is Martha Mitchell and her Watergate significance | | 18:08 | Martha’s real personality and struggles | | 20:44 | Colbert and Roberts discuss Southern accents and upbringing | | 22:03 | Working with Sean Penn and their friendship | | 24:56 | Sean Penn's tribute and the “eating movie” fantasy | | 26:56 | Filming and quarantining with George Clooney | | 28:29 | Discussion about marriage and advice | | 29:00 | Shared laughter and concluding thoughts |

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Final Thoughts

This episode is full of sharp wit, genuine camaraderie, and heartfelt moments, with Colbert’s and Roberts’ down-to-earth personalities at the forefront. Listeners gain behind-the-scenes insight into celebrity life, an appreciation for Hollywood friendships, and an affectionate look at personal histories and advice for long-lasting relationships. Julia Roberts’ blend of humor and candor—combined with Colbert’s self-deprecating charm—makes for an engaging and memorable episode.

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Transcript

[Stephen Colbert]

Hey, everybody. Stephen Colbert here about to read the copy for our sponsor. This is from our friends at Wonderful Pistachios. And I was the wonderful pistachio spokesman for years. Yeah, I have a real close association with nut meat. Okay. You know what they say when they reach for a snack? Don't hold back. And that's exactly the approach with Wonderful Pistachios. The don't hold back snack. These little wonders are so tasty, it feels like getting away with something. But surprise. Each serving has 6 grams of protein and 0 grams of regret. That's right. No guilt. Just glory, glory in our nuts. Whether it's a satisfying crack of in shell pistachios, and that's capitalized in shell, or the smooth, instant gratification of no shells. No judgment. That's just it. Just eat. No judgment. I take issue with one thing. It's instant gratification. It's super tasty smooth.

[Becca]

It's a hard nut smooth.

[Stephen Colbert]

Exactly. I mean, even out of the shell, it's still a nut.

[Becca]

We can't disparage the nuts. You.

[Stephen Colbert]

I'm not disparaging the nut. I'm describing the nut.

[Becca]

Don't disparage any flavors.

[Stephen Colbert]

I'm not. I am celebrating the pistachio right now. I'm on board. I love pistachios. I love a crushed pistachio. Like a pistachio crusted trout. Oh, unbelievable. Instead of a trout amandine, a trout pistachio. Fantastic. Enough butter? Who cares?

[Becca]

Very good.

[Stephen Colbert]

And I love pistachio ice cream.

[Becca]

Have you had the sea salt and vinegar? Wonderful pistachio. It's delicious.

[Stephen Colbert]

I didn't even know I get them.

[Becca]

Before the softball games.

[Stephen Colbert]

But that's. You see, it's been a while since I've been the spokesman for wonderful Pistachios. I didn't realize we'd achieved new pistachio technology.

[Becca]

Yeah. Yeah.

[Stephen Colbert]

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[Becca]

That was a wonderful.

[Stephen Colbert]

I wonder what more there is to learn. We just told them so much. We just told them so much about pistachios. But evidently there's a whole other world. There's an unexplored vista.

[Becca]

They got a bunch of flavors. They got dill pickle, jalapeno lime, as we learned, smoky barbecue. There's a lot of different flavors.

[Stephen Colbert]

Wow. And I would not disparage any of them.

[Becca]

No, no, no.

[Stephen Colbert]

Bring it on.

[Becca]

Nothing bad to say.

[Stephen Colbert]

Nut me, nut. Nut me with nut meat.

[Becca]

We're nut.

[Stephen Colbert]

No, we got nothing but nut. Nutty, nutty, nutty, nutty. Talk about, talk about, talk about, talk about, talk about nutty. Good.

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[Becca]

Hey, everybody. You're listening to the Late Show Pod show with Stephen Colbert. Yes, you are, Stephen. I have an exciting. I have an exciting announcement.

[Stephen Colbert]

Oh, what is it, Becca?

[Becca]

It's time to play Celebrity Boss again.

[Stephen Colbert]

Celebrity Boss.

[Becca]

Do you remember Celebrity Boss?

[Stephen Colbert]

Remind me again.

[Becca]

We played Celebrity Boss a couple of intros back from now.

