Neil Diamond's heartfelt words for Hugh Jackman and Kate Hudson

I went and I visited him and when he came up, he drove up the driveway. I was already there. He drove up the driveway and he got out and he put his hand on my shoulder and he said, you did good, kid. Well, I invited myself to his place. That's the truth. That's a great honest answer. It was, yeah. Hugh and Kate, welcome to Hart's Evening Show. How are you both? Are you well? We are good. Great, Dev. Very excited to talk about Song Sung Blue. Loads of questions for you. One of the things I just couldn't shake throughout the whole film is, look, it's easy for actors to remember lines, remember their places. Getting chemistry right on screen isn't always easy. There's tons of it in this film. Kate, was getting good chemistry with Hