Stephen Presents: Julia Roberts

Summary

The Late Show Pod Show with Stephen Colbert

Episode: Stephen Presents: Julia Roberts
Release Date: July 9, 2025

---

Introduction to Celebrity Boss Segment

Timestamp: 02:00 - 10:00

The episode kicks off with Becca, the podcast producer, reintroducing the "Celebrity Boss" segment—a playful take where celebrities discuss their lifestyles from their unique perspectives. This segment sets a lighthearted tone, allowing Stephen Colbert to engage in amusing and candid conversations about everyday experiences as a celebrity.

Notable Quotes:

• Becca (02:02): "It's time to play Celebrity Boss again."
• Stephen Colbert (06:07): "No, but they know I'm a middle-aged man somehow."

During this segment, Stephen shares anecdotes about commuting in New York City, reminiscing about his early days before his show. He humorously details his reliance on the subway, contrasting it with his experiences on long-distance buses in Chicago.

Highlights:

• Commuting Tales: Stephen reflects on his subway rides in New York, mentioning, "Subway all the time. I still ride the subway all the time," providing a glimpse into his daily routines outside the limelight.
• Life Hacks Discussion: The conversation takes a quirky turn as Becca and Stephen discuss random life hacks, showcasing Stephen's playful side. For instance, Stephen jokes about an Instagram algorithm knowing his personal quirks: "They know I've got bad knees because they're feeding me knee videos."

Transition to Main Interview with Julia Roberts

Timestamp: 10:00 - 19:59

The episode smoothly transitions to the main feature—an in-depth interview with Academy Award-winning actress Julia Roberts. Stephen welcomes Julia with his characteristic humor and charm, setting the stage for an engaging conversation.

Notable Quotes:

• Stephen Colbert (12:14): "You are in for a treat because my guest tonight is an Academy Award-winning actress."
• Julia Roberts (12:43): "Oh, why, thank you, dear. And could you please get a martini for Ms. McClendon?"

Highlights:

• Julia's New Role: Julia discusses her portrayal of Martha Mitchell in the new series Gaslit, delving into the historical context of Watergate and Martha's influential role. She explains, "She was a pioneer of women speaking their mind at a time and in a position where she wouldn't have."
• Behind-the-Scenes Insights: Julia shares intriguing behind-the-scenes stories, including her long-term friendship with Sean Penn. She humorously describes their on-set dynamics: "George brings the tequila. Obviously. He's everything that you think he is. He is more than that."

Exploring Julia Roberts’ Career and Personal Insights

Timestamp: 19:00 - 29:50

The conversation deepens as Stephen and Julia explore her illustrious career, personal anecdotes, and perspectives on fame and relationships.

Notable Quotes:

• Julia Roberts (16:03): "What surprised me the most in my research was to discover that she actually had a lot of anxiety being in front of people."
• Stephen Colbert (29:42): "We have to take a little bit of a break, but when we come back, I will ask Julia what it's like to..."

Highlights:

• Career Reflections: Julia discusses the challenges and triumphs of her acting career, emphasizing the importance of authenticity and vulnerability in her roles. She states, "She would have been very popular today," referring to Martha Mitchell's outspoken nature.
• Personal Milestones: The duo celebrates Julia's 20 years of marriage, blending humor with heartfelt moments. Julia offers sage advice on marriage: "Maybe it's apologize and then you just start making it up."

Humorous Interlude and Closing Remarks

Timestamp: 29:50 - 30:45

As the interview wraps up, Stephen introduces humorous elements, including playful interactions with Julia about her co-stars and upcoming projects.

Notable Quotes:

• Stephen Colbert (28:39): "Is this the first thing y'all have done together?"
• Julia Roberts (29:50): "There is someone in the audience who is so sweet. And every, like, third thing I've said, they've gone, 'aw.'"

Highlights:

• Upcoming Projects: Julia teases her upcoming romantic comedy with George Clooney, titled Ticket to Paradise, discussing their experience filming in Australia.
• Closing Banter: The episode concludes with light-hearted banter, reinforcing the friendly rapport between Stephen and Julia. Julia remarks, "This is you with your co-star here, the man playing the Attorney General, John Mitchell."

