Top 20 Celeb Interview Moments of the Century So Far

If there’s one thing Jimmy Fallon is known for, it’s breaking out into fits of laughter. But rarely is the laughter as contagious as it was during this interview with Bradley Cooper, who was promoting his starring role in the Broadway revival of “The Elephant Man.” The host and the actor are wearing visors with silly wigs, and it gets to the point where they can’t even finish a sentence without cracking up. The contrast between their guffawing and the serious subject matter isn’t lost on them, but the laughs don’t stop. This might’ve not gone according to plan, but it’s a lot of fun to watch.

“The Graham Norton Show” stands out from other celebrity talk shows with its panel setup and tendency for unpredictable moments. But one guest may have gone too far. When Mark Wahlberg appeared on the show in 2013, it was visibly clear that he had one drink too many. He interrupts guests Sarah Silverman and Michael Fassbender, keeps pulling the lever on a woman during her Red Chair segment story, and even gets into Norton's lap and starts touching him inappropriately. Oh, and he later falls asleep, which was probably a relief to everyone else. Wahlberg claimed he and Silverman had planned this in advance. It didn’t hurt his relationship with the show too much, as he’s returned numerous times since.

When Nicki Minaj released her album “Queen” in 2018, everyone was talking about one song in particular. On “Barbie Dreams,” the rapper discusses encounters with various male hip-hop figures that are as raunchy as they are hilarious. During Minaj’s appearance on “The Late Show” in 2018, host Stephen Colbert comments on his lack of mention in the song. Not one to back down from a challenge, Minaj launches into some Stephen-related bars, giving the song a talk show twist. And to establish the line between truth and lyrics, she gives a heartfelt shoutout to Colbert’s wife. What talk show appearance isn’t improved by a rap freestyle?

“Blade Runner 2049” isn’t exactly a movie that’s full of laugh-out-loud moments. But if you saw stars Ryan Gosling and Harrison Ford promoting it on British morning show “This Morning,” you might’ve thought it was the comedy event of the year. When discussing the film, Gosling, Ford, and host Alison Hammond cannot contain their laughter, and neither can we. Some drinks are poured, which adds to the merriment. The best part is arguably seeing the famously serious Ford show his goofier side. Growing older doesn't have to mean growing up. With chemistry this good, we hope to see these two in another movie soon - hopefully a comedy.

It’s not every reality TV contestant who becomes a celebrity outside of the show. When famed Omarosa Manigault Newman appeared on Wendy Williams’ talk show in 2008, the drama rivaled anything from her time on “The Apprentice.” Things are tense right away, with Newman saying she “will not be disrespected.” There’s some initial cordiality, but things eventually get heated. Newman suggests Williams is “reinforcing stereotypes,” and accuses her of talking behind people’s backs. She also asks a visibly annoyed Williams if she’s had a nose job and throws in a barb about her wig. This was less of an interview and more of a televised game of passive-aggression.

Legendary comedian Joan Rivers was famous for her sharp tongue, which she knew how to use to defend herself. In a CNN interview promoting her book “Diary of a Mad Diva,” Rivers sparred with host Fredricka Whitfield over things like her roasting of celebrities’ red carpet looks and her potentially facing wrath from animal rights activists for wearing fur. She leaves the interview soon after it starts, but not before giving a furious reprimand to Whitfield and calling her out for hypocrisy. Even late in her life, Joan Rivers never lost the passion and personality that was uniquely hers.

#14: Oprah Winfrey with Lance Armstrong “Oprah Prime” (2012-15)

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When news first broke that seven-time consecutive Tour de France winner Lance Armstrong had been doping, there was widespread anger, confusion, and frustration. It wasn’t until the retired cyclist sat down with Oprah Winfrey that he finally admitted, after years of denial, that he had been using performance-enhancing substances to help him win these competitions. Winfrey questions Armstrong like she's a prosecutor in a courtroom, asking close-ended questions that he can't avoid. Winfrey also confronts Armstrong on his history of dishonesty, and he admits to the situation as being "one big lie." Many believed Armstrong still wasn’t being entirely honest with Winfrey, but this interview is still a sobering reminder that supposed heroes are only human.