[Stephen Colbert]

I have fond memories. I just can't remember the rules.

[Becca]

Basically, here's the deal. Celebrity culture, it's so interesting. It's so pervasive in our pop culture moment that we live in. We interact with a lot of celebrities at work at a late night talk show, but I don't get to talk to them. I'm just a measly writer's assistant podcast producer, basically. But you, Steven, we hang out a lot. You're a celebrity, and you're also my boss.

[Stephen Colbert]

Okay? Oh, I see. So you're interviewing me like I'm a celebrity.

[Becca]

Yes.

[Stephen Colbert]

Okay, got it.

[Becca]

I just have questions about celebrity lifestyles that I think you could answer on behalf of all celebrities.

[Stephen Colbert]

Hit me. I'm ready. I'm ready to spill the tea.

[Becca]

And we're introducing this to a podcast with Julia Roberts.

[Stephen Colbert]

Huge, huge celebrity.

[Becca]

Yes. Huge celebrity. So this is in her Honor. Because I would love to ask Julia these questions as well someday.

[Stephen Colbert]

Sure.

[Becca]

But anyways, celebrity boss question one last time on a bus, Public transit or long distance?

[Stephen Colbert]

In New York. In New York, when I was first here, probably working right after I was working for Carvey.

[Becca]

Yeah.

[Stephen Colbert]

But I know. Probably early aughts.

[Becca]

Yeah.

[Stephen Colbert]

Early aughts. Before. Before I had a. My own TV show.

[Becca]

Yeah. You're not missing much, let me tell you that. Yeah.

[Stephen Colbert]

A subway.

[Becca]

Subway. Yeah.

[Stephen Colbert]

Subway all the time. I still subway all the time.

[Becca]

Subway's the best way to go.

[Stephen Colbert]

Sure.

[Becca]

Because you're just.

[Stephen Colbert]

Yeah.

[Becca]

You're just. You're blocking.

[Stephen Colbert]

I got children in Brooklyn.

[Becca]

Yeah.

[Stephen Colbert]

So that's, you know, hopping on there. It's not that hard.

[Becca]

Yeah.

[Stephen Colbert]

But, no, I haven't hit the bus in a while.

[Becca]

Haven't hit the bus in a while.

[Stephen Colbert]

Chicago, big bus. I mean, there's l. Chicago. Huge bus city.

[Becca]

Yeah.

[Stephen Colbert]

Everybody's on the bus.

[Becca]

Everybody's on the bus.

[Stephen Colbert]

Yeah. Yeah. Sweaty. Oh, man. Hot town. Summer in the city. Unbelievable. Like, the hottest summer in Chicago's history was one of the. I was like. I was there for the coldest winter and, like, the hottest summer of all time. Just the stick. Just sticking to strangers on the bus. Fantastic feeling.

[Becca]

That's what people don't get about Chicago who haven't lived there is they're like, oh, winter's so cold. It's like. Yeah. But the summers are also extremely hot.

[Stephen Colbert]

And the lake's right there. Yes. It's cooler near the lake, but it's also super humid.

[Becca]

Yeah. Yeah, exactly. But you read a book on the bus or anything? You do anything like that. Yeah.

[Stephen Colbert]

Yeah. I mean, back in the day, I would. I actually still keep in my bag if I had my bag right here with me. I still keep in my bag a small red copy of the New Testament Proverbs and Psalms. Because I was riding on a bus, and there was a girl sitting next to me, and she was reading the New Testament Proverbs and Psalms. And I said, oh, I wish I had one of those. And she gave it to me.

[Becca]

Oh.

[Stephen Colbert]

And so I've got her copy.

[Becca]

Cool.

[Stephen Colbert]

And she gave it to me. I was probably 24, maybe 23, 24. And I've transferred that copy from bag to bag.

[Becca]

Wow.

[Stephen Colbert]

And I never even. I don't think I even told Evie. I just did it. And the other day, I said, oh, this. I showed it to her and I told her the story. She's like, you've been passing that from.

[Becca]

Bag to bag, and you've never seen her again?

[Stephen Colbert]

Oh, no. I have no idea. There's nothing in the book that says like person's name or anything like that.

