Louis Theroux, the renowned documentarian and podcast host, has interviewed an impressive range of personalities, from Dame Judi Dench to Pete Doherty. However, he recently revealed that he once turned down an interview with none other than Tom Hanks, a two-time Oscar winner and one of Hollywood’s most beloved actors.
In a conversation on The Louis Theroux Podcast, Theroux explained that his decision had nothing to do with disliking Hanks. Instead, the issue lay with the constraints of the interview format. Theroux was offered only one hour to interview the Saving Private Ryan star, which he felt wasn’t enough time to conduct a meaningful conversation.
Theroux said, “I turned it down. I’m trying not to be mealy-mouthed… I said no when I was told you only get an hour [with him]. I don’t think I can work my magic, such as it is, in an hour.”
For Theroux, the success of his interviews hinges on having enough time to let his guests feel comfortable and open up. He explained that shorter timeframes make him feel pressured and constrained, preventing him from delivering the kind of in-depth and engaging conversations he’s known for. “It just made me nervous. I thought, ‘Yeah, I’m being set up to fail,’” he added.
Interestingly, Adam Buxton, a fellow podcaster and comedian, didn’t share the same concerns. Buxton accepted the offer to interview Hanks for his own show, The Adam Buxton Podcast. Buxton saw the opportunity as “a massive open goal,” especially given Hanks’ status as one of the most famous and likeable movie stars in the world.
However, despite Buxton’s initial excitement, the interview didn’t go as smoothly as expected. He admitted that conducting the interview over Zoom, combined with Hanks being “in kind of literary interview mode” while promoting his debut novel, made the experience somewhat frustrating.
Both Theroux and Buxton highlighted the pressure that comes with interviewing major stars. The fear of not being able to “bring your A-game” in a limited timeframe often makes them hesitate before accepting such high-profile interviews.
In the end, Theroux’s decision to pass on the interview was less about Hanks himself and more about maintaining his signature style of deep, exploratory conversations.
