Molly Gordon | 'Oh, Hi!'

Summary

The Late Show Pod Show with Stephen Colbert: Episode Featuring Molly Gordon | "Oh, Hi!"

Release Date: July 28, 2025

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Introduction

In this engaging episode of The Late Show Pod Show with Stephen Colbert, host Stephen Colbert welcomes actress Molly Gordon, known for her standout roles in Shiva Baby, The Bear, and her latest project, Ojai. The conversation delves into Molly's extensive background in acting, her creative endeavors, personal anecdotes, and insights into her new film.

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Early Life and Acting Journey

Molly Gordon opens up about her lifelong passion for acting, which began at the tender age of three. She shares memorable experiences from her childhood in community theater:

Molly Gordon [03:27]: "I've been doing community theater since I was three years old."

Stephen expresses fascination with her early start:

Stephen Colbert [03:05]: "Do you remember the first thing you did on stage?"

Molly recounts a humorous yet humble start:

Molly Gordon [03:35]: "I was in the chorus of Cinderella and I fell off the stage."

She further elaborates on her youthful performances, highlighting her boldness even as a child:

Molly Gordon [03:43]: "I kind of did every age inappropriate show you could do by the time I was 15. Like, I did, you know, Into the Woods. I was the witch. I was from Acerra. Kind of brought a sexual energy to that character."

This fearless approach to acting set the foundation for her versatile performances in later roles.

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Improv and The Groundlings Experience

Molly discusses her time with the Children's Groundlings in Los Angeles, an experience that honed her improvisational skills:

Stephen Colbert [04:20]: "So now I understand you did improv too, when you were a little kid, what did you do?"

Molly Gordon [04:25]: "I did Children's Groundlings in LA."

She reflects on how improv provided a creative outlet during her school years:

Molly Gordon [04:45]: "I wasn't always that good at school, so I think having a place where any answer was okay and anything was possible was really good for me."

Molly shares a relatable story about blending her theatrical flair with everyday interactions:

Molly Gordon [05:00]: "Someone would come up to me and they'd be like, 'Hey, mom, let's go to the water park.' And I'd be like, 'Hey, son.'"

This blend of humor and improvisation showcases her natural comedic timing and ability to engage audiences.

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Collaborative Creativity: Theater Camp

Transitioning to her directorial ventures, Molly talks about co-writing, directing, and starring in Theater Camp alongside friend Ben Platt:

Stephen Colbert [05:29]: "You're also a director. You wrote, directed, and starred in the film Theater Camp with your friend."

Molly emphasizes the collaborative spirit of the project, rooted in her childhood experiences:

Molly Gordon [05:49]: "We did community theater together since we were three. Really? Yeah. And the videos in the movie are actually us when we're children performing."

She celebrates the film as a tribute to the joy and chaos of theater:

Molly Gordon [06:07]: "That movie was such a gift. I made it with Ben, Noah, and Nick, and it was this beautiful collaboration and getting to celebrate kind of the insanity and beauty of theater people."

Molly's passion for collaborative art shines through, highlighting the importance of friendship and creativity in her work.

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Upcoming Project: Ojai

Molly introduces her latest film, Ojai, described as a "rom com gone wrong," set to release in theaters:

Molly Gordon [07:40]: "I would describe it as a rom com gone wrong."

She discusses the inspiration behind the film, citing influences from classic romantic comedies and her personal tastes:

Stephen Colbert [08:01]: "You are exactly my daughter's age. Do you have, like, favorite rom coms that influenced you?"

Molly Gordon [08:12]: "Yeah. I mean, Nora Ephron is everything she is."

Molly shares a touching personal connection with Nora Ephron, who was a family friend and a significant influence on her:

Molly Gordon [08:17]: "She was a family friend of mine... I feel very lucky to have... She reminded me that... 'Do you really feel like yourself with him?' ... 'Okay, then he's the one for you.'"

This mentorship and guidance from Ephron undoubtedly shaped Molly's approach to storytelling and character development in Ojai.

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Personal Reflections and Relationships

Towards the end of the interview, Molly touches upon her personal life, sharing candid insights into her relationships:

Molly Gordon [09:13]: "We're no longer together."

Her openness adds a layer of authenticity to the conversation, allowing listeners to connect with her beyond her professional achievements.

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Conclusion

Stephen Colbert wraps up the interview by promoting Ojai, encouraging listeners to watch the film upon its release:

Stephen Colbert [09:16]: "Molly, thank you so much for being here. Ojai is in theaters this Friday. Molly Gordon, everybody."

