♪ [ cheers and applause ] >> jay: all righty. my first guest, an outstanding actress whose films include "elizabeth" "lord of the rings," "the curious case of benjamin button." she's getting some of the best reviews of her career for her performance in woody allen's latest film. it's called "blue jasmine." she does such a great job. it opens in select cities tomorrow. please welcome cate blanchett. ♪ [ cheers and applause ]

>> jay: good to see you. how you doing? you awake? >> gosh, yes. >> jay: i know you got to l.a. yesterday. you go home to australia tomorrow. >> it's a whirlwind. >> jay: it is a whirlwind. is everybody back home in the family, they're waiting for mom? >> they are. the seasons are reversed. the kids are in school. the middle child, i have been helping with the class play and i missed it. it was on yesterday. it was called "pig gig." my 9-year-old was playing the pig. >> jay: playing the pig. [ light laughter ] >> i know. he was really great. i helped him with the rehearsal and the costume. >> jay: you have a picture. oh, there you go. [ audience aws ] >> i know. >> jay: that is very convincing. >> he remembered all his lines. sweet thing. >> jay: now, how savvy are they about show business? are they into the whole -- 'cause your husband is a a theatre director. >> yes.

well, we have been running the sydney theatre company for five years, so they have been backstage. i took them for the eight days i was on "the hobbit" for and they love it. i was teing my 11-year-old the story of "blue jasmine." you know, it's a woman's spectacular downfall on the upper east side. he put his head in his hands and said, "mom, when are you gonna make a blockbuster?" [ light laughter ] he goes online and looks at all the grosses and he looks at the films that i'm in. and he says, "mom." he's giving me career advice. [ light laughter ] >> jay: really? "lord of the rings." that's a block buster. >> i pointed that out to him. he said, "you weren't in it very much." [ laughter ] >> jay: oh i see. ah. wow. it's interesting. >> they're a leveler. >> jay: i have some australians staying with me now. i have a lot of australian car friends of mine. and of all the people in the world they seem the least impressed by show business. is that -- >> car friends. >> jay: they're car friends. >> they are probably very impressed by your cars.

>> jay: well, they are, but -- >> that i don't find so impressive. >> jay: no, no, no. [ laughter ] but australian people don't seem as impressed by show business as other people. at least that's the way it seems to me. >> no, no. they don't. australians don't put up with any grandeur, graces. >> jay: like your character in "blue jasmine" would get killed. she would be beaten in the street. >> hopefully not. >> jay: well, no, but -- >> i better take these earrings off. they're not real. >> jay: well that's what i mean. it seems a very down to earth place. >> it is. it is a very down to earth place. >> jay: your husband runs a a theatre company there. >> yes. he employs me occasionally. >> jay: okay. oh, how does that work? do you have to audition for him? >> casting couch. [ light laughter ] every friday night. >> jay: so you had to sleep with him. wow. that still goes on. >> 16 years it's been going on. >> jay: you poor thing. you know- [ applause ] i wish i had known that for tonight's show. [ laughter ] >> this is the casting couch? it's a bit public isn't it?

>> jay: well, it could be. i understand when you guys met you initially didn't like each other. is that true? >> no. it wasn't love at first sight. >> jay: really? >> it was mostly animosity. >> jay: now why? why is that? >> i don't know. a bit like beatrice and benedict. i mean, he thought i was aloof, and i thought he was arrogant. >> jay: were you both right? >> yes. [ light laughter ] but we thought we'd give it a a go, see how it went. we just didn't really connect and we were going out with other people who we're still friends with. it was always an issue when the boys would go out -- one night we were playing poker. he was in the middle of telling me how he was attracted to a a friend of mine. then we just suddenly kissed, and then he asked me to marry him three weeks later. >> jay: now, as a guy, that just never works. "hey, your friend is attractive. have sex with me." [ laughter ] >> says something about me, doesn't it? >> jay: how did that win you over? did you think, "ooh, i could beat out my friend?" what was the psychology? >> no, she was seeing somebody else. i gave him a hug and i said, "oh, no."

and thought, "ooh." i don't want to go into this. [ laughter ] >> jay: no, no, no. i want to go into this. it sounds fun. >> the couch is used for many purposes, isn't it? should i lie down? >> jay: now, i want to hear. that touch is what did it? >> how many -- what's your viewership here? >> jay: millions. >> millions, okay. well in that case. what was the question? [ laughter ] >> jay: the question was -- you got that hug going and then it took off from there? >> it did. yes, it did, jay. >> jay: how long after that initial ntact -- >> did we take our clothes off? how graphic do i need to get here? [ light laughter ] >> jay: permission to treat as a hostile witness, your honor. >> but it was very quick. so we didn't tell people immediately. >> jay: okay, but arrogant and aloof. i like that. >> yeah. >> jay: let's take a break. more with cate when we come back. [ cheers and applause ] ♪ how do you do a summer clearance event the dodge way? first wait till summer. then get the cars ready. now add the dodge part.