[Becca]

Wow, that's really nice. I'm sure she would be really. She would love to know, you know.

[Stephen Colbert]

Okay, so if you own the bag of Chicago bus, like in 1987 or 88.

[Becca]

Yeah. I'm not even saying let's reach out. I'm just saying let's just.

[Stephen Colbert]

They could reach out. They could reach out.

[Becca]

The best thing someone could do if you loan them something is to treasure it and keep it.

[Stephen Colbert]

I've treasured it. I've treasured it. I've treasured it for going on 40 years.

[Becca]

Yeah. Beautiful. Wow. Okay. Long distance bus. Great. Do you ever do those?

[Stephen Colbert]

Oh, yeah, yeah. A lot of Greyhound buses in the day. The sloshing blue water in the back.

[Becca]

Yeah.

[Stephen Colbert]

Fantastic. Yeah, I did a lot of Greyhound. I also did Trailways.

[Becca]

Oh, yeah. Trailways up north. That's not even a celebrity thing. That's also just like you have a job and make money now and you.

[Stephen Colbert]

Don'T have to do that, right? No, I don't mind a bus. I got nothing wrong with a Greyhound bus.

[Becca]

Looking out the window, just zoning out.

[Stephen Colbert]

Somebody else driving.

[Becca]

Yeah.

[Stephen Colbert]

Leave the driving to us.

[Becca]

Yeah.

[Stephen Colbert]

Beautiful.

[Becca]

Okay, great. Next question on Celebrity Boss. Does your algorithm know you're famous when you're getting fed reels?

[Stephen Colbert]

Oh, no, but they know I'm a middle aged man somehow.

[Becca]

Okay.

[Stephen Colbert]

Because I stopped using our show Instagram for my recreational Instagram.

[Becca]

Yeah.

[Stephen Colbert]

I created a finsta. I'm out there as a fake guy and you'll never guess who I am.

[Becca]

Yeah, yeah.

[Stephen Colbert]

And. And I never. I don't really follow. I follow like three people and I don't post ever. I just enjoy burning my life away, like instead of going to sleep, just flipping through. And they know I've got bad knees somehow. Oh, they know because I literally like, I wasn't. I was in the writers meeting yesterday because I was doing PT on my left knee and a hiking. Hiking injury. Fascinating, Steve. Keep going.

[Becca]

It is.

[Stephen Colbert]

And. But they know. They know I've got bad knees because they're feeding me knee videos.

[Becca]

Yeah.

[Stephen Colbert]

Like what to do? I like, I have. I don't search for. I don't know how do they know? But I have bad knees.

[Becca]

Wow. I get a lot of life hacks and like ear wax cleaning. I don't know why I'm getting that.

[Stephen Colbert]

Yeah.

[Becca]

But yeah, I got. The one that felt the most me is some. They showed Me how to put mini M and Ms. In a pepper mill for, like, an ice cream topping. I was like, you know what? That is actually something that.

[Stephen Colbert]

And you have to keep the mill in the freezer, I'm guessing, so they stay hard enough to grind.

[Becca]

Yeah. Good. Oh, they didn't addition to the life hack. There you go.

[Stephen Colbert]

There where it is. That's what I do.

[Becca]

I'm gonna try.

[Stephen Colbert]

I alley oop on life hack.

[Julia Roberts]

Yeah.

[Stephen Colbert]

All right, hit me.

[Becca]

Okay, great. Are you famous in your dreams? Is it like. No, you're just normal guy?

[Stephen Colbert]

I mean, I don't know what I am. I don't appear in my dreams. It's like other people are in my dreams. I don't generally see me. And I'm just. I also don't. I mean, I'm. I mean, I kind of surprised when people recognize me.

[Becca]

Yeah.

[Stephen Colbert]

And I know it's been too long for that to be surprising, but I still kind of think of myself, who writes comedy for other people? I don't know that name on the front of the building. And, like, you know, people chant my name and stuff like that. But I spent so much of my career just wanting to write comedy and write it for other people that I. That's. I think that's my base identity. Is that not. Not as. Not as the guy in the front.

[Becca]

Totally.