Molly's vibrant storytelling and genuine demeanor make this episode a compelling listen, offering fans a deeper understanding of her artistic journey and personal experiences.

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Notable Quotes

• On her first stage experience:

  "I was in the chorus of Cinderella and I fell off the stage." [03:35]

• On the influence of improv:

  "Having a place where any answer was okay and anything was possible was really good for me." [04:45]

• On Theater Camp:

  "We made it where, you know, I don't know, the world's so messed up and, like, the Internet and you don't want to make art from that place." [06:22]

• On Nora Ephron's mentorship:

  "She was very close to my mom and to have grown up with her presence." [08:17]

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This episode offers a comprehensive look into Molly Gordon's life, blending humor, heartfelt stories, and professional insights, making it a valuable listen for fans and newcomers alike.

Transcript

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[Molly Gordon]

It'S the late Show Poncho with Stephen Colbert.

[Stephen Colbert]

Welcome back, everybody. Ladies and gentlemen, my next guest is an actor, you know, from Shiva Baby Theater Camp and the Bear. She now stars in Ojai.

[Molly Gordon]

There's a man staring at us.

[Stephen Colbert]

What?

[Molly Gordon]

There's a man staring at us. Hello there.

[Stephen Colbert]

This is not your playground.

[Molly Gordon]

What?

[Stephen Colbert]

It is illegal to have sexual intercourse in public. We're not having sex. Do you think I just fell off a turnip truck?

[Molly Gordon]

I'm wearing a one piece, sir. It's kind of impossible to pull that.

[Stephen Colbert]

That was weird.

[Molly Gordon]

I forgot to mention I invited my ex.

[Stephen Colbert]

Please welcome to the Late Show, Molly Gordon. Hi, Aya. Hey.

[Molly Gordon]

Hey.

[Stephen Colbert]

Nice to meet you. Welcome to the show.

[Molly Gordon]

So lovely to meet you.

[Stephen Colbert]

People, people, go ahead. No, I don't want to interrupt you.

[Molly Gordon]

You are the North Star. I just wanted to say that.

[Stephen Colbert]

Oh, you're very nice.

[Molly Gordon]

Yeah, you're very nice.

[Stephen Colbert]

This is your water.

[Molly Gordon]

Thank you.

[Stephen Colbert]

Your most wonderful.

[Molly Gordon]

This is not. This is not Steve. Steve's water. This is my water.

[Stephen Colbert]

Steve Buscemi's water. This is your water.

[Molly Gordon]

I would drink it either way.

[Stephen Colbert]

So would I. Wasemi, come on.

[Molly Gordon]

Come on.

[Stephen Colbert]

So people have gotten to know you over the years for things like Booksmart, your sort of scene. Stealing character in Booksmart. Rami. And of course, the bear. I understand. But I understand you've been acting forever. You were acting as a kid, right?

[Molly Gordon]

Not professionally yet, but I've been doing community theater since I was three years old. Wow. Yeah.

[Stephen Colbert]

Do you remember the first thing you did on stage?

[Molly Gordon]

I was in the chorus of Cinderella and I fell off the stage.

[Stephen Colbert]

No.

[Molly Gordon]

Yeah.

[Stephen Colbert]

That's fantastic. Please tell me there's a video.

[Molly Gordon]

Yes, there are many videos. Yeah. I kind of did every age inappropriate show you could do by the time I was 15. Like, I did, you know, into the Woods. I was the witch. I was from Acera. Kind of brought a sexual energy to that character. And Fiddler. Yeah. Which some people don't play it that way. I kind of did at the age of. At the age of six.

[Stephen Colbert]

But yeah, things are very sexy in the shtetl. They really are. Layers of wool.

[Molly Gordon]

It gets hot underneath that sunrise, sunset.

[Stephen Colbert]

So now I understand you did improv too, when you were a little kid, what did you do?

[Molly Gordon]

I did children's Groundlings in.

[Stephen Colbert]

Oh, out in la.

[Molly Gordon]

Yeah.

[Stephen Colbert]

Is that where you're from?

[Molly Gordon]

I'm from la.

[Stephen Colbert]

Okay.

[Molly Gordon]

Yeah.

[Stephen Colbert]

How old are you when you're doing the Groundlings?

[Molly Gordon]

Kind of like 11 to 13.

[Stephen Colbert]

Okay, that's fine. I thought it was like three year olds. Three year olds was like, that's an insufferable child.

[Molly Gordon]

Yeah, that would be.

[Stephen Colbert]

No, 11 or 12. That's fine. Sure. Midnight basketball league.