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one is. like, i had one where they just -- >> just the one. >> jay: well, i had many. but my favorite is, "mr. leno's head looks like a piece of urban folk art." [ laughter ] how do i change my head? i can't come back on wednesday oh, i have a new head now. is this better? now, you and woody -- you guys have been trying to work together for years, correct? >> well, i have been trying to work with him. but i didn't even get to first base. i had actually given up hope. you know -- so, no. i mean -- so when i got the message he wanted to call me about working together, you know, i started to sweat. >> jay: so how does that happen? does it go through agents? does he call directly? >> i think if, you live here, you can actually go into the office for 30 seconds or so. because i'm living in sydney, it was on the phone. so i got two and a half minutes. and then, he said he wanted to send me the script. and then, i called him when i'd read it, and i loved it. i called him and that was a a 45 second conversation. he said, "i'll see you in san francisco." >> jay: okay, okay. describe the role. >> oh, jasmine is somebody who is sort of an upper east side

princess, and her husband is involved in a financial scandal. and so she loses her all social standing, all her money, all her friends. you know, i'll ask for the night off. it's like woody allen prison. and then, she has to journey across country to try and re-establish herself and stay with her sister. >> jay: tell me about researching this role. because, you know, i do a lot of these benefits, and you meet incredibly wealthy people. and they act differently. did you study? did you go to new york and study people? >> well, i was on stage in new york. so it was great. and i went to a lot of restaurants that, you know -- that jasmine and her social set would have gone to and drank a a lot of rosea. so i can't remember much of what i saw. >> jay: i mean, did you go there -- was it for the purpose of taking notes? >> yeah, absolutely. and eaves dropping. i mean, that's the thing with jasmine, is she's on a a combustible cocktail of xanax and alcohol. maybe the rosea would -- it was research. >> jay: yeah. yeah, research.

[ light laughter ] and i always like rich people laughing. [ fake laugh ] >> that was so good. >> jay: there is nothing funnier than rich people laughing because there's nothing real about it. oh-ho-ho-ho-ho. >> the faces don't move. >> jay: yeah, the face doesn't move and the whole thing. now what is this clip we're going to see? >> this is in the pizza restaurant. and jasmine is giving advice and explaining about the responsibilities of the rich. >> jay: oh, right. take a look. >> well, i didn't know what i wanted to become. and hal, my husband, he swept me off my feet. then, there was a song. it was playing -- you know the song. yeah. i always wanted to do something with my life. never had the energy. i didn't just shop and lunch and go to matinees. you know, i ran charities for poor people. you know, raised money for museums and schools. with wealth comes responsibility. wasn't just some mindless consumer like so many of my so-called friends.

though, i won't say i disliked buying pretty clothes. tip big, boys. tip big because you get good service. and they count on tips. you know, someday when you come into great wealth, you must remember to be generous. [ cheers and applause ] >> jay: the film opens tomorrow. have a safe trip home. >> thank you. >> jay: cate, thank you so much. terrific, terrific film. be right back with michael b. jordan. [ cheers and applause ] ♪ could save you fifteen percent or more on car insurance. yep, everybody knows that. well, did you know some owls aren't that wise? don't forget i'm having brunch with meghan tomorrow. who? meghan, my coworker. who? seriously? you've met her like three times. who? (sighs) geico.

