Stanley Tucci reveals 20-year friendship with Colin Firth boosted their roles in Supernova

Stanley Tucci says he and Colin Firth were able to use their real-life friendship to help their on-screen relationship in new movie Supernova.

The 60-year-old actor stars opposite Colin in the drama, in which he plays Tusker, a writer suffering from dementia who travels across England with partner Sam (Firth) to reunite with friends and family.

Screen star Stanley believes that his own performance was enhanced by working with his long-time friend Colin, 60, as they have shared so many ups and downs together in real-life.

Friendship: Stanley Tucci, left, says he and Colin Firth, right, were able to use their real-life friendship to help their on-screen relationship in new movie Supernova

Appearing on BBC One’s The Graham Norton Show, Stanley said: ‘I know it sounds like not much of a fun film, but there is a lightness of touch and it was such a beautiful script.’

Referring to what his and Colin’s relationship brought to the screen, he added: ‘He and I are both 60 years old and we’ve known each other for over 20 years.

‘And as you go through this stage of your life with children, marriages and ageing parents you have experience a lot – and a lot of that is unhappy stuff.

‘We have seen each other through those times, but also through the happiest times, That can’t help but infuse our relationship on screen.’

Real-life: Stanley believes that his own performance was enhanced by working with his long-time friend Colin, 60, as they have shared so many ups and downs together in real-life

Real-life: Stanley believes that his own performance was enhanced by working with his long-time friend Colin, 60, as they have shared so many ups and downs together in real-life

So much in common: Appearing on BBC One's The Graham Norton Show, Stanley said of Colin, 'He and I are both 60 years old and we've known each other for over 20 years'

So much in common: Appearing on BBC One’s The Graham Norton Show, Stanley said of Colin, ‘He and I are both 60 years old and we’ve known each other for over 20 years’

Stanley revealed that the pair’s bond grew even stronger during filming as they spent so much time together.

He recalled: ‘We stayed next door to each other, we worked together all day, I’d cook for us every evening, and then we would get the train home together. We seemed never to get tired of each other.’

Stanley previously revealed that he and Colin were supposed to play the opposite roles in Harry Macqueen’s movie.

He said: ‘I think that we did it the way we were supposed to do it. But yeah, Harry offered me the role of Sam and that was the way we went into it.

‘Colin was gonna play Tusker and then I kept reading it and thinking, “Something’s wrong. I wonder if we (switch).”‘

Plot: In Supernova, Stanley stars opposite Colin, playing a writer suffering from dementia who travels with his partner Sam (Firth) to reunite with friends and family

Plot: In Supernova, Stanley stars opposite Colin, playing a writer suffering from dementia who travels with his partner Sam (Firth) to reunite with friends and family

Big interview: Stanley sat down with host Graham Norton to talk about his new screen project

Big interview: Stanley sat down with host Graham Norton to talk about his new screen project

During his appearance on The Graham Norton Show, Stanley was joined by Kate Winslet, Orlando Bloom, Kingsley Ben-Adir, and Aisling Bea. 

Oscar-winning actress Kate, 45, discussed the challenges of playing the palaeontologist Mary Anning in her new film Ammonite.

She said: ‘It was really challenging because she was really reserved and socially uncomfortable. 

‘I’m nothing like Mary so it was really hard for me to find her inner world. I am not a method actor, but I had to live a little bit like her to find her rhythms.’

Talking about the popularity of her 2011 movie Contagion last year, amid the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic, she admitted: ‘It freaked me out! Why would anyone watch that during a pandemic?

Challenges: Also appearing on the show, Oscar-winning actress Kate Winslet, 45, discussed the challenges of playing the palaeontologist Mary Anning in her new film Ammonite

Challenges: Also appearing on the show, Oscar-winning actress Kate Winslet, 45, discussed the challenges of playing the palaeontologist Mary Anning in her new film Ammonite

‘The writer started messaging me saying, “It’s coming”, and because of that my family and I started wearing masks quite long before anyone else and we used to get many funny looks.’

She also discussed her own experiences with lockdown, saying: ‘I’ve been making sourdough and now my a**e is massive!

‘The other day I was answering some questions on email and instead of “film actress” it auto corrected to “full mattress”. That’s exactly how I feel and will describe myself from now on!’

Appearing on the show remotely, screen heartthrob Orlando, 44, spoke about his new revenge drama Retaliation.

Asked about the film, he said: ‘It came out during COVID and I didn’t think it would see the light of day – I am so happy it has.