#13: Ryan Seacrest with Sacha Baron Cohen “E!” (2012)

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Any experienced reporter knows to have their guard up around Sacha Baron Cohen. That’s doubly true when he’s playing one of his comedic characters. At the Oscars, Cohen showed up as Admiral General Aladeen, his character from “The Dictator,” and caused chaos on the red carpet. In an interview with Ryan Seacrest, Cohen said that he was carrying the ashes of North Korean dictator Kim Jong-il. And if you’re watching the vase, you know it’s bound to spill at any moment. The ashes - whatever they are - are poured all over Seacret's tuxedo, and Cohen is promptly ushered away. It might have annoyed Seacrest, but it sure made us laugh.

The life of a famous actor must be exhausting, especially when you’re promoting your latest movie. In this interview for magician heist thriller “Now You See Me,” stars Michael Caine and Morgan Freeman shared some behind-the-scenes tidbits with Seattle’s “Q13 News This Morning.” Well, it was more Caine doing the sharing, as Freeman wasn’t exactly in a talkative state of mind. He wasn’t exactly in a conscious state of mind, either. While Caine is talking, Freeman is looking like he's in a very blissful sleep. He's awake at some points, but it's clear Freeman is exhausted. We hope he got to climb into a very comfortable bed soon after.

#11: “The View” with Danny Devito “The View” (1997- )

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Plenty of people have had fun nights out in which they drink a little too much, but they usually don’t have talk show appearances scheduled for the next day. While promoting his Christmas comedy “Deck the Halls” on “The View,” actor Danny Devito talked about spending the previous evening out with George Clooney. And by the looks of it, the party hadn’t ended for Devito. He has no apparent filter, even mocking then-president George W. Bush for an extended period and telling a raunchy story involving the White House’s Lincoln bedroom. You might not remember “Deck the Halls,” but you’ll never forget this interview.

Robin Williams appearing on a talk show was a must-see event, and the late actor had especially great chemistry with Craig Ferguson. In this “Late Late Show” episode promoting animated sequel “Happy Feet Two,” we got everything we’d hope for from a Robin Wiliams interview and more. There were hilarious anecdotes, including ones involving other comedy legends, impressions, and audience interactions. Ferguson doesn’t just sit back and let Williams riff alone, however. He perfectly matches his energy, and it’s clear they could talk for hours without any awkward silence. This was one interview worth staying up extra-late for..

There are some unspoken rules of interviewing, including making sure you know who it is you’re talking to. During an interview with Samuel L. Jackson about the “Robocop” remake, KTLA anchor Sam Rubin made a major blunder when he referred to a recent Super Bowl commercial, one that Jackson wasn’t in. Rubin had evidently gotten Jackson mixed up with another prominent Black actor, Laurence Fishburne. Jackson reprimanded Rubin for his confusion, and he wasn't going to let it go easily. With his faux pas, a standard local news interview became something much more memorable, as well as also more uncomfortable.

In 2015, Robert Downey Jr. was interviewed by Channel 4’s Krishnan Guru-Murthy to promote “Avengers: Age of Ultron.” But instead of discussing the epic superhero sequel, Guru-Murthy thought it better to focus on Downey’s past, including his past substance abuse issues, his father, and an interview he'd done with the New York Times seven years prior. Downey Jr. was clearly displeased at Guru-Murthy's attempt to get overly personal and chose to cut the interview short by walking out. He has no apparent regrets about his decision to leave, later telling Howard Stern that he wished he had left sooner.

