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When Hollywood stars face the people they’re parodying, things get hilariously awkward in the best way possible. Join us as we celebrate the most memorable celebrity impressions from “The Graham Norton Show,” featuring spot-on accents, dead-on mannerisms, and priceless reactions from the real-life icons themselves. Which mimicry made you laugh the hardest? Tell us in the comments!
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00:00We're on the Graham Norton Show, and I have some friends here.
00:04Oh no! Quick, I'll be back.
00:06Welcome to Ms. Mojo, and today we're counting down our picks for guests on the Graham Norton Show
00:10who delivered the most entertaining impersonations.
00:13It's me, Matthew McConaughey. I'm gonna tell you a bedtime story.
00:16We'll be looking at stars parodying other actors, so get ready to be impressed.
00:21Number 20. Emily Blunt does Tom Cruise
00:23No one would want to do impressions after the granddaddy of animated voices Seth MacFarlane,
00:28but the results are pretty hilarious.
00:31Emily Blunt? I heard you earlier. You do do a TC, don't you?
00:34After the creator of Family Guy had blown the audience away with the voices of the characters he plays,
00:39Graham passes the torch to Emily Blunt and asks her to do an impression of Tom Cruise.
00:43I feel the need. The need for speed.
00:48Her impression is pretty straight and dead on,
00:51but what's even funnier is Tom's comeback impersonation of Emily.
00:54The two laugh, and he pitches up his voice to a ridiculous degree,
00:57making a hilarious but not necessarily accurate impression of his co-star.
01:02Don't do it.
01:03Don't do it.
01:05Don't do it.
01:07Number 19. Josh Gad does Penelope Cruise
01:10This talented duo shared the screen in the film Murder on the Orient Express.
01:15While on the Graham Norton Show,
01:16their fellow castmate Michelle Pfeiffer revealed that Gad had a habit of doing impressions of Penelope,
01:21as well as her husband Javier Bardem.
01:23The Scarface actress seemingly found it amusing,
01:26but Gad admitted that the Spanish star was not too impressed.
01:29Did Penelope find it funny?
01:30I didn't see it.
01:31Oh, Josh.
01:31No, Penelope, um, she found it the opposite of funny, I think.
01:36Fans, on the other hand, could not get enough.
01:38The Book of Mormon actor was quite spot on in his imitation of the Oscar winner's serious cadence.
01:43Is that really the way you look at what I sound like?
01:46His Javier was no less hilarious, though it might not have been the most accurate.
01:51Penelope, don't make a big deal about what I sound like.
01:54Number 18. Bradley Cooper does Christopher Walken
01:57The Pulp Fiction star's distinct way of speaking is a goldmine for impressionists.
02:01It isn't surprising, then, that he's been parodied by many of his fellow actors,
02:05like Robin Williams, Tina Fey, and Kevin Pollack.
02:08A Christopher Walken impression is always a hit on Saturday Night Live, too.
02:12Despite how common it is to impersonate the Deer Hunter actor,
02:16Bradley Cooper, who was in Wedding Crashers with him,
02:19surprised the audience when he busted out his version.
02:21Sometimes, if you want me to talk, I just, whatever comes into my head, I'll say.
02:27He nailed Walken's rhythmic delivery and had Liam Neeson cracking up.
02:31If it's good enough for the Taken icon, it's good enough for us.
02:34I don't know when or what it's gonna be.
02:36Is that your mom?
02:41Number 17. Tom Hanks does Clint Eastwood
02:44It is a fact universally acknowledged that the Forrest Gump star's talent knows no bounds.
02:50What many might not know is that this talent also extends to impressions.
02:54While on The Graham Norton Show,
02:56the actor recalled his experience working with Clint Eastwood on the film Sully,
03:00which the latter directed.
03:01It turns out, the Dirty Harry legend is surprisingly gentle when directing his actors.
03:05And you just hear, over your shoulder,
03:10All right, go ahead.
03:12Hanks recreated his unconventional approach perfectly for fans to see,
03:17imitating Eastwood's deep husky voice that's both intimidating yet oddly comforting.
03:21However, the best part of the impression was the furrowed eyebrows and the signature squint,
03:26which made it unmistakably Clint.
03:28That's enough of that.
03:30Number 16. Jamie Foxx does Tom Cruise
03:32Yo, I want you to go to read for T.C. in New York.
03:35I said, who? T.C.