[Stephen Colbert]

Yeah.

[Becca]

You know how, like, if you speak multiple languages, there's the question of what language do you dream in?

[Stephen Colbert]

Yeah, sure.

[Becca]

And most people are just like, there isn't a language. It's just like, I'm experiencing communication.

[Stephen Colbert]

I lived in Italy for two summers, and at the end of the second summer, I did start having a few dreams in Italian.

[Becca]

Oh, cool.

[Stephen Colbert]

Like, I remember in the dream going, wait, this dream's in Italian?

[Becca]

Whoa.

[Stephen Colbert]

I wonder if I know Italian now. Because I'd had enough, you know? And then I woke up thinking, oh, I should study more Italian. If I'm starting to dream in Italian now. Maybe that's. And I never did.

[Becca]

It's all gone.

[Stephen Colbert]

Yes.

[Becca]

Okay, last question. Last concert you bought a ticket to, I'm guessing.

[Stephen Colbert]

I mean, I buy a ticket. I buy. I mean, I get house seats sometimes, but I buy them. Like, I don't. I don't. I mean. John Groff. John Groff. You know, just in time.

[Becca]

Just in time.

[Stephen Colbert]

Doing Bobby Darren. It's kind of a concert. Yeah, it's basically like Bobby Darragh tribute concert.

[Becca]

Okay. Yeah.

[Stephen Colbert]

I'm seeing. I'm seeing Paul Simon tonight at the Beacon.

[Becca]

Oh, nice.

[Stephen Colbert]

I think I bought Those. I asked for tickets, but I think I bought them.

[Becca]

Okay, cool.

[Stephen Colbert]

I go. See, I've bought tickets. I don't know if I bought tickets. I mean, I like Lake Street Dive, you know, I like those guys so much that I've bought tickets to their show, I think. I mean, maybe not. Maybe I don't have to buy them.

[Becca]

Yeah. I'm not trying to grill you on. Do you support the arts? You know what I mean? I'm just asking, like, is there a list you can. Sort of.

[Stephen Colbert]

Pretty hostile. That's pretty hostile. That was both defensive and hostile at the same time.

[Becca]

He grills Stephen Colbert.

[Stephen Colbert]

No, I.

[Becca]

Or something.

[Stephen Colbert]

Yeah, I do get on lists. Yeah, I will. I'll cop to that.

[Becca]

No, that's awesome.

[Stephen Colbert]

That's celebrity. That's Celebrity Boss. Yeah, I do get on lists.

[Becca]

Great.

[Stephen Colbert]

But I also never ask for free tickets. Maybe they're sometimes free, but I don't know.

[Becca]

Yeah, okay, cool. But Paul Simon tonight, that's going to be great.

[Stephen Colbert]

Very excited. Him and Edie Brickell and.

[Becca]

Yeah, that's one of the best. I stood on stage, like, in the little producer nook with you guys the last time Paul was on.

[Stephen Colbert]

Oh, yeah. When he did From Seven Psalms.

[Becca]

Yeah.

[Stephen Colbert]

Yeah. And he played that song. Yeah.

[Becca]

Huge perk of this job is be able to see musical acts and everybody do their thing on that stage. So cool. All right, well, that was Celebrity Boss, and now we have.

[Stephen Colbert]

I feel like it wasn't sufficiently celebrity enough. Ask me if I'm famous in my dreams.

[Becca]

Are you famous in your dreams?

[Stephen Colbert]

Oh, yeah. Yeah. Everybody just claps all my dreams. It's very hard to know what's going on in the dreams because people are just cheering. They're just saying my name and they're cheering, and they're just saying, you're just so great.

[Becca]

You just wake up because the paparazzi are flashing so bright.

[Stephen Colbert]

100%. 100%.

[Becca]

Can't get a whiff of sleep. Great. Well, Julia Roberts. Favorite Julia Roberts. Rom com. Do you have one? I'll go first. Best Friend's Wedding. It's so good. I mean, they're all good.

[Stephen Colbert]

Name them.

[Becca]

I mean, there's Mystic Pizza.

[Stephen Colbert]

Never seen it.