In the previous interview, Robert Downey Jr. said things were getting “a little Diane Sawyer.” That was an apt comparison, as few reporters can really get personal with their subjects like Sawyer. Take this 2015 interview with gold medalist Caitlyn Jenner, who revealed her true gender identity after much speculation. Saying that she was a woman with "the soul of a female," Jenner spoke candidly about her experience with being transgender. This was a watershed moment for the trans community, which had never had a representative with such worldwide recognition as Jenner. While transgender people are still widely misunderstood, this interview helped to better explain the trans experience.

It’s always nice to see actors enjoying themselves in interviews, but in this one, with website Rotten Tomatoes, Paul Rudd and Jason Segel seem to be really enjoying themselves. While promoting their bromantic comedy, “I Love You, Man,” the actors looked remarkably at ease and started laughing hysterically at all kinds of things. It's not clear exactly what initially caused their giggles, but some speculate there might have been something green involved. This interview functions as great promotion for their movie, as it shows these two have the kind of chemistry best friends need to have.

Following the British royal family is like watching a real-life soap opera, and one of the most talked-about developments came in 2020. Harry and Meghan, Duke and Duchess of Sussex, announced they would be stepping down as working members of the family and moving to North America. This sparked much talk about the decision and its greater implications. A year later, Harry and Meghan sat down with Oprah Winfrey to discuss the why. The revealing interview covered sensitive topics such as racism, mental health, and the enormous restrictions they endured as members of the royal family. While life as royalty may seem like nothing but glamour on the outside, this interview shows there are actual humans behind all of the extravagance.

Interviewers often try to flatter their guests. That wasn’t the case, however, when Barbara Walters interviewed the Kardashian sisters and their mother, Kris Jenner, for her “10 Most Fascinating People” special in 2011. Walters acknowledged the huge cultural impact the family had made, but also offered one particularly blunt assessment, saying they lacked any talent. This interview is eye-opening in terms of how it examines modern celebrity culture and what it takes to be famous. The Kardashian family has become an American dynasty, and more than a decade after this interview, we’re as fascinated with them as ever.

#3: Ellen DeGeneres with Dakota Johnson “The Ellen DeGeneres Show” (2003- )

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On her daytime talk show, Ellen DeGeneres has presented an image of kindness and friendliness. But moments like this one have cast a not-so-flattering light on her. In an interview with Dakota Johnson, DeGeneres asked the actress about her recent 30th birthday party, bringing up how she hadn’t been invited. Johnson quickly refuted that claim, saying that DeGeneres had been invited. DeGeneres doesn’t appear entirely convinced, but Johnson remains confident, telling her to “ask everybody,” including her producer. In this moment, what should’ve been a private personal matter was displayed in front of millions of viewers, and Johnson handled an unprovoked confrontation with poise.

#2: Charlie Sheen with Andrea Canning (2011) “Good Morning America” (1975- )

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When Charlie Sheen was let go from the hit sitcom "Two and a Half Men" for outrageous behavior and comments off-set, it felt like seeing a trainwreck in front of our very eyes. No moment captures this fall from grace better than his appearance on “Good Morning America” that same year. Shortly before his contract was terminated, Sheen was interviewed by Andrea Canning, displaying behavior she described as “erratic.” He denied being bipolar, saying he was "bi-winning" and that he was "on a drug called Charlie Sheen." He also discusses his history of substance abuse, saying that he has "tiger blood" to explain his endurance. He may have been fired from one series, but the Charlie Sheen show kept going.

#1: Oprah Winfrey with Tom Cruise (2005) “The Oprah Winfrey Show” (1986-2011)

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Interviews are usually notable for what the guests say. But this one made headlines for what someone did. When Tom Cruise appeared on Oprah Winfrey’s daytime talk show in 2005, his romance with actress Katie Holmes was the talk of the tabloids. And he affirmed his love in a way we'd never seen before or since, expressing jubilation that verged on frightening. The most iconic moment came when Cruise jumped on Winfrey's couch, and then did it again. Even Winfrey, an experienced interviewer, seems overwhelmed by this, especially when Cruise grabs her hands. In one interview, our perception of one of the biggest celebrities in history had changed.