03:37I said, all right.
03:38Tom Cruise.
03:39I was like, oh, Tom Cruise?
03:39Early on in his career,
03:41the Ray actor got the chance to audition for Jerry Maguire.
03:44He was set to read with Tom Cruise
03:46and brought some major energy and enthusiasm into the room.
03:49But as I'm reading, I'm loud.
03:52Show me the money.
03:53You know what I mean?
03:55Right?
03:56That's all I'm saying, brother.
03:57Show me the money.
03:59He delivered his dialogues boisterously,
04:01but the Mission Impossible star was impossibly soft-spoken,
04:05which Foxx imitated on The Graham Norton Show.
04:12So I thought he lost his place.
04:15Because I couldn't hear him.
04:16So I said, we're right here.
04:17He says, I know.
04:17I said the line.
04:18I'm waiting on you.
04:18I'm like, oh.
04:19Hilariously, he wasn't even whispering,
04:22but just seemed to mouth the words with that intense T.C. gravity.
04:25The Django Unchained star then recalled how he tried to help Tom find his line,
04:29only to realize that the latter was waiting for him to continue the scene.
04:33While that audition did not go as planned,
04:35the two actors later co-starred in the film Collateral.
04:38Now I'm sweating, you know what I'm saying?
04:40I'm like, I done lost my place.
04:42I done went blind the whole night.
04:43Number 15.
04:44Liam Neeson does Sean Connery.
04:46The Schindler's List actor is known for his versatility.
04:49He's just as fine an action star as he is a comedian.
04:51However, his comedy chops are not just limited to the screen.
04:55During an appearance on The Graham Norton Show,
04:57he recalled prank calling his agent as Sean Connery to get through to him quicker,
05:01and it would work like a charm.
05:03He then showed the audience his impression, and it became clear why.
05:07He copied the Goldfinger star's instantly recognizable accent
05:10and delivered it in his velvety baritone,
05:13making for an uncannily accurate impression.
05:15Hello, this is Sean Connery.
05:18To Ed Lomato, please.
05:20And I'd immediately get through.
05:23We wonder how many times his agent got fooled before he caught on.
05:26How many can this live?
05:29Number 14.
05:30Michael Buble does Matthew McConaughey.
05:32They're both leading figures in their respective fields,
05:35but they also have an unlikely connection.
05:37While appearing on The Graham Norton Show together,
05:40the Sway singer revealed that the interstellar actor
05:42helps the musician fall asleep.
05:44Well, I mean, my wife and I sleep with you almost every night.
05:48Yes.
05:49Yes, yes.
05:50Not physically, obviously, but through sleep stories on a mental health app called Calm,
05:55for which McConaughey is a narrator.
05:57He offered an impression of the actor to demonstrate,
06:00and it was pitch perfect.
06:01And I just hear, well, hello, everybody.
06:05It's me, Matthew McConaughey.
06:07I'm going to tell you a bedtime story.
06:09And I just do this, oh.
06:12From the drawl to the raspy voice and the easy swagger,
06:16Buble checked every box.
06:17He further shared that his wife, Luisana Lopilato,
06:20isn't always pleased with hearing Matthew's voice at bedtime,
06:23but it helps with his insomnia.
06:25She always goes like, you have the man talking again.
06:28The man is talking in the bed again, Mike.
06:32Number 13.
06:33Billy Crystal does Robert De Niro.
06:35You're Robert De Niro, and I'm Joe Pesci.
06:38Let's rehearse.
06:39The Analyze This co-stars are two of the most incredible actors in Hollywood.
06:44While Crystal is a rom-com legend and comic powerhouse,
06:47De Niro is best known for his gritty, hard-edged roles.
06:50So, when the former was cast in Kenneth Branagh's 1996 film Hamlet,
06:54based on William Shakespeare's tragedy of the same name,
06:57he tapped into Robert De Niro's brooding intensity.
07:00While rehearsing with Branagh, who was directing,
07:02he channeled the taxi driver actor with playful exaggeration.
07:05This is Yorick's skull.
07:07This is the skull of Yorick.
07:10Do you know this guy?
07:12Do you know this guy?
07:14Have you ever...
07:14Look at this guy.
07:15Have you ever seen this guy?
07:17Meanwhile, the British filmmaker pretended to be Joe Pesci.
07:20Having steadied his nerves,
07:22Crystal comfortably proceeded with the actual filming.
