Lesley Manville

Summary

Podcast Summary: The Late Show Pod Show with Stephen Colbert
Guest: Lesley Manville
Date: December 29, 2025

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Episode Overview

In this episode, Stephen Colbert welcomes celebrated British actress Lesley Manville. Known for her roles in "Phantom Thread," "Mrs. Harris Goes to Paris," and "The Crown," Manville joins Colbert fresh off her Broadway debut in the modernized production of "Oedipus" at Studio 54. The conversation delves into Manville's storied career on both stage and screen, the enduring power of classical theater, and some behind-the-scenes antics with fellow legendary British actors.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

Mrs. Harris Goes to Paris and Uplifting Audiences

• Stephen opens with praise for the film "Mrs. Harris Goes to Paris," calling it uplifting, especially in a post-COVID world:
  • Stephen Colbert (01:32): "I just love Mrs. Harris goes to Paris."
  • Lesley Manville (01:38): "It's so wonderful. It's the perfect film to come out just after Covid... it just made everyone feel better and uplifted."

Broadway Debut in "Oedipus"

• Colbert expresses surprise that, given Manville’s theatrical pedigree, she’s only now making her Broadway debut.

  • Lesley Manville (01:59): "Well, hang on, hang on. You may say Oedipus, but we say [pronounced differently]."
  • They share a playful exchange about the pronunciation ("Oedipus" vs. "Edipus"), culminating in a "tomato-tomato" joke.

• On audience reactions to the famous twist in Oedipus:

  • Colbert (02:12): (Joking about spoiling the play’s 2,500-year-old twist.)
  • Manville (02:36): “You'd think, wouldn't you, that everyone knew how it ended and what the revelation was. But the other night... at the reveal, [an audience member] just said, 'Oh, my God, it's his mother.'”

• Timeless Relevance:

  • Manville reflects on the play's continued resonance, especially its themes of political transitions and generational trauma:
    • Lesley Manville (03:17): “It’s set now on the eve of an election... that will be Oedipus. So there’s all of that political relevance going on. And... [Jocasta] was made pregnant by her first husband when she was 13 against her wishes... that kind of abuse was happening two and a half thousand years ago, and it's still happening. You know, that's how little things have moved.”

Comparing London and New York Audiences

• On Broadway Audiences:

  • Lesley Manville (04:23): "They're very keen on giving you a nice round of applause just for turning up before they've even seen you act."
  • Colbert (04:50): "Like when you walk on stage, it's like Kramer walking on in Seinfeld."
  • In contrast, London audiences make actors “earn it.”

• Cellphone Etiquette:

  • Manville (05:00): On Americans taking photos at curtain call: “Come on, just be. Let's... can something live in our souls?”

Early Career Reflections

• Starting Young:

  • Colbert references a photo of Manville at 16 on "Emmerdale Farm" and asks what she’d tell her younger self:

    • Lesley Manville (05:47): “Oh, don't marry an actor.”
    • Colbert (05:50): "I'll buy that."

  • On Consistency in Her Character:

    • Manville (06:02): “Apparently I was quite bossy even with... seasoned actors I was working with... I suppose I'm still a bit like that. Although I've learned when to keep my mouth shut.”

Backstage Fun with Legendary Actors

• On Working with British Icons:

  • Colbert asks about backstage "troublemakers" among stage legends.

    • Lesley Manville (06:43): "Judi Dench."

  • On Judi Dench's Pranks:

    • Manville recounts a hilarious story from a Chekhov play:

      • Manville (07:00): "She... loves a prank... I just had a baby and she was in the wings doing something very rude... She was pretending that she was being taken from behind... I wet myself because I was laughing. She made me laugh so much."

    • Colbert (08:05): "Wow. And a not particularly funny part of the play, I'm imagining, of course, it's this Chekhov. It's not funny at all."

    • Manville describes the difficult moment of trying to keep composure on stage while the audience—if they knew—would likely erupt in applause instead of confusion.

Memorable Quotes & Moments

• Surprise at Oedipus Twist:
  • Manville (02:36): “Oh, my God, it's his mother.” (On an audience member’s shocked reaction.)
• On the Timelessness of Abuse:
  • Manville (03:17): “That's how little things have moved.”
• Backstage Prank:
  • Manville (07:00): “She was pretending that she was being taken from behind... I wet myself because I was laughing.”