---

Key Takeaways

• Engaging Conversations: The episode offers a blend of humor and insightful discussions, making it both entertaining and informative.
• Behind-the-Scenes Glimpses: Listeners gain unique insights into Julia Roberts' perspectives on her roles, personal life, and the intricacies of maintaining a successful career in Hollywood.
• Humorous Interactions: Stephen Colbert's witty remarks and playful interactions with Julia add a delightful layer of entertainment, enhancing the overall listening experience.

---

This episode of The Late Show Pod Show with Stephen Colbert stands out for its engaging dialogue, authentic interactions, and the seamless blending of humor with meaningful conversations. Whether you're a fan of Stephen, Julia, or simply enjoy insightful celebrity interviews, this episode offers a rich and enjoyable listening experience.

Transcript

[Kristen Bell]

Hi, I'm Kristen Bell, and if you.

[Julia Roberts]

Know my husband Dax, then you also know he loves shopping for a car. Selling a car, not so much.

[Stephen Colbert]

We're really doing this, huh?

[Julia Roberts]

Thankfully, Carvana makes it easy. Answer a few questions, put in your van or license and done. We sold ours in minutes this morning and they'll come pick it up and pay us this afternoon.

[Stephen Colbert]

Bye bye, Truckee.

[Julia Roberts]

Of course, we kept the favorite.

[Stephen Colbert]

Hello, other Truckee.

[Julia Roberts]

Sell your car with Carvana today.

[Kristen Bell]

Terms and conditions apply. Summer break is here, and while kids are excited to hit pause on school, as a parent, you might be wondering how to keep their minds active without killing the summer vibe. Whether your child is trying to catch up, stay sharp or get a head start for the fall, IXL can make learning a seamless part of summer. IXL is an award winning online learning platform that helps kids truly understand what they're learning, whether they're brushing up on math or diving into social studies. It covers math, language arts, science and social studies from Pre K through 12th grade. With content that's engaging, personalized, and yes, actually fun. It's the perfect tool to keep learning going without making it feel like school. Studies show kids who use IXL score higher on tests. This has been proven in almost every state. IXL uses smart technology to tailor support to each child's level, personality and learning pace. So make an impact on your child's learning. Get IXL now. And listeners of this podcast can get an exclusive 20% off IXL membership when they sign up today at ixllearning.com audio. Visit ixllearning.com audio to get the most effective learning program out there at the best price.

[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. In our pop culture moment that we live in. Yes, sure, sure. 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 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]

No, 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. 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 don't know. Probably early aughts.

[Becca]

Yeah.

[Stephen Colbert]

Early aughts before I had 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 is the best way to go.

[Stephen Colbert]

Sure.

[Becca]

Because you're just. You're just. You're blocking.

[Stephen Colbert]

Plus, I got children in Brooklyn, so that's, you know, hopping on there. It's not that hard.

[Becca]

Yeah.

[Stephen Colbert]

But no, I haven't. 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. A 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. Oh, just the sticking. Just sticking to strangers on a bus. Fantastic feeling.

[Becca]

That's what people don't get about Chicago who haven't lived there is. They're like, oh, winter. So cold. It's like.

[Stephen Colbert]

Yeah.

[Becca]

But the summers are also extremely hot.

[Stephen Colbert]

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

[Becca]

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

[Stephen Colbert]

Yeah. 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]

No, I'm not. Yeah. I'm not even saying let's reach out. I'm just saying.

[Stephen Colbert]

No, but they could reach out. They could reach out.

[Becca]

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. Greyhound. 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 don't have to do.

[Stephen Colbert]

Right. No, I don't mind a bus. I got nothing wrong with a Greyhound bus.

[Becca]

Looking out the window, just zoning out, somebody else driving.

[Stephen Colbert]

Yeah, 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]

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.

[Becca]

Oh, they know.

[Stephen Colbert]

Cause I literally, like, I was in the writers meeting yesterday because I was doing PT on my left knee and a hiking injury. Fascinating, Steve. Keep going.