07:24Years later, he reenacted the absurd trial run on The Graham Norton Show,
07:28imitating both De Niro and Pesci,
07:30earning big laughs.
07:32Well, yeah, I knew him well, Horatio.
07:35You know, I knew him as a jester.
07:37And then he said, okay, that's out of the way, let's shoot.
07:40And then it was fun.
07:41Number 12.
07:41Matthew Broderick does Marlon Brando.
07:44The charming teen icon and the brooding screen titan collaborated on The Freshman in 1990.
07:49When Broderick found out he'd be sharing the screen with The Godfather star,
07:52he was in utter disbelief.
07:54So much so that he didn't think he would even turn up to set.
07:57It didn't help that Brando was approximately four hours late,
08:00though he did apologize for the delay.
08:02The doorbell rang, we all crowded around the door,
08:07director opened it, and Marlon Brando on his knees because he was sorry he was late.
08:13Eventually, the camera started rolling,
08:15but Brando would talk to his assistant through an earpiece in between takes,
08:19which left the younger actor wondering if he was talking to him.
08:22You have to start speaking before he finishes.
08:26You hear a pause, you say, are you talking to me, Marlon?
08:29You've got a magazine in one hand,
08:31and you're not paying attention to the scene.
08:34I'm not paying attention to the scene?
08:38I'm speaking to my assistant.
08:40While recalling the story on The Graham Norton Show,
08:42Matthew parodied his trailblazing co-star,
08:44emphasizing his characteristic unhurried murmur,
08:47making the audience roar with laughter.
08:49That would happen out of nowhere.
08:51You know, he'd be having a conversation.
08:53It was a real conversation.
08:54Number 11.
08:55Steve Coogan does Sylvester Stallone.
08:57Yeah, I used to do a routine about Sly Stallone and Alan Bennett in the same film.
09:01Sly is one of the most commonly parodied actors in the entertainment industry.
09:06After all, his deep, gravelly voice and distinctive cadence are catnip to impressionists.
09:11Among them, Steve Coogan might take the cake for accuracy.
09:14The BAFTA award-winning actor imitated The Italian Stallion on The Graham Norton Show,
09:18and if you close your eyes, you might think Stallone was in the building.
09:22I just had one of those days, you know, and the mother-loving came out of Buster's ass.
09:26What about you?
09:27I had one of those days.
09:29What about you, Alan?
09:30He effortlessly slipped into the Rocky star's baritone
09:32before switching to an equally impressive Alan Bennett impression in a split second.
09:36I went to the corner shop with a package of lemon puffs,
09:39and I came back with happy faces.
09:41Channeling Sly is clearly one of his specialties.
09:44Number 10.
09:45Rob Brydon does Al Pacino.
09:47I had the opportunity to meet Al Pacino.
09:51Doing an impression of the heat actor is not the most unique party trick,
09:55but doing it well is quite rare.
09:57Leave it to Rob Brydon to deliver the most entertaining and precise Al Pacino parody.
10:01On The Graham Norton Show, he recalled getting the opportunity to meet the actor,
10:05whom he idolized.
10:06However, he passed on the chance lest their interaction turn out to be dull.
10:11What's the best that could happen?
10:13We're not going to become buddies.
10:14While telling the story, the Welsh actor broke into his Al Pacino mimicry.
10:19It was the perfect blend of a vocal impression and a body language imitation,
10:23tapping into an older version of Pacino.
10:25Explosive, intimidating, and unimpressed.
10:28The degree of perfection he achieved was commendable to say the least.
10:32What's this guy?
10:35Why don't you say something smart?
10:38Number 9.
10:39Will Smith does Kevin Hart.
10:41Will Smith is one of those people who is so successful,
10:44he can pretty much do anything.
10:46But that doesn't mean you should.
10:48And a part of the bucket list was I just wanted to give myself the freedom to do all of
10:52the things
10:53that I would put in my mind that I couldn't do.
10:56While sitting on Graham's couch with Kevin Hart, Naomi Scott, and Octavia Spencer,
11:00Will starts discussing the ridiculous things he's been doing as part of his bucket list.
11:04After we learn that he went diving with sharks,
11:07he describes an interaction with Kevin letting him know what he needs to do next.
11:10Kevin was like, hey Will, man, listen.
11:13It's just, we're gonna keep it simple.
