James Corden has recalled the moment he ordered a paparazzi photographer to stop taking pictures of himself and his wife – only to discover they were snapping Leonardo DiCaprio instead.
In a new interview, the TV star, 42, opened up on first moving to the US six-years ago as a relative unknown star to American audiences to present The Late Late Show.
And in a highly embarrassing moment, he told how he mistakenly got the hump at a snapper for taking snaps of himself and wife Julia, 45, but soon discovered that they had no idea who he was.
Awkward! James Corden has recalled the moment he ordered a paparazzi photographer to stop taking pictures of himself and his wife, only to discover they were snapping Leonardo DiCaprio instead (pictured on The Late Late Show)
Speaking to The Sun, the Gavin and Stacey star told how his move to the US was ‘really tough’ as he had to uproot his family across the pond when his son Max was three and daughter Carey was just 12 weeks.
He went on to say that after a few weeks of filming, he and his partner decided to enjoy some downtime at a beach in California, where he had his awkward encounter with the photographer.
He said: ‘We went down and found this spot on the sand. As we were lying there we noticed this paparazzi photographer by some rocks. And me in swimming trunks. I don’t want to see myself in a mirror, let alone in photos like that.
‘So I put my T-shirt on. He was still taking photos, and I thought, “Do you know what? This is my only time with my wife. I’m just going to go and speak to him”. I walked over and said, “Look, buddy, I think you’ve got your photo now”
Whoops! In a highly embarrassing moment, he told how he mistakenly got the hump at a snapper for taking snaps of himself and wife Julia, 45, but soon discovered that they had no idea who he was and were actually snapping Leonardo
‘And he just went, “What?”. And I went, “Come on”. And he went, “No, DiCaprio!” And sat behind me in a restaurant was Leonardo DiCaprio.’
The comedian then added that he headed back to his wife with his tail between his legs after being failed to be recognised and told her they needn’t ‘worry about’ the photographer anymore.
Despite being an unknown in the states at the time, six years later James is a huge star stateside, having played host to a plethora of big names on his Carpool Karaoke segment including Lady Gaga, Justin Bieber, Adele and Michelle Obama.
His favourite guest however was Beatles legend Paul McCartney, 78, with James noting that he and his team were ‘immensely proud’ of the episode filmed in Liverpool.
Downtime: After a few weeks of filming, he and his partner decided to enjoy some downtime at a beach in California, where he had his awkward encounter with the photographer (pictured together in 2020)
Oh dear: ‘I thought, “Do you know what? This is my only time with my wife. I’m just going to go and speak to him”. I walked over and said, “Look, buddy, I think you’ve got your photo now
The episode almost didn’t happen with Paul cancelling at the last minute as he didn’t want to return to his childhood home.
But after sending Paul and email branding his cancellation ‘unacceptable’, Paul agreed to take part and said afterwards that he’s ‘had a blast’.
Meanwhile, James, who shot to fame in comedy drama Fat Friends, reflected on the beginnings of his stint on The Late Late Show, admitting that he was ‘reticent’ at the beginning as it was all so daunting.
Mistake: ‘And he just went, “What?”. And I went, “Come on”. And he went, “No, DiCaprio!” And sat behind me in a restaurant was Leonardo DiCaprio’ (Leonardo pictured in 2019)
Hilarious: The comedian then added that he headed back to his wife with his tail between his legs after being failed to be recognised and told her they needn’t ‘worry about’ the photographer anymore
He told how the offer of the job came ‘out of the blue’ and was very ‘anxious’ filming the first episode as that would ‘define’ the series, with the star also worried that no one in the states knew who he was at the time.
He added that he used that anonymity to his advantage and used the opportunity as a ‘clean slate’ as nobody knew what he ‘could do’.
It comes as James recently insisted that there is ‘absolutely no truth’ in rumours of him ‘replacing’ Ellen DeGeneres on her eponymous talk show.
James put the record straight on his own show as he played a game of Spill Your Guts or Fill Your Guts with Alicia Keys.
Made it: Despite being an unknown in the states at the time, six years later James is a huge star stateside, having played host to a plethora of big names on his Carpool Karaoke segment including Lady Gaga, Justin Bieber, Adele and Michelle Obama
Nerves: James said he was very ‘anxious’ filming the first episode as that would ‘define’ the series, with the star also worried that no one in the states knew who he was at the time
The screen star revealed how he ‘genuinely’ did not know where the rumour ‘even came from’ and said it would be ‘really crazy’ to take over from Ellen, 62, who has hosted her own show since 2003.
Asked by Alicia if the rumours were true, the thespian said: ‘That is a very… happily I will answer it because I don’t even know where, genuinely I don’t know where that even came from.
‘I think somebody started a rumour somewhere and someone jumped on it. There is absolutely no truth in that story at all – zero.’
Staying busy: James recently insisted that there is ‘absolutely no truth’ in rumours of him ‘replacing’ Ellen DeGeneres on her eponymous talk show (pictured in 2019)