Film: Corden and Horne double act up

Published on Friday 20 March 2009 08:28

JAMES CORDEN and Mathew Horne have an undeniable chemistry.

The Gavin And Stacey twosome are fast becoming one of the most famous pairs in British TV, joining the likes of Ant and Dec, French and Saunders, and Morecambe and Wise. Their two-year partnership ignited with the BBC sitcom, which continued when they presented two Big Brother spin-offs and various awards ceremonies together.

When we meet in a posh London hotel, it's clear they have little in common. Horne, 30, loves indie music and Tottenham Hotspur, while 28-year-old Corden is a die-hard Take That fan who roots for West Ham.

"Mat and I are two completely different people and yet, we kind of meet in the middle. That's the thing and that's how it works," Corden explains.

"Mat likes bands who strap their guitars up very high, don't talk, have hair covering their faces and go, 'eh, eh, eh' (making strumming noises) in a dirty sweaty pub. He's on a different spectrum.

"I absolutely love Take That. When I was younger, I knew the opening 35 minutes of the Take That Live In Berlin, the whole routine, and I would be either Gary or Robbie. And when I was Robbie, I wouldn't do the lead vocal, just do Robbie's bits.

"But we both appreciate Bleeding Love by Leona Lewis. It's a modern classic."

They don't even share a love for the same films - Horne is into horror, while Corden prefers chick flicks.

"When I was about 11 years old, I watched Omen 2 and it had such a huge effect on me. I was pretty horrified by the opening sequence so that's what got my interest in horror films," says Horne.

"In my teens, that idea of watching a film that you weren't supposed to watch because of the rating, that clandestine viewing was really attractive."

Corden admits he's a wuss in comparison.

"I don't enjoy horror films or like being scared. I like romantic comedies and things. To this day, Stephen King's It is one of the scariest things I've ever seen in my life and gave me nightmares. I just tend not to watch stuff that's scary."

So it's a huge surprise that the duo unknowingly auditioned for the same comic horror movie, Lesbian Vampire Killers.

"It's really amazing actually. We both auditioned for this film independently before Gavin And Stacey had ever aired, about two years ago," recalls Corden.

"Mat rang when I was on the way and said that he went in yesterday. And then we talked about how good it was and how we really loved the script."

The film - a joke-filled splatter fest - is the lads' debut outing on the big screen together.

"It's essentially a buddy movie and it's a rite of passage for these two guys who grow up in a weekend and that was something that was interesting beyond the actual heart of it. It's also about this dynamic which I sort of knew James and I could do," Horne says.

The worldwide success of Gavin and Stacey has changed their lives, propelling them to an unexpected level of stardom. A third (and reportedly last) series of the drama is being written, while the pair's new sketch show, Horne & Corden, has just started screening.

"I was really chuffed when the LA Times said Gavin And Stacey was the second best TV event of the year, behind the US election," says Corden, grinning.

"I know people like it and it certainly has an audience. I don't think a lot of people have seen it but it's enough for (American network) ABC to inquire about the series and make an American version of the show."

"There have been other things coming in but we're busy enough," Horne adds.

"It's a question of fitting stuff in really and choosing the right things."

Many actors can only dream of having to turn work down and Corden says they are both aware of how lucky they are.

"Up until the last year really, I was just an actor. You go and audition for jobs, if you get them, you do them and if you don't, you don't, and that's it. You've gotta eat and you've gotta live. Whereas now the hardest thing is making those choices and choosing what to do," he says.

"The key is to try to do things that are good and to be good in them if you can. You'll always make mistakes and you'll miss the mark sometimes. That's inevitably going to happen because the best people in the world have made mistakes, even if they're brilliant. If you strive just to be in stuff that's good, hopefully that'll be enough to hold things in good stead."

One thing that Corden has said yes to is a part in a Hollywood remake of Gulliver's Travels, starring alongside Jack Black. He confesses that the audition was "was one of the most exciting and terrifying moments of my life".

"Oh man, he's just everything that you'd want him to be. I can't speak highly enough of what he was like in that audition. I was in there for an hour and we just read, we got to improvise bits together.

"You know when you try to hold it down and be really cool, like this is a really normal thing that you do in your life, but inside, you're like, 'Oh my God!' And then he started really doing the Jack Black thing and doing the faces and everything, and I was like, 'Wow, this is amazing'."

Jokes aside, the duo say they are aware of the dangers of being over exposed with both the film and the sketch show out at the same time.

"We are obliged to promote and support these projects because we believe in them. But we are mindful of it and it is a tricky area.

We'll disappear after this," Horne says.

"It's a constant worry," Corden adds. "Promise, once this film is out, we'll go away for a long time. It's so weird seeing us on buses and phone boxes, it's odd.

"In one sense, it's great that they're both coming out at the same time because it means we just have to do this, and then we can go for a bit and resurface later. We just hope we're not getting on anyone's nerves because that's the last thing we want to do really."

But fans needn't worry that it will spell the end of the side-splitting duo, who insist there's never been any rivalry between them.

"We'd love to keep working together and keep working independently," Corden says.

"I've never met a more supportive and loyal friend, certainly within this business. We have to have time apart working with other people otherwise it would become so stale. Who knows where it'll go? It might end in a month."

Horne says their partner-ship works because they don't compete with each other.

"We're doing all right together and we're doing all right apart and it's about just enjoying it while we can. And then, in ten years' time, we'll do a road show."

And should the offers stop, Corden awaits a call from his favourite boy band.

"To this day, at the back of my head, somewhere, I still think they're gonna need me," he says.

"At some point, they're going to need me. Howard's going to hurt his leg, Gary's going to lose his voice, and they're gonna go, 'We can't cancel. Get Corden'.

"And I am coiled and ready. Even the Circus album, I am up to date on it."

Lesbian Vampire Killers is on general release from today