A hit US TV show, internet celebrity, a mansion in Malibu… James Corden is living the American dream. But the star of the new Peter Rabbit movie tells Cole Moreton that he’s homesick…
Who do you think you’re talking to?’ roars James Corden. I’m worried for a moment, then he grins, gazes down at his belly – which has not quite vanished despite a new diet of healthy Los Angeles food and gym workouts – and laughs. ‘Do I look like I’m a victim of body pressure?’
The chunky English actor, writer and comedian can afford to be a bit cocky now he’s an unexpected hit in America – as a chat-show host of all things. Corden has turned The Late Late Show into a must-see TV programme and an internet sensation. He’s conquered the States on his own terms, and without having to change his accent or his looks.
‘I knew how unbelievably ridiculous it was for them to give me this job,’ he says. ‘I didn’t dare dream it would turn out this way.’
Corden is also the voice of Peter Rabbit in a major new movie that mixes live action and animation. It’s another attempt to win over Americans with a bit of cheeky British charm.
Corden is the voice of Peter Rabbit in a major new movie that mixes live action and animation. It’s another attempt to win over Americans with a bit of cheeky British charm
People expect him to be warm and cheeky all the time, which is why movie director Will Gluck asked him to voice Peter Rabbit
‘None of the kids in my son’s class know who Beatrix Potter is,’ he says. ‘Hopefully that will change when the film comes out, and at least one of those kids will go and discover the books. That would be wonderful.’
So how has Corden become Britain’s unofficial ambassador to Hollywood, a major transatlantic success at the age of 39? And why does he seem weary today, dreaming of England and confessing to homesickness? Has he had enough?
The industry was shocked three years ago when Corden was chosen to host The Late Late Show four nights a week, with a mixture of big-name interviews, monologues, sketches and games. Few people in the States had heard of him (other than in movies such as The History Boys and Into The Woods and his comedy series Gavin & Stacey) and certainly not as a chat-show host.
Corden insisted on promoting the show online, turning a 12.30am watch into an anytime internet sensation. ‘I went to speak to the bosses of Google yesterday,’ he tells me. ‘Someone said we had the third- biggest YouTube subscription TV show in the world. I didn’t know that! But it’s probably for the best – the worst thing that can happen is you start to think you’re more of a dude than you really are.’
The key to this achievement has been the record-breaking viral success of Carpool Karaoke, a recurrent segment in which stars such as Adele and Stevie Wonder catch a lift with Corden and sing along to their hits. The Adele clip alone has had more than 176 million views on YouTube. ‘Oh my God! The success of that is overwhelming!’
Corden has turned The Late Late Show into a must-see TV programme. He’s conquered the States on his own terms, and without having to change his accent or his looks
Now Carpool Karaoke is a series in its own right on Apple Music, and Corden is under pressure to come up with a new idea that will be just as popular. ‘I don’t know if you ever come up with something like Carpool Karaoke again,’ he says. ‘There are people who have been hosting shows for years who haven’t had a hit like that.’
Three years on, he is worth an estimated £8 million and living in a mansion on the beach in Malibu with his wife, Julia, and their children, Max, six, Carey, three, and a new daughter, Charlotte, born in December. But maybe the pressure is beginning to tell, as Corden admits to wondering how long he can keep up this life in America. ‘I’m almost certain that we won’t live here for ever because… I just don’t think we will,’ he says. ‘This point right now is the only time since we moved here when I’ve experienced genuine homesickness.’
But the new baby and his relentless schedule will keep the family in America until the summer. ‘This will have been an 11-month stretch when we’ve not been home.’
Isn’t LA a lovely place to live? Surprisingly, he answers in the past tense. ‘It was. For a while it’s lovely. For a time it’s great. With young kids it feels like a really great place to live. But then? I don’t know.’
That sounds like he may be planning an exit when his chat-show contract ends in 2020. ‘A lot of it is psychological. You think we would be like, “Ah, this is the life”, and I’m unbelievably conscious that this is all great, amazing. But at some point – and this is just life – the phone is going to ring and in that instant we’re going to feel a million miles away from people who might need us. That’s what weighs on my mind.’
Corden’s parents, Malcolm and Margaret, are getting on, and he dreads the call to say something is wrong. ‘That starts to inform your decision, when you think about what the future may or may not hold.’ He flew his parents, sisters, nieces and nephews over for Christmas at his own expense. ‘The money is lovely, but time is the only thing that actually exists. It’s the only currency you’re ever dealing with, and all you’ve got is this point right now. Time with people, time to do stuff – it’s the only thing that matters.’
The industry was shocked three years ago when Corden was chosen to host The Late Late Show four nights a week. Above: Corden on the show with David Beckham
He lives with his wife, Julia, and their children, Max, six, Carey, three, and a new daughter, Charlotte. Above: with his wife, Julia, at the 2015 Emmy Awards
He rubs his stubble and runs a hand through his big quiff. Corden is wearing laceless trainers, dark trousers and a polo shirt.