[Becca]

It is.

[Stephen Colbert]

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 that 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 first, 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 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 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. Niente.

[Becca]

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

[Stephen Colbert]

I mean, I buy tickets. I mean, I get house seats sometimes, but I buy them. Like, I don't. I don't I mean, John Groff. Jon Groff, you know, just in time.

[Becca]

Just in time.

[Stephen Colbert]

You know, him doing Bobby Darin. It's kind of a concert. Yeah, it's basically like Bobby Darren tribute concert.

[Becca]

Okay. Yeah.

[Stephen Colbert]

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

[Becca]

Oh, nice.

[Stephen Colbert]

And I think I bought those. I asked for tickets, but I think I bought them. But I don't. I go see, I've bought tickets. I don't know if I bought tickets. I mean, I like. I like Lace 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 our. 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. I was pretty hostile. That was both defensive and hostile at the same time.

[Becca]

He grills Stephen Colbert.

[Stephen Colbert]

No, I list.

[Becca]

You get on 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 gonna be great.

[Stephen Colbert]

I'm very excited. Him and Edie Brickell and.

[Becca]

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

[Stephen Colbert]

Oh, yeah. What he did from Seven Psalms.

[Becca]

Yeah, yeah.

[Stephen Colbert]

And he played that, that, 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 was. It was. It wasn't sufficiently celebrity enough. Ask me, ask me if I. If I'm famous in my dreams.

[Becca]

Are you famous in your dreams?

[Stephen Colbert]

Oh, yeah, 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. They're just saying, you're just so great.

[Becca]

You just wake up. Cuz 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 one's 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. She's.

[Stephen Colbert]

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

[Becca]

It's an ensemble cast. You know, nobody's film. Yeah, it's George's film. Yeah, okay, that's true. That's true. Ocean. Oh, we got. We got Mystic 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. Notting Hill is charming.

[Becca]

That one's also good. Yes, but best friends wedding's 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?

[Becca]

Yeah.

[Stephen Colbert]

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.

[Stephen Colbert]

On the Late show, celebrity on a Scott. Celebrity.

[Becca]

Celebrity.

[Stephen Colbert]

She dreams about herself.

[Becca]

Yeah. Enjoy.

[Stephen Colbert]

Ladies and gentlemen, 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? Oh, no. No, thank you. I don't usually drink with my interview subject, Mr. McCord here. He doesn't drink on the job either. I don't trust him one bit. With a twist.

[Becca]

Thank you.

[Julia Roberts]

Now, where were we?

[Stephen Colbert]

Well, I was.

[Julia Roberts]

Oh, have I shown you my vases? They're Chinese. 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. A vicious rumor. I am the one who introduced Dick to my husband. So there's no concern that you're overshadowing Nixon. You make me sound like an old oak tree. Would you ask such a question to Kissinger?

[Becca]

With all due respect, Kissinger doesn't have.

[Julia Roberts]

A 76% name recognition. With American families, you do. 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 appreciate you.

[Stephen Colbert]

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 violin.

[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. 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 you know, 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.

[Stephen Colbert]

Until they did.

[Julia Roberts]

Until. 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.

[Becca]

Because.

[Julia Roberts]

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, now, as I was saying before, she's from Arkansas and has a pronounced Southern accent. You're from Georgia. I know. Which people forget because you have. No. It's so tall. Well, exactly. Exactly. No, but we don't perceive a Southern accent when you talk. I'm just curious. 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 the.

[Stephen Colbert]

Was it trained out of you?

[Julia Roberts]

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

[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. Yeah. 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. Everybod.

[Julia Roberts]

Get smoother, brighter skin instantly. In one easy step, Dermalogica's daily microfoliant gives you the smooth, glowy skin you.

[Kristen Bell]

Want without damaging your skin barrier.

[Julia Roberts]

This gentle exfoliating powder activates with water to smooth out rough texture and brighten skin.

[Kristen Bell]

It's powerful enough to deliver results, yet.

[Julia Roberts]

Gentle enough to use every single day, even on sensitive skin.

[Kristen Bell]

See the results for yourself.