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♪ [ cheers and applause ] >> jay: my next guest, a

a talented young actor. you know him from tv's "the wire," "friday night lights" and last year's box office hit, "chronicle." he's now starring in a powerful new film, "fruitvale station." he plays oscar grant, the real life victim of a police shooting that took place on new year's day back in 2009. it's out on limited release. it opens nationwide tomorrow. please welcome michael b. jordan. ♪ [ cheers and applause ] >> jay: don't be putting your hand in the tip jar. what happened there? [ laughter ] >> i can't. i was in new york walking around with my girlfriend back home from the premiere of the movie. and she's not used to walking on the new york city sidewalks with the subway grate. she's in a beautiful dress, high heels. heel inside the grate. she took a spill. i tried to stop it. i tried to grab her and break her fall, but i wound up landing on my hand, and i broke it.

[ audience aws ] i tried to be the good guy. >> jay: yeah. [ laughter ] wow, i'm sorry to hear about that. well, i -- >> yeah, that's all right. >> jay: i hope she rewarded you for your courage. >> i have an at-home nurse now. >> jay: really? >> it's kind of hard to get dressed and wash up and stuff like that. >> jay: are you left or right-handed? >> i'm right. >> jay: okay. so what's the hardest thing to do now? [ laughter ] >> um. tie a tie! [ applause ] >> jay: tie a tie. >> tie a tie. tie a tie, yeah. [ cheers and applause ] >> jay: now, this is your first time here. but i've watched you for years. both these guys are great actors. and they're both in low budget films where you are forced to act. that's what i love. >> cate: and we're always up for the same role. [ laughter ] >> i know, she keeps beating me out. i finally got one on her. >> jay: no monsters. no robots. just acting. it's great. now, where are you from? i know you were born here. >> born inalifornia. orange county. but i was raised in newark, new jersey. i'm a east coast guy. [ applause ] >> jay: how old are you? you're pretty young. what are you, 22? >> 26. feeling like 36, man.

ah, man. >> jay: oh, yeah. life's a bitch, isn't it? [ laughter ] man, i pity you. yeah. 26, famous. oh, please take a break. [ laughter ] so when did you start acting? you started as a young kid, right? >> i started when i was about 12-years-old. i remember sitting -- my mom went into -- she has lupus. and she went into a doctor's appointment. and i remember sitting on the couch. the receptionist told me mom when she walked out -- she said, "you know what? you should get your son into acting, modeling, stuff like that." i was just like, "okay." i was a pretty awkward-looking kid. i didn't really think modeling was my first career choice. but, you know, i figured i'd get out of school. you know, make some money. free kraft services food. those are the things i cared about at the time. and it just kind of snowballed from there. >> jay: well, your mom -- i contacted your mom. she sent me some of your photos. take a look here. >> hey! oh, oh, oh. >> jay: hey, little acting gig, huh? [ laughter ] >> look at that. oh, look at the boots. oh, look at that, yeah. i have bell bottoms on. oh, sure. okay, my mom is going to get it. she's getting a phone all. [ light laughter ] so now -- >> jay: obviosuly, you have the

same name as michael jordan. >> i haven't heard that before. >> jay: no, i'm asking you. was that difficult? like, when you would play basketball, would -- "oh, look, michael jordan." >> exactly. that's exactly it. then, i started playing, and they slowly started to shut up. >> jay: oh, really? you were that impressive? >> i'm pretty good. you can, you know, call grant hill. he a good buddy of mine. he could vouch for me. ray allen. [ talking over each other ] i'm name dropping. [ laughter ] >> jay: now, what does the "b" stand for? >> it stands for bakari. it's swahili. it means "noble promise." my mom gave it to me at birth. >> jay: oh, very cool. now, i know you also did "all my children." who did you play in that? >> i played reggie montgomery. i was susan lucci's adopted -- adopted son. [ laughter ] boy! okay, yes. it could work out in soap opera world. it makes sense. >> jay: in soap opera world, it makes perfect sense. >> it makes perfect sense. >> jay: my favorite thing about soap opera world is soap opera music. we have a scene -- this is you. what are you, about 16 in this scene? >> you have a clip? >> jay: yeah, i've got

everything. [ laughter ] >> did my mom send you this one, too? >> jay: your mom is the greatest woman in the world. [ laughter ] [ talking over each other ] you have to listen to the soap opera dialogue. ♪ >> danny, listen. you drive me crazy. >> i do? >> i want you so bad. you're all i think about. >> me, too. but what about those tibetan monks? [ laughter ] >> who? >> patience. >> look, i can't put up with this anymore. i'm ready to take this to the next level. how about you? [ cheers and applause ] >> jay: what about those tibetan monks? >> what about them? they know patience. it was great. >> jay: was that your first kissing scene? >> that was my first on-screen kiss. >> jay: wow. >> yeah, it was. and actually, on that show, i did my first on-screen sex scene. which was pretty awkward. it's like having, you know, sex