People expect him to be warm and cheeky all the time, which is why movie director Will Gluck asked him to voice Peter Rabbit. ‘I felt quite reticent about it at first, because it’s just such a beloved piece of British heritage,’ says Corden. ‘Will came back saying, “No, we’ve sent the script to the Beatrix Potter estate, they really love it, and this is the first time they’ve ever given permission to anybody to make a film of it.” ’
The first trailer had a cheesy American voiceover and got a kicking from British critics, one of whom said that Potter would be spinning in her grave at the sight of Peter Rabbit twerking. ‘Well, yeah. I don’t know this for sure but I’m assuming that anyone who wrote that is over the age of 30. White males, I’d think,’ he says disdainfully. But Beatrix Potter’s granddaughter has also expressed concern.
‘Really? I don’t know what to say to that. You can’t keep everybody happy. I’m almost certain that because of this film more children will read Beatrix Potter stories in the next 18 months than will have done in the previous 18 months – whatever the critics think about it.’
There’s been a rumour the rabbit will rap. Is that true? ‘No, in fact he sings a song at the very end of the film.’ Subsequent trailers and teasers have suggested a much more British movie. Daisy Ridley and Matt Lucas feature as the voices of other rabbits; Rose Byrne is an animal-loving human and Domhnall Gleeson plays Peter’s nemesis Thomas McGregor (son of Mr McGregor in the books).
How personal is all this to him? ‘I remember reading the books in Sunday school at the Salvation Army. I loved that Peter was mischievous and naughty. That’s how you feel when you’re seven or eight. When someone tells you not to touch something, all that goes through your brain is, “What will happen if I touch it? I should touch it…” ’
Has he read the books to his own children? ‘Absolutely. My son is bursting with excitement to see the film. He asks about it far more than anything else I’ve ever done in my life. It’s the only time he’s ever shown any real interest in what I do.’
Corden’s morning commute takes 40 minutes, and he uses that time to call friends at home. The rest of the time he’s ‘really busy, because it’s an hour of new television every day. Myself and executive producer Ben Winston have 140 people working for us.’
What’s it like being a British TV host in Trump’s America? ‘You’ve got to earn the right to be a voice in the conversation.’ Above: performing in One Man, Two Guvnors
So how did he get this job in the first place? ‘I had a phone call asking, “Is this something you’d be interested in?” I said, “No, not at all.” I said no about three times. Then the chairman of CBS got me on the phone. Julia and I were about to have our second child. I just thought, “What am I doing? Who am I to turn down such a thing?” ’
Had he tired of movie-making? ‘I just didn’t want to leave my family any more. I didn’t enjoy going off to Atlanta for three months, then Manchester, then who knows where. I felt like, here’s a job where I can build something in the most creative way possible, where I’ll get to be at home and be around my family. So that was that.’
The challenge was huge, but Corden could already deliver jokes, act in sketches and sing beautifully, even if Americans were unaware of it. ‘We realised we could use the element of discovery – there’s nothing better than feeling like you’ve discovered somebody new and great.’ His real genius was to insist on promoting the show online. ‘Historically, the 12.30am slot was for students and insomniacs. It’s the same audience now – they just consume their content in a different way.’
What’s it like being a British TV host in Trump’s America?
‘You’ve got to earn the right to be a voice in the conversation. Imagine if some American guy came onto British TV and started talking about post-Brexit Britain. The people of Hull, Plymouth, Newcastle and Oxfordshire would go, “What would you know? You didn’t grow up here! And don’t think that just because you live in London you know what represents Britain.” In the same way, living in Los Angeles is not a reflection of what America is or stands for.’
The show’s most successful section, Carpool Karaoke, began life in the UK, when Corden and George Michael did a sketch for Comic Relief, driving around singing Wham! songs. ‘It wouldn’t exist without him and his ability to laugh at himself. No question.’
Carpool Karaoke, began life in the UK, when Corden and George Michael did a sketch for Comic Relief, driving around singing Wham! songs. Above: Karaoke with Stevie Wonder
What’s his favourite Carpool Karaoke so far? ‘Probably Bruno Mars. I’m such a fan of his.’ Above: Karaoke with Adele
What’s his favourite Carpool Karaoke so far? ‘Probably Bruno Mars. I’m such a fan of his.’
Anybody he wants but hasn’t been able to get? ‘So many. Taylor Swift, Beyoncé, Bruce Springsteen, Billy Joel, Barbra Streisand… The list goes on.’
He seems restless. Can’t he relax and enjoy this life now? ‘Absolutely not. I feel like I’ve got to keep going, keep working. It never stops, you’ve got to keep feeding this machine with as many ideas as you can.’ What would he like to achieve next? ‘Mostly I’d just like to have another idea. I’d settle for that today!’
How long can he go on doing what he’s doing? ‘I’ve no idea. I’ve got two-and-a-bit years to go on my contract… it might not be my choice. I’ve never wanted a career that was predictable. I’m absolutely loving it right now but I’ll be disappointed in myself if I don’t do another play at some point. Who knows what will happen? It’s not something I need to think about right now, and that’s a good thing,’ says Corden, looking as relieved as a rabbit who’s just found a lettuce leaf.
‘Peter Rabbit’ is released on March 16