[Molly Gordon]

Exactly.

[Stephen Colbert]

Yeah.

[Molly Gordon]

And yeah, I loved it. I wasn't always that good at school, so I think having a place where any answer was okay and anything was possible was really good for me. And then. But yeah. Yes. And was a little troubling for me at that age, I think. Oh, yeah. My teacher pulled me aside. I was taken out of class. Cause she was like, you're turning everything into a flirty scene. Someone would come up to me and they'd be like, hey, mom, let's go to the water park. And I'd be like, hey, son.

[Stephen Colbert]

Hey, man. It seems to have worked out.

[Molly Gordon]

Yeah. So I had to learn that you could bring other colors to an improv scene. Yeah.

[Stephen Colbert]

Good few. Well, you're also a director. You wrote, directed, and starred in the film Theater Camp with your friend. With your friend Ben Platt. And you and Ben were in theater camp together.

[Molly Gordon]

Yeah, we did community theater together since we were three. Really? Yeah. And the videos in the movie are actually us when we're children performing.

[Stephen Colbert]

Oh, that's fantastic.

[Molly Gordon]

He was better than me at that age. He was always brilliant. I, you know, I've found my way as I've gotten older. But, yeah, that movie was such a gift. I made it with Ben, Noah, and Nick, and it was this beautiful collaboration and getting to celebrate kind of the insanity and beauty of theater people.

[Stephen Colbert]

I never did theater camp. It was sleepover or just day camp.

[Molly Gordon]

Yeah, you go. I went in upstate New York and you sleepover and. Yeah. I'm sorry to keep going back to this, but it's a bunch of horny, you know, theater kids.

[Stephen Colbert]

Sure.

[Molly Gordon]

And kind of just celebrating the joy of performance and feelings and. Yeah. I had my first kiss there. The guy was like, I'm gay immediately. And I was like, cool, that's great.

[Stephen Colbert]

Yeah.

[Molly Gordon]

Well, yeah. And that came up as a theme, you know, throughout my life, but sure, yeah.

[Stephen Colbert]

Was that the first thing you directed?

[Molly Gordon]

Yes, I co directed that movie with Nick. But, yeah, I've always. I've always wanted to make things and collaborate with my friends. And I think there was kind of an uninhibited quality, like when I was a kid of creating things, and I wanted this movie to feel like that where, you know, I don't know, the world's so messed up and, like, the Internet and you don't want to make art from that place. You want to just make it when you're collaborating with your friends and you're making each other laugh. So that was kind of what this movie was. But, yeah, I've been, you know, I remember my dad when he got a video camera, I bossing him around and being like, daddy, turn it around to me and then let me take it and let me video you. So I've ruined all of the home movies with that. Yeah.

[Stephen Colbert]

Your new film is called Ojai, which is the clip we just saw there with a creepy David Cross. It comes out in theaters on Friday. What's that about?

[Molly Gordon]

It is. I would describe it as a rom com gone wrong.

[Stephen Colbert]

A rom com?

[Molly Gordon]

Yeah. Is that a dad joke?

[Stephen Colbert]

Yeah.

[Molly Gordon]

Great.

[Stephen Colbert]

You. You are ex. Exactly my daughter's age. Do you have, like, favorite rom coms like, that influenced you?

[Molly Gordon]

Yeah. I mean, Nora Ephron is everything she is.

[Amazon Advertiser]

Of course.

[Stephen Colbert]

She's the great. Did you ever get a chance to meet her?

[Molly Gordon]

Yeah, she was a family friend of mine and. Wow. Yeah.

[Stephen Colbert]

Wow.

[Molly Gordon]

I feel very lucky to have. She was very close to my mom and to have grown up with her presence. And you know what I learned from her was always order something for the table, which is so important, over order. And. Yeah, she said to me, when you. My mom was just saying this. My mom's here backstage. And she just said. She reminded me that Nora was like. She asked me about my 8th grade boyfriend. She's like, molly, do you really feel like yourself with him? And I said, yes. And she's like, okay, then he's the one for you.

[Stephen Colbert]

That's very sweet. So you married this guy?

[Molly Gordon]

We have children and we live on a farm. Yeah, yeah. No, but I. I want to shout him out tonight. No, he's a wonderful man.

[Stephen Colbert]

Sure, sure.

[Molly Gordon]

We're no longer together.

[Stephen Colbert]

Molly, thank you so much for being here. Ojai is in theaters this Friday. Molly Gordon, 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 channel for more clips and exclusives.

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