‘She misbehaved – she was rude to my guests’: Sir Michael Parkinson speaks about THAT controversial interview with actress Meg Ryan
Hollywood actress Meg Ryan had an excruciating appearance on Sir Michael Parkinson’s BBC chat show in 2003 while promoting her film ‘In The Cut’.
And Sir Michael, 85, has explained why he believes the star gave him such an icy reception with one-word answers and irritated expressions.
The talk show veteran told Australia’s Stellar magazine on Sunday: ‘Oh, beautiful Meg. She misbehaved – she was rude to my guests and gave the impression of not being very happy.’
‘She misbehaved – she was rude to my guests’: Sir Michael Parkinson (Pictured in 2019) has spoken about THAT controversial interview with actress Meg Ryan in 2003
Best known for hosting his own talk show, Parkinson, from 1971 to 1982 and from 1998 to 2007, the British TV icon has interviewed his fair share of impressive guests.
‘There was very good reason; she was in a film that didn’t do very well and was at the end of a long tour and couldn’t wait to get home, so there you are,’ he claimed of Meg’s chat more than a decade earlier.
Sir Michael also joked that while they haven’t stayed in touch to share festive greetings over the holiday seasons, they don’t harbor hate either.
‘There was very good reason; she was in a film that didn’t do very well’: The talk show veteran told Australia’s Stellar magazine on Sunday that he believed Meg Ryan (right) gave him a frosty reception on his BBC talk show due to her film ‘In The Cut’ not doing well at the time
Best known for hosting his own talk show, Parkinson, from 1971 to 1982 and from 1998 to 2007, the British TV icon has interviewed his fair share of impressive guests
In 2006, three years after the interview, the Hollywood actress branded the chat show host a ‘nut’ over their infamous TV encounter.
Speaking to Marie Claire at the time, she claimed the awkward interview was Parkinson’s fault.
The star of When Harry Met Sally said: ‘I don’t even know the man. That guy was like some disapproving father! It’s crazy. I don’t know what he is to you guys, but he’s a nut.’
‘I felt like he was berating me for being naked in the movie. He said something like: “You should go back to doing what you were doing”‘ And I thought, are you like a disapproving dad right now? I’m not even related to you. Back off, buddy. I was so offended by him.’
Australian favourites: Sir Michael was quick to name comedic actors Paul Hogan and Barry Humphries (pictured as drag queen alter ego Dame Edna) among his most enjoyable chats
During the Stellar chat, Sir Michael listed his 1974 interview with late American actor Orson Welles as one of his most treasured.
Of his Australian favourites, he was quick to name comedic actors Paul Hogan and Barry Humphries among his most enjoyable interviews.
Sir Michael is set to release his new book, Like Father, Like Son: A Family Story, which he penned with his son Mike Parkinson, on Tuesday.
Read more: In this week’s issue of Stellar Magazine