11:14One word, stop.
11:16His imitation is pretty spot on, getting a few laughs.
11:20It leads Kevin to solidify that Will has got to come back at some point.
11:24At some point, you gotta tap back in, brother.
11:27You gone, man.
11:29Your sharks are real, man.
11:31Number 8.
11:32Will Ferrell does Harrison Ford.
11:34Throughout his extraordinary career,
11:37the SNL alum has given us numerous iconic celebrity impressions.
11:40This includes George W. Bush and Harry Carey to Kevin Bacon, Alex Trebek, and many more.
11:46On The Graham Norton Show, he casually dropped his Harrison Ford impression and left us floored.
11:51He's like, so what are we doing?
11:52That's it.
11:53Is it really what he didn't bother to?
11:56What's going on here?
12:02His face transformed, making way for the Blade Runner icon's classic unfazed, if not mildly irritated look.
12:08His voice got gruff as he talked with a dry, world-weary tone,
12:12commanding attention without ever raising his voice.
12:15It was a minimalist impression, but it could not have been more accurate.
12:18I'm doing a Harrison Ford one-man show.
12:22In the West End.
12:24It's a theater reference.
12:26Number 7.
12:27Tom Hiddleston does Graham Norton.
12:29Marvel's Loki can slip into the guise of others,
12:32and the actor seems to share that ability.
12:34Tom eagerly asks if Graham gets people impersonating him often,
12:38which he answers no,
12:39but it's quite obvious Hiddleston is chomping at the bit to try and parody the talk show host.
12:44Do you want me to do this?
12:44You can't.
12:45You can't.
12:46Go, John.
12:47Go.
12:47After asking for some cards as props,
12:50he launches full swing into a pretty spot-on first-time impression,
12:54which even the man himself loves.
12:56So, welcome back.
12:57Welcome back.
12:58Welcome back.
12:59Um.
13:01Watch out, Graham.
13:02He might be coming for your seat.
13:04Anyone see a Tom Hiddleston show in the near future?
13:06So you,
13:07so you,
13:09you've never been on the show.
13:12Number 6.
13:13Rob Brydon does Michael Caine.
13:15The Gavin and Stacey actor always has the best stories.
13:18He once stopped by the Graham Norton show
13:20and talked about a house party he attended with Mick Jagger.
13:23Rob.
13:24Rob.
13:25And I looked around.
13:27What?
13:27What?
13:27And he was on the,
13:28on the landing.
13:29And he went,
13:30don't throw those bloody spears at me.
13:33Somehow,
13:34that get-together ended with the Rolling Stones legend mimicking Brydon's impression of Michael Caine on the trip,
13:39which the comedian responded to with another parody of the Zulu actor.
13:42I had no idea.
13:44I was thinking,
13:45what is going on?
13:46I wasn't having a stroke.
13:48Rob's recollection of the moment on the talk show involved him first parodying Jagger,
13:52then Jagger as Rob as Caine,
13:54and ultimately the Tenet actor himself.
13:57The sheer layers of his performance made it worthy of high praise.
14:00However,
14:01the best part was undoubtedly his imitation of Caine,
14:04complete with the icon's trademark Cockney accent,
14:07which he copied to a T.
14:08I've told you before.
14:10If you're not going to sing,
14:12I don't want a bloody note.
14:13Now get back in the other room.
14:17Rob Brydon never fails to entertain.
14:20Number five.
14:21Kenneth Branagh does Ian McKellen.
14:22You do an impression.
14:24I do bad impersonation of Sir Ian McKellen.
14:28Ask and Ralph.
14:30These two Hollywood greats are known for their inimitable talent and extensive theater experience,
14:34especially in Shakespearean works.
14:36They crossed paths creatively while working on All Is True in 2018.
14:41However,
14:41long before that,
14:43Sir Kenneth Branagh gave us a gold standard impression of the X-Men star on The Graham Norton Show.
14:47You shall not pass.
14:49Wem-dung, crem-dung, flem-dung, and dang-dung.
14:51You will not pass.
14:53Wing-dung, bang-dung, column, and gollum.
14:55You shall definitely not pass.
14:57He went full Gandalf for the bit,
14:59leaning into the Lord of the Rings character's exasperated gravitas and thunderous declarations.
15:03While he hardly says any actual dialogue except for you shall not pass,
15:07Branagh's mimicry of McKellen as Gandalf is a treat to watch.