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Notable Quotes with Timestamps

• On audience naivety:
  • Lesley Manville (02:36): “Oh, my God, it's his mother.”
• On the modern relevance of Oedipus:
  • Lesley Manville (03:17): "That kind of abuse was happening two and a half thousand years ago, and it's still happening."
• On Broadway vs. London audiences:
  • Lesley Manville (04:23): “They're very keen on giving you a nice round of applause just for turning up before they've even seen you act.”
• Advice to her younger self:
  • Lesley Manville (05:47): "Oh, don't marry an actor."
• Judi Dench’s backstage humor:
  • Lesley Manville (07:00): "She... loves a prank... I wet myself because I was laughing."

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Important Segments by Timestamp

• 01:32 — 01:48: Uplifting power of "Mrs. Harris Goes to Paris"
• 02:12 — 03:17: Modern adaptation and relevance of "Oedipus"
• 04:23 — 05:21: Contrasts between London and Broadway audiences
• 05:34 — 06:29: Early career and advice to her younger self
• 06:43 — 08:05: Behind-the-scenes with Judi Dench and legendary actors

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Tone & Style

The conversation is lively, witty, and marked by warmth and a playful rapport between Colbert and Manville. The actress's candid humor and reflections are met with Colbert’s signature blend of charm and self-deprecation, making for an entertaining and insightful listen.

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Conclusion:
Lesley Manville’s visit to The Late Show offers a delightful exploration of her career, the timeless relevance of classic theater, and the fun, sometimes anarchic spirit of life backstage with acting legends. Both actors and theater lovers will relish her candid stories, and her reflections serve as both a tribute to enduring art and a gentle, humorous commentary on the world of performance today.

Transcript

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[Leslie Manville]

It's the Late Show Poncho with Stephen Colbert.

[Stephen Colbert]

Welcome back, ladies and gentlemen. My next guest tonight is an actress you know best From Phantom Thread, Mrs. Harris goes to Paris and the Crown. She's now making her Broadway debut in Oedipus. Please welcome to the Late show late Leslie Manville. Hi, it's so nice to meet you.

[Leslie Manville]

It's nice to meet you too.

[Stephen Colbert]

I just love Mrs. Harris goes to Paris.

[Leslie Manville]

Oh, it's a good film.

[Stephen Colbert]

Oh, my wife and I just fell in love with that.

[Leslie Manville]

Yeah. So wonderful. It's the perfect film to come out just after Covid.

[Stephen Colbert]

Yes, exactly.

[Leslie Manville]

Because it just made everyone feel better and uplifted and.

[Stephen Colbert]

Yeah, yes, it was sweet and funny and fascinating. You've long been a fixture of Film & TV, London's West End. Now you're on Broadway in Oedipus. There you.

[Leslie Manville]

Go. Well, hang on, hang on. You may say Oedipus, but we say.

[Stephen Colbert]

Oedipus. And that's. And you know.

[Leslie Manville]

What? Tomato.

[Stephen Colbert]

Tomato. I forgive.

[Leslie Manville]

You. Thank.

[Stephen Colbert]

You. And so I find it's hard to believe this is your Broadway debut. Someone who's got so much theatrical chops, you play Jocasta, who's Oedipus wife. And spoiler alert. Mom, although the play is famous, do you think there's a chance that you're surprising the audience ever with that.

[Leslie Manville]

Revelation? Well, you'd think, wouldn't you, that everyone knew how it ended and what the revelation Was. But the other night, there was a lady sitting behind a friend of Mark Strong's who plays Oedipus. And it got to the end and the reveal, and she just said, oh, my God, it's his.

[Stephen Colbert]

Mother. That must feel pretty good.

[Leslie Manville]

Though. It does feel good. She's there at the end of God, she didn't.

[Stephen Colbert]

Know. The play is 2,500 years.

[Leslie Manville]

Old.

[Stephen Colbert]

Yeah. You know, they've had a little time to learn about it. I know, but what do you find timeless about the story and about Jocasta.

[Leslie Manville]

Herself? Well, I mean, it is an updated version. So it's set now on the eve of an election, and it's the two hours between the polls closing and the new leader being announced. And that will be Oedipus. So there's all of that. There's all of that relevance and political relevance going on. And also, you know, it's a story about the reason she. It's revealed that they are, in fact, mother and son. Despite having been married for 23 years and made three children. She was made pregnant by her first husband when she was 13 against her wishes. So, you know, that kind of. I don't want to get heavy about it, but that kind of abuse was happening two and a half thousand years ago, and it's still happening. You know, that's how little things have moved.

[Stephen Colbert]

On. Well, this is a production that started last year in London. What is the difference you find between a London audience and a New York.