[Becca]

There's. Well, not rom com, but there's Erin Brockovich.

[Stephen Colbert]

Never seen it.

[Becca]

Oh, that's a good one. That was really fun. There's, you know, Ocean's Eleven, that whole.

[Stephen Colbert]

Trilogy that I've seen, but it's not really her film.

[Becca]

No, but she's.

[Stephen Colbert]

She's prominent. She's a motivational prominent.

[Becca]

It's an ensemble cast, you know, nobody's film. Yeah, it's George's film. Yeah, that's true. Ocean. Oh, we got. We say pizza. We got Best Friend's Wedding.

[Stephen Colbert]

Never seen it.

[Becca]

The Runaway Bride.

[Stephen Colbert]

Never seen it.

[Becca]

Okay. These are some good movies. And you enjoy a rom com.

[Stephen Colbert]

I do. I got nothing against a rom com.

[Becca]

Yeah, yeah, yeah. I'm trying to think of all the. I'm sure I'm gonna listen back to this and like, scream in my head that I forgot, like, the best one.

[Stephen Colbert]

Sure.

[Becca]

But that smile, that laugh.

[Stephen Colbert]

What's the one? What's the one? I think it's the one with like, I'm just a girl standing in front of a boy.

[Becca]

Notting Hill.

[Stephen Colbert]

Notting Hill.

[Becca]

Notting Hill.

[Stephen Colbert]

It's charming.

[Becca]

That one's also good. Yes, but best friends weddings in Chicago and it's just.

[Stephen Colbert]

Oh, there you go. Oh, Best friends also got Dermot Mulroney. Yes, I went to college with Dermot. Oh, really? Yeah, yeah, Dermot's a lovely fella.

[Becca]

He's great. He's great in it, but great. Okay, great. Well, this is Julia Roberts, movie star on the Late Show.

[Stephen Colbert]

Honest Scott.

[Becca]

Celebrity, celebrity.

[Stephen Colbert]

She dreams about herself.

[Becca]

Yeah. Enjoy.

[Stephen Colbert]

Ladies and gentleme, you are in for a treat because my guest tonight is an Academy Award winning actress. You know from Pretty Woman, Erin Brockovich and August Osage County. She now stars in the new series Gaslit.

[Julia Roberts]

Oh, why, thank you, dear. And could you please get a martini for Ms. McClendon?

[Shopify Announcer]

Oh, no, no, thank you. I don't usually drink with my interviews.

[Julia Roberts]

After Mr. McCord here. He doesn't drink on the job either. I don't trust him one bit.

[Shopify Announcer]

With a twist.

[Becca]

Thank you.

[Julia Roberts]

Now, where were we?

[Stephen Colbert]

Well, I was.

[Julia Roberts]

Have I shown you my vases? They're Chinese.

[Shopify Announcer]

Yes, I was asking if there's any truth to the talk that your ease with the press has soured your relationship with the President.

[Julia Roberts]

A vicious rumor. I am the one who introduced Dick to my husband.

[Shopify Announcer]

So there's no concern that you're overshadowing Nixon?

[Julia Roberts]

You make me sound like an old oak tree. Would you ask such a question to Kissinger?

[Shopify Announcer]

With all due respect, Kissinger doesn't have a 76% name recognition. With American families, you do.

[Julia Roberts]

Someone should tell that to Pat Nixon. She has been double booking our events to make a point. Just this week I had to reschedule a fundraiser just to satisfy her lust for the spotlight.

[Stephen Colbert]

Please welcome back to the Late Show, Julia Roberts. Hi.

[Becca]

Thank you.

[Julia Roberts]

Okay, I was already so nervous, I.

[Stephen Colbert]

I appreciate you, but what do you mean? I'm very interested in this new production, Gaslit, where you play Martha Mitchell. And this is telling the story of Watergate. But for the people out there who don't know I'm older than you are. I remember the Watergate hearings and I remember all the stories about Martha Mitchell. But for the people who don't know, explain to them who she was and why she was such a fascinating character in Watergate.

