Excited to take a plunge into the world of acting with his new show, James Corden says he loves to challenge himself
James Corden is gearing up to enter a new phase of his career, and this time, his focus will be his acting chops. With his eight-year-long stint as host of The Late Late Show nearing its end, the multifaceted artiste hopes that the next chapter will be an adventurous ride.
His comedy-drama series, Mammals, is a step in that direction. “I’m hoping a [new] phase of my career will start with the show. I am as keen to find out [how things turn out] as you are all,” Corden tells us in an exclusive interview.
For him, parting from the late-night show, which shaped his career, is a monumental move. “At every single step of my career, I have never quite known what was next. I have always enjoyed surprising and challenging myself and trying to see if it’s possible to surprise an audience. I’m excited. It is going to be a real trip,” shares the 44-year-old.
Talking about Mammals, which brings forward the complications of a marriage through the story of a chef who discovers shocking secrets about his pregnant wife, Corden says, “Every one of us is lucky to be in the show as it is written by Jez Butterworth. The dialogues are so beautiful. It is so well crafted. I loved every single second of being involved in it.”
Before this, Corden had also been a part of films such as Peter Rabbit (2018), Cats (2019) and The Prom (2020), for which he received his first Golden Globe nomination for Best Actor. The varied filmography, he feels, is a result of his love for diverse stories. “My passion is collaborating with people. I love stories. I feel like stories are all that we have really got. Stories are just the currency of humanity. It’s about what you do and what story you take from that,” says the actor.
Ask him if he is aware of the upcoming comedy scene in India, and Corden replies, “I would absolutely love to come, pay a visit to the country and see some of India’s comedy. I think Indian culture is incredible, and its imprint lies far and wide.”