[Leslie Manville]

Audience? Well, on many levels, not a lot. You know, we've got the audience who's interested in coming to see a play like this, and we did a very successful run in London. So I think the word has spread that, you know, but I think the big differences are that they're very keen on giving you a nice round of applause just for turning up before they've even seen you.

[Stephen Colbert]

Act. Like when you walk on stage, it's like Kramer walking on in.

[Leslie Manville]

Seinfeld. Exactly.

[Stephen Colbert]

Exactly. It's clear they don't do that in.

[Leslie Manville]

London. Don't do that in.

[Stephen Colbert]

London. You gotta earn.

[Leslie Manville]

It. You've got. Well, you know, you gotta do some acting first before you get the round of applause. So that's different. And also, they're very. At the end here to get their phones out and take photos of you doing the curtain call. Oh, and I just. Come on, just be. Let's can something live in our.

[Stephen Colbert]

Souls. Yes, you've been acting. You've been acting since you were a teen. Even had your west end debut at 16. Here you.

[Leslie Manville]

Are. Oh.

[Stephen Colbert]

Yes. Here you are in 1975 in Emmerdale Farm. Big Emmerdale Farm fans here. What would you tell this young.

[Leslie Manville]

Lady? Oh, don't marry an.

[Stephen Colbert]

Actor. I'll buy that. I'll buy that.

[Leslie Manville]

Yeah. That's what I would have told my 16 year old.

[Stephen Colbert]

Self. And what's the same about her and you.

[Leslie Manville]

Now? Well, apparently I was quite bossy even with the, you know, established, seasoned actors I was working.

[Stephen Colbert]

With. Really? You came in with a. Yeah.

[Leslie Manville]

But thinking I was being helpful, you know. Oh, no. When you did that bit, you're not meant to stand there, you're meant to stand over there. Drove them mad. And I suppose I'm still a bit like that. Although I've learned when to keep my mouth.

[Stephen Colbert]

Shut. You worked with some extraordinary people on stage. Alan Rickman, Judi Dench, Melda Staunton, Jonathan Pryce, Jeremy Irons, who's fun like backstage, who's a troublemaker in a fun.

[Leslie Manville]

Way. Judi.

[Stephen Colbert]

Dench.

[Ryan Reynolds]

Really?

[Leslie Manville]

Yes. You must have had Judy on this.

[Stephen Colbert]

Show. I don't believe. Have we ever had Dame Judy on? No, I would love to. I'm a big.

[Leslie Manville]

Fan. Well, she loves a.

[Ryan Reynolds]

Prank.

[Stephen Colbert]

Yes. Yeah, she likes a.

[Leslie Manville]

Prank. Yeah, yeah, she. I was doing a Chekhov play, the Cherry Orchard, and I just had a baby and she was in the wings doing something very rude. I was on stage on my.

[Stephen Colbert]

Own. What was she doing, may I.

[Leslie Manville]

Ask? It's a bit rude. I don't know if I can say.

[Stephen Colbert]

It. We'll BLEEP it if it's too.

[Leslie Manville]

Rude. She was. She was pretending that she was being taken from.

[Stephen Colbert]

Behind. Can we say that? That's good. We can say that. We can say that at first. We can say that. But at first. Of course. But first, of course, we have to picture it, but go.

[Leslie Manville]

Ahead. Yes, yes. Well, picture it. Look, and bear in mind I've just had a child and anyone who's had a child, you know what that does to you, to your anatomy. And I was on stage on my own and I'm afraid I wet myself because I was laughing. She made me laugh so.

[Stephen Colbert]

Much. Wow. And a not particularly funny part of the play, I'm imagining, of course, it's this.

[Leslie Manville]

Chekhov. It's not funny at all. And the stage was raked, which means it was like. So you can imagine what happened to this.

[Stephen Colbert]

Trickling. Do you know, do you know.

[Leslie Manville]

What an American audience, the fans are laughing. They.

[Stephen Colbert]

Like. Do you know what would happen with an American audience.

[Leslie Manville]

There?

[Stephen Colbert]

No. They would have applauded. So, so lovely to meet you. Thank you so much for being.

[Leslie Manville]

Here. Thank.

[Stephen Colbert]

You. Tickets for oedipus at Studio 54 are available now. Leslie Mandrill, 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 YouTube ch channel for more clips and exclusives. Everything you've done has come to this. The biggest and wildest mission yet is now streaming. I need you to trust me one last time. Tom Cruise, Mission Impossible the final reckoning. Rated BT13. Now streaming on Paramount.

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[Stephen Colbert]

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[Stephen Colbert]

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[Leslie Manville]

Story. Oh, my.

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