[Julia Roberts]

Well, I think. Well, what's fascinating about her to me is all that I didn't know. And Martha Mitchell was married to the Attorney General for Richard Nixon, Nay, John Mitchell. And they were this sort of outrageous. Well, she was outrageous side of the couple. And she was a woman who in that time, in the position that she held, which was the position of wife, you know, she should have been glamorous and quiet and she was glamorous and loud. You know, she was. She spoke out.

[Stephen Colbert]

Not a shrinking, violent.

[Julia Roberts]

She spoke out against the Vietnam War, all these things that were really unexpected. And she became wildly popular. She was on the COVID of Time magazine and Life magazine and was really a pioneer of women speaking their mind at a time and in a position where she wouldn't have. She would have been very popular today.

[Stephen Colbert]

She would have done great on Twitter is what she would have done all night. What was the most surprising thing you learned about her when you played the role?

[Julia Roberts]

I think what. Because she is famously outspoken, she was referred to as the mouth of the South.

[Stephen Colbert]

As you can tell, she's got something. She's from Arkansas.

[Julia Roberts]

She's from Arkansas. And what surprised me the most in my research was to discover that she actually had a lot of anxiety being in front of people, talking in front of people. She was dyslexic. She had a lot of learning differences. And so to have to present herself with poise was really nerve wracking. And let's be honest, led to a bit of a drinking issue. And the Nixon administration really took advantage of her popularity. They really put her out in the forefront as much as they could, could.

[Stephen Colbert]

And until they did, until.

[Julia Roberts]

Until they didn't.

[Stephen Colbert]

Right. She was treated quite brutally.

[Julia Roberts]

Yeah.

[Stephen Colbert]

Because they were so paranoid that she might give away something like, I didn't realize that she was essentially kind of unofficially House arrested, you know, by her own husband in a hotel in California to keep her from seeing anything in the news that she would squawk about.

[Julia Roberts]

Well, to say she's House arrested by her husband sounds like a long romantic weekend for the Mitchells. But it wasn't that.

[Stephen Colbert]

Well, he's the Attorney General.

[Julia Roberts]

He left town and left her with security to hold her prisoner in this hotel room so she couldn't see the newspapers or the news or anything about what had happened at the Watergate Hotel because her personal bodyguard from the White House had been wrongly sent in in the second pass of breaking into the Democratic offices in the Watergate Hotel. It's so much more exciting than I'm making it sound. I'm here to tell you, Tune in just to find out what I'm not saying about it.

[Stephen Colbert]

Well, as we were saying before, she's from Arkansas and has a pronounced Southern accent. You're from Georgia, which people forget because you have. No. Well, exactly. Exactly. No. But we don't perceive a Southern accent when you talk.

[Julia Roberts]

Right.

[Stephen Colbert]

I'm just curious. Did. Did you have much of one ever? Did you actually have to like. I'm from South Carolina and I went to theater school and they kind of trained it out of me, but when I'm angry or drunk, it'll come out. And I'm just curious if.

[Julia Roberts]

Do you stay tuned?

[Stephen Colbert]

Exactly. Was it hard for you to drop or does it ever still come out?

[Julia Roberts]

I don't know the answers to either of those questions. I mean, I think that.

[Stephen Colbert]

Was it trained out of you?

[Julia Roberts]

It wasn't trained out of me. I mean, I didn't.

[Stephen Colbert]

I don't mean you had.

[Julia Roberts]

I don't have any training.

[Stephen Colbert]

I don't mean they put you a shock collar on you or anything like that.

[Julia Roberts]

No, I think it's one. I think for most Southern people, you don't realize you have a Southern accent. And once someone points it out to you, shows you the. What you think, you know.

[Becca]

Yeah.

[Julia Roberts]

Then you go, oh, I don't want. I mean, nothing against. It's fabulous to have a Southern accent. It's fabulous.

[Stephen Colbert]

I wish I still had mine.

[Julia Roberts]

I still had mine.

[Stephen Colbert]

Exactly. Yeah. It's quite charming now.

[Julia Roberts]

It's so charming.

[Stephen Colbert]

But you're raised like American media. Makes it seem like, oh, if you're a Southern accent, you're not smart.

[Julia Roberts]

Really.

[Stephen Colbert]

No, that's. They. Oh, you know, look at you. Look at you. You're a card.