[Julia Roberts]

Visit dermalogica.com and use code smooth at cart for an exclusive free gift with $65 purchase. This summer, Instacart is bringing back your favorites from 1999 with prices from 1999. That means 90s prices on juice pouches that ought to be respected, 90s prices on box Mac and cheese, and 90s prices on ham, cheese, and cracker lunches. Enjoy all those throwbacks and more at throwback prices only through Instacart. $4.72. Maximum discount per $10 of eligible items. Limit one offer per order expires 95 while supplies last. Discount based on CPI comparison.

[Stephen Colbert]

This is you with your costar 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. Yeah, 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'.

[Becca]

All.

[Stephen Colbert]

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.

[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 to Spicoli?

[Julia Roberts]

Sean Penn? 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. Oh, my God. This is him honoring you and describing a very specific fantasy he has about you. Oh. Worry it's not. It's safe for work, but it's still strange, Jim. 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 say so. Personal fantasy. Sweet. Sweet, but very strange. Very strange at the same time.

[Julia Roberts]

I guess I know what my next film is.

[Stephen Colbert]

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 now streaming. When everything's on the line, real heroes rise to the occasion. TV's hottest show is Fire Country. We're firefighters. We're gonna find a way to get you out of here. We take the hits together.

[Julia Roberts]

We're on the same team.

[Stephen Colbert]

I'm right here with you. No matter what.

[Julia Roberts]

I would never leave you hanging in the deep end.

[Stephen Colbert]

This place is a way of giving you new friends, family, Fire Country. All episodes now streaming on Paramount. Plus, shop 4th of July Savings at the Home Depot right now and get up to 40% off. Plus up to an extra $600 off select appliances with free delivery like Samsung. From all in one washer dryers to smart refrigerators. Upgrade to tech you can trust with Samsung appliances. The Home Depot has what you need to simplify your routine. Don't miss 4th of July appliance savings at the Home Depot. Free delivery on appliance purchases of $396 or more offer valid June 18 through July 9, US only. See store or online for details.

[Julia Roberts]

When you hear Lululemon, you probably think of Align yoga pants. Weightlessly soft, like you're wearing next to nothing.

[Kristen Bell]

That's why you see them in class.

[Julia Roberts]

At the grocery store and in the park.

[Kristen Bell]

But did you know about skirts with.

[Julia Roberts]

Built in liner shorts so you can still jump for the Frisbee and tanks and bodysuits with Align's iconic stretch, you won't want to take it off. And with endless style options, you don't.

[Kristen Bell]

Have to shop in store or [e-mail].

[Stephen Colbert]

You are also getting together to do 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. I mean, it's really.

[Stephen Colbert]

I'd watch George 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.

[Julia Roberts]

We were heavily bubbled. Yes. Heavily bubbled.

[Stephen Colbert]

Yeah.

[Julia Roberts]

George and I were heavily Bubbled. I mean, 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 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 Oceans. 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 and go, 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. 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]

Come on.

[Becca]

Yeah.

[Stephen Colbert]

Number one show. I've been to the house. I've been to the house. Of course you have.

[Julia Roberts]

It goes about saying.

[Stephen Colbert]

Exactly.

[Julia Roberts]

It goes without saying.

[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.

[Julia Roberts]

Oh, I am.

[Stephen Colbert]

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. Yeah.

[Becca]

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.

[Julia Roberts]

You said what I said kissing.

[Stephen Colbert]

You said. Well, I would like to apologize. Apologize to my wife for not 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. The makeup kissing, obviously. Because at this age, making up. Okay.

[Julia Roberts]

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. Madame, 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. Now streaming. When everything's on the line. Real heroes rise to the occasion. TV's hottest show is Fire Country. More firefighters. We're gonna find a way to get you out of here. We take the hits together.

[Julia Roberts]

We're on the same team.

[Stephen Colbert]

I'm right here with you no matter what.

[Julia Roberts]

I would never leave you hanging in the deep end.

[Stephen Colbert]

This place is a way of giving you new family. Fire Country. All episodes now streaming on Paramount plus.