15:11Number four.
15:12Ian McKellen does Maggie Smith.
15:14Don't ask me to tell another Maggie Smith story.
15:16No.
15:17In addition to being titans of the entertainment industry,
15:20the Richard III co-stars were also lifelong pals.
15:23Their bond spanned decades and spawned some delightful stories,
15:27which Sir Ian McKellen has very kindly shared with fans on many occasions.
15:31A couple of these instances were on The Graham Norton Show,
15:33and he usually livened his recollections by impersonating the dame.
15:37I met Maggie Smith.
15:38Hello.
15:39What are you here for?
15:41Each time, he would accurately mimic her sardonic dry wit,
15:45unapologetic sass, and slightly nasal aristocratic tone.
15:48But it was always tinged with endearment, never mockery.
15:51Every time I see her, she says,
15:53you've not been doing me again.
15:56Though she eventually grew weary of his parodies,
15:59it didn't stop him from doing them.
16:01After all, that is what BFFs are for.
16:03Now you've done her again.
16:04I know I.
16:06Number three.
16:07Graham Norton and Hugh Grant act out four weddings and a funeral.
16:11Graham is not known for impressions,
16:13but he will go the extra mile to get the job done.
16:15They reenact the tender and loving moment
16:18where Hugh's character confesses his feelings for Andy McDowell's character.
16:21Except this time, Graham is taking over for the role as Carrie.
16:32As Hugh begins his monologue,
16:34Graham looks on lovingly as he goes full method,
16:36having water poured on him,
16:38making Hugh break character.
16:40It's there that Graham then reenacts Carrie's line,
16:42Is it still raining?
16:43where a waterfall is dropped upon him.
16:51While it might not have been the most spot-on impression,
16:54it was definitely enough to bring a few laughs
16:57in memory of this actor's breakout film.
16:58Is it still raining?
17:03I have to dump it.
17:05Number two.
17:06Everyone does Arnie.
17:08If you're asked to do an impression of an actor,
17:10it surely gets easier if multiple people get involved.
17:13Arnold Schwarzenegger is one of the actors
17:15that has such a distinct voice
17:16that almost everyone has some kind of impression of him
17:19in their back pocket.
17:20I'll be back.
17:23So, when the Terminator actor wanted to do a quick video
17:26for social media on the show,
17:28he encouraged everyone on the couch
17:29to do a line from one of his movies.
17:31There is no bathroom.
17:34And so, we were graced with Emilia Clarke,
17:37Jake Gyllenhaal, Cara Delevingne,
17:39Tiny Tempa, and Graham all giving it their best.
17:41And it is a barrel of laughs.
17:43Who is your daddy now?
17:45And what does he do?
17:46I'm old, not obsolete.
17:50I'm old, not obsolete.
17:52I'm old, not obsolete.
17:53I'm old, not obsolete.
17:53I'm old, not obsolete.
17:53I'm old, not very good.
17:54Thank you very much.
17:56Number one.
17:57Tom Hiddleston does Robert De Niro.
17:59To do an impression of someone is one thing,
18:01but to have them impressed by your attempt is another.
18:04Graham mentions how Tom has become a little notorious
18:06for impressions of actors he admires.
18:08And he went, oh, no, no, no, no, no.
18:11I'm from now.
18:12I'll go back in time.
18:14So, he launches into a story
18:16where he embodies some voices
18:17he's added to his tool belt over the years,
18:19including Owen Wilson,
18:21Christopher Walken, and Al Pacino.
18:22But once he starts reenacting a scene from Heat,
18:25he takes on the persona of Robert De Niro,
18:28who is sitting at the other end of the couch.
18:32What if you do got me boxed in?
18:35I'm not gonna put you down.
18:37He captures the mannerisms perfectly
18:39and leaves everyone on the couch laughing.
18:42Maybe De Niro has a future understudy.
18:44But I will not hesitate.
18:46Not for a second.
18:49That's my...
18:52Which of these impressions was your favorite?
18:54Tell us in the comments.
18:55What if you do got me boxed in?
18:56What if you do got me boxed in?
19:00What if you do got me boxed in?
19:00What if you do got me boxed in?
19:02What if you do got me boxed in?
19:02What if you do got me boxed in?
19:02What if you do got me boxed in?
19:02What if you do got me boxed in?
19:02What if you do got me boxed in?
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