in a room full of people watching. i told her beforehand -- i was like, "okay, i apologize if it does and i apologize if it doesn't. just don't take it the wrong way." [ laughter and applause ] i was 16, okay? >> jay: hey, let me ask you about "fruitvale station." >> yeah, it's a good film. >> jay: wonderful film. wonderful acting job. rave reviews. it's based on a true story. tell the true story. >> it's about this kid from oakland. his name was oscar grant. he was handcuffed face down, shot in the back. he was murdered by the bart transit police on new year's day 2009. the cop got two years convicted manslaughter, but only served 11 months in jail. and i remember when it first happened. i was feeling upset, frustrated. you know, i felt pretty helpless. as an actor you're not able to really voice your opinion on certain controversial matters the way you really want to because they hold it to you forever. so four years later, ironically enough, the trayvon martin incident happened. >> jay: right. >> and about a week later,

ryan coogler, our writer-director, came to me with the project. i read the script. and i was like, okay. perfect. perfect time for me to really express myself through my work. and -- and -- it's a story that needed to be told. >> jay: yeah, it's a great story because you always hear someone is shot. and then, you go to court. but this movie tells the story of this young man's life. and he was not a saint. >> not at all. >> jay: he's was in trouble. >> you know, when there's an officer-involved shooting, usually the victim's character gets polarized. you know, he becomes this perfect person, this saint. or he gets depicted as this monster or this thug. and ryan coogler's approach was to spend the day in the life of. the last 24 hours of his life. we wanted the to show this guy, flaws and all. that his life mattered to people who really cared about him. >> jay: yeah. you know, it's like good people sometimes do bad things. and bad people sometimes do good things. and so you really feel that. i always wondered if, particularly with the trayvon martin thing, if the jury had seen this young man prior to -- maybe the verdict might have --

>> he's 22-year-old guys. you know, i think, at 22, everybody makes mistake. that's the age where you're supposed to experiment and do dumb things. and learn from it and move forward and become the man you really want to be. and to be judged on such a a small sliver of your life. i think -- >> jay: you spent some time with the family. >> with the family, yeah. that was real awkward at first. the mom, you know, and his little daughter, tatiana. she was so young. his girlfriend and his best friends. because i had no audio or video to really go off of. so i had to get to know him through the people who knew him best. >> jay: and you shot it at the actual location, exactly where -- >> where it happened. i mean, the bullet hole -- we literally shot -- i leaned over the bullet hole, which was still on the train platform. so it was very heavy, very intense. it was probably one of the more difficult things i had to do as far as filming. >> jay: yeah, i can imagine. now, what is this clip we're going to see now? do you know what this scene is? >> yeah, this is a scene with oscar and his daughter tatiana. he's telling her that right before he goes out for new year's eve, going to catch the fireworks in san francisco. telling her that he's gonna come back home. >> jay: take a look.

>> i'm scared. >> scared of what? >> i hear guns outside. >> no, baby. those are just firecrackers. you're safe and sound with your cousins. >> what about you, daddy? >> me? baby, i'm going to be fine. i'll tell you what though. when you wake up in the morning, we're going to play candyland. and then, guess what we're going to do after that? >> go to the park? >> better. >> toys 'r' us? >> way better than that. >> what? >> i don't know. maybe chuck e. cheese? >> really? >> i promise. daddy's gonna give you tokens. we're going to play all the games. okay? then we gonna get your favorite pizza. going to eat it all up. even mom is going to have

carbs. >> what's a carb? >> you ain't got to worry about that right now. >> jay: wow. so good. [ cheers and applause ] >> that girl is amazing. >> jay: i got to ask you. now, there's a rumor -- >> rumor? >> jay: that you're playing the human torch in the "fantastic four" movie. is that correct? >> that's correct that there is a rumor. yes, yes, yes. no, it's no secret that the director, josh trank, is a good buddy of mine. you know, if the opportunity came about, i wouldn't say no. >> jay: sounds good. michael, good politician answer there. very good. [ light laughter ] hey, you're going to do a lot of good with this film. congratulations. >> thank you so much. >> jay: all right. be right back with court yard hounds. [ cheers and applause ] ♪