[Julia Roberts]

I'm a card.

[Stephen Colbert]

Exactly. No one gets that joke because they can't see she's literally got a card on her back. We have to take a little bit of a break, but stick around. We'll be right back with more Julia Roberts. Everybody, this is you with your co star here, the man playing the Attorney General, John Mitchell. And good luck Recognizing him. That is Sean Penn right there.

[Julia Roberts]

Well, no, wait. This is Sean Penn.

[Stephen Colbert]

No, he's that good. He's that good. He's that good. Was it nice that the man was the one spending hours in hair and makeup for this shot instead of the woman?

[Julia Roberts]

Yes. Yes.

[Stephen Colbert]

Yeah. A little refreshing.

[Julia Roberts]

I mean, but isn't it astonishing? And can I tell you this about Shawn? And he doesn't want anyone to know how nice and sweet he is because it would destroy his reputation that he's worked so hard on. He had so much patience getting all of this makeup done. And it was. You know, he had a body suit and this whole thing, and it would be so hot. I'm in these fake furs and my wig and my body suit, and I'd be like, oh, it's so hot. I'm so itchy. Oh, God, get this. Somebody take my coat. And he just. He's just rock steady. All his stuff on. He would just sit there.

[Stephen Colbert]

Is this the first thing y' all have done together?

[Julia Roberts]

Yes.

[Stephen Colbert]

Now, I find that hard to believe. You guys have both been successful for so long. You guys have known each other for a long time, haven't you?

[Julia Roberts]

We are very good friends. He's really one of my dearest siblings.

[Stephen Colbert]

How did y'. All. Is it you're both Oscar winners and so you had a play date for your Oscars to get there?

[Julia Roberts]

Yeah, there's a club. There's a club. We meet on stage.

[Stephen Colbert]

You meet at the park. You watch the Oscars play while you drink coffee.

[Julia Roberts]

I've known Sean since I was a teenager, and I am no teenager.

[Stephen Colbert]

Was he a teenager at the time, too? Are we talking about Spicoli?

[Becca]

Sean Penn?

[Julia Roberts]

No, no, no. I'll just keep saying no.

[Stephen Colbert]

So this is pre Mystic Pizza?

[Julia Roberts]

Oh, yes. Yes. I think I met Sean maybe when I was 16. 16 or 17 years old here in the great New York City.

[Stephen Colbert]

Wow. What's he like? We've had him on. I've had him on many times. This show and the preview show. He's an immensely talented. He's immensely talented kind of projects. Oddball at you kind of projects.

[Julia Roberts]

Makes you nervous. Well, you think he's.

[Stephen Colbert]

You don't know what's going to happen or what he's going to say.

[Julia Roberts]

I think it just might fall apart at any second.

[Stephen Colbert]

What's he like to hang with?

[Julia Roberts]

Just dreamy.

[Becca]

Yeah.

[Julia Roberts]

Yeah.

[Stephen Colbert]

Wow.

[Julia Roberts]

I know. Don't tell anybody. He'd be so cross of me to say that, but, yeah, he's. He's a dream. And he's so. He cares so deeply about film and character and people and humanity, and he's just. He's incredible.

[Stephen Colbert]

And he loves you. He's said so publicly many times. And he's also expressed it in an odd way.

[Julia Roberts]

Oh, God.

[Stephen Colbert]

Do you know what I'm about to show you? No. Okay.

[Julia Roberts]

Is something bad gonna happen?

[Stephen Colbert]

I don't think it's bad. I think it's quite lovely. But it's very strange. Much like Sean Penn is.

[Julia Roberts]

Oh, my God.

[Stephen Colbert]

This is him honoring you and describing a very specific fantasy he has about you. Don't worry. It's not. It's safe for work, but it's still strange, Jim.

[Sean Penn]

In the words of William Saroyan, she is that which shines and is beyond corruption. One of a select group of actresses who can make on screen eating sexy. I could watch her eat for hours on end, even if the food got stuck in her teeth. I want her to make an eating movie in 3D. How great would it be to sit there watching a Julia Roberts movie eating in 3D? She's eating corn on the cob. And then something gets stuck here, and you could take your virtual toothpick and say, I got that, babe. Just hate. So personal fantasy.