Daddy cool: Appearing on the show remotely, screen heartthrob Orlando, 44, spoke about his new revenge drama Retaliation – and gushed about his baby daughter Daisy

Daddy cool: Appearing on the show remotely, screen heartthrob Orlando, 44, spoke about his new revenge drama Retaliation – and gushed about his baby daughter Daisy

‘It is a very powerful story and I get the jitters when I talk about it. It is based on the writer’s own life and it was such an intense project I signed up immediately – I felt a calling to do it.’

Talk soon turned to Orlando and fiancée Katy Perry’s daughter Daisy, who the couple welcomed into the world in August.

He gushed: ‘I sing and chant to her all the time. I constantly sing everything with the word “Dad” in it, so she says that word before anything else!’

Making his first ever chat-show appearance, London-born actor Kingsley, 35, was asked how he went from being a jobbing actor in the UK to playing iconic roles such as Barack Obama and Malcolm X in Hollywood.

He responded: ‘I don’t know how it happened, but the last few months have been trippy! It happened so suddenly and has been such a whirlwind. It’s intense, but I am just getting on with it.’

Huge roles: Making his first ever chat-show appearance, London-born actor Kingsley Ben-Adir spoke about his recent rise, playing Barack Obama and Malcolm X in Hollywood

Huge roles: Making his first ever chat-show appearance, London-born actor Kingsley Ben-Adir spoke about his recent rise, playing Barack Obama and Malcolm X in Hollywood

Buzz: He has been on the receiving end of much Oscar buzz for his role in One Night In Miami

Buzz: He has been on the receiving end of much Oscar buzz for his role in One Night In Miami

Talking about the pressure of playing Malcolm X in his new film One Night in Miami, he revealed: ‘I knew I really wanted to do it and I knew I really had to persuade Regina [King, the director] that I was up for it, so I had no time to be scared.’

On the Oscar buzz about his performance, he said: ‘I’ve heard there is some talk. Regina brings so much to the table and the process of making the movie with her was so special – it was such hard work but so much fun – it was a beautiful process.’

Irish screen star Aisling, 36, made an appearance on the late-night talk show to discuss the highly anticipated second her series of This Way Up.

Staying coy, she revealed: ‘We’ve only just finished it so I can’t tell you much just in case we forgot to press record! It will hopefully be out sometime this year.’

Disclosing her antidote to recording comedy all day was to binge watch Line of Duty, she said: ‘I actually started talking like Adrian Dunbar!’ 

Anticipated: Irish screen star Aisling, 36, made an appearance on the late-night talk show to discuss the highly anticipated second her series of This Way Up

Purple reign: She was resplendent in a patterned purple gown

Anticipated: Irish screen star Aisling, 36, made an appearance on the late-night talk show to discuss the highly anticipated second her series of This Way Up

Not spilling the beans: Staying coy, she revealed, 'We’ve only just finished it so I can’t tell you much just in case we forgot to press record! It will hopefully be out sometime this year'

Not spilling the beans: Staying coy, she revealed, ‘We’ve only just finished it so I can’t tell you much just in case we forgot to press record! It will hopefully be out sometime this year’

Pregnant singer Ellie Goulding, 34, joined Silk City to perform New Love live in the studio before joining host Graham for a chat.

Wearing a spectacularly dramatic gown, Ellie, who this month announced her pregnancy, assured: ‘There is a baby under here some somewhere!’

Talking about her new book, Fitter, Calmer, Stronger, she explained: ‘It’s about how to balance being a touring musician and keeping fit and healthy.

‘The two don’t normally go well together. It’s my journey to achieve optimum health with my job. Hopefully it’s interesting!’

The Graham Norton Show will air on BBC One at 10:45pm on Friday. Also available on BBC iPlayer.

Sing: Pregnant singer Ellie Goulding, 34, joined Silk City to perform New Love live in the studio

Wow: She commanded attention in a dramatic gown

Sing: Pregnant singer Ellie Goulding, 34, joined Silk City to perform New Love live in the studio

Baby: The star has only recently revealed that she is eight months pregnant with her first child

Baby: The star has only recently revealed that she is eight months pregnant with her first child

Lockdown: She was largely able to keep her pregnancy under wraps because of the lockdown

Lockdown: She was largely able to keep her pregnancy under wraps because of the lockdown

Concealing the bump: Referring to her spectacularly dramatic gown, Ellie assured, 'There is a baby under here some somewhere'

Concealing the bump: Referring to her spectacularly dramatic gown, Ellie assured, ‘There is a baby under here some somewhere’

Tome: Talking about her new book, Fitter, Calmer, Stronger, she explained, 'It’s about how to balance being a touring musician and keeping fit and healthy'

Tome: Talking about her new book, Fitter, Calmer, Stronger, she explained, ‘It’s about how to balance being a touring musician and keeping fit and healthy’