[Becca]

Sweet.

[Stephen Colbert]

Sweet. But very strange. Very strange at the same time.

[Julia Roberts]

I guess I know what my next film is.

[Stephen Colbert]

Yes. We have to take a little bit of a break, but when we come back, I will ask Julia what it's like to quarantine with George Clooney. You are also getting together to your fifth film with Mr. George Clooney called Ticket to Paradise. It's a rom com out. Out in October. Shot it in Australia last year.

[Julia Roberts]

This is actually Sean Penn as George Clooney, which is incredible.

[Stephen Colbert]

So good.

[Julia Roberts]

I mean, it's really.

[Stephen Colbert]

I'd watch George Clooney Clooney eat corn. I have watched George Clooney eat. Actually. Is he a fun guy to bubble with? Because in Australia, they have very, very tight protocols.

[Julia Roberts]

We were heavily bubbled. Yes. Heavily bubbled.

[Stephen Colbert]

Yeah.

[Julia Roberts]

George and I were heavily bubbled. I mean, he's. He's.

[Stephen Colbert]

He brings the tequila. Obviously.

[Julia Roberts]

He does. Tequila's free. And, you know. Yeah. He's everything that you think he is. He is more than that.

[Stephen Colbert]

Wow. Have you been to the place at Lake Como?

[Julia Roberts]

No.

[Stephen Colbert]

You haven't?

[Julia Roberts]

No, I'm just kidding. Yeah, of course I have. I'm just kidding. No, we all lived there when we were doing Ocean's 12. We all lived at George's house. Can you imagine? And I was pregnant for the first time. And you would have thought I was made of glass. I mean, I would go to reach for them. No, I've got it for you. You know, like, my bedroom was on the first floor because they didn't want me to take the stairs. Like, being pregnant somehow, like, they just wanted to dress me in cotton balls and kind of usher me. I know. It was really, really charming.

[Becca]

Yeah.

[Stephen Colbert]

Yeah. Yes. I've been to the house, too. I've been to the house, too. Didn't want you to think that I haven't been to the house.

[Julia Roberts]

Of course you have.

[Stephen Colbert]

Happy Commanders number one show. I've been to the house. I've been to the house. Of course you have.

[Julia Roberts]

It goes that same.

[Stephen Colbert]

Exactly.

[Julia Roberts]

It goes that same.

[Stephen Colbert]

I'm also cool. I'm also cool. Speaking of cool, this is truly cool. Congratulations. This year we're celebrating 20 years of marriage. Oh, I am. If you didn't know, if you didn't know I wanted you, I'm the first to tell you. That is fantastic. I want to ask you, what do you think the secret is to a successful marriage, young lady?

[Julia Roberts]

Well, you would know the answer to that as well.

[Stephen Colbert]

28. 28 years.

[Julia Roberts]

28.

[Stephen Colbert]

Yeah.

[Julia Roberts]

That's nice.

[Stephen Colbert]

You want to say. We'll say on three, we'll say what the secret is.

[Julia Roberts]

Okay.

[Stephen Colbert]

One, two, three. Apologize. You said what I said.

[Julia Roberts]

Kissing.

[Stephen Colbert]

You said. Well, I would like to apologize to my wife for nothing. Saying Kissing.

[Julia Roberts]

Well, no. Or maybe it's you apologize and then you just start making it up.

[Stephen Colbert]

It's the makeup sex. Exactly. Makeup, kissing, obviously. Because at this age, making up.

[Julia Roberts]

Okay, there is someone in the audience who is so sweet and every, like, third thing I've said, they've gone, aw.

[Stephen Colbert]

Do we have. Do you know who that is? It's so sweet, madam. A delight.

[Julia Roberts]

Thank you.

[Stephen Colbert]

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 YouTube channel for more clips and exclusives.

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[Stephen Colbert]

September 4th on Paramount plus someone is trying to frame us. Until our names are cleared, we're fugitives from Interpol like Bonnie and Clyde with better snacks. NCIS Tony and Ziva streaming September 4th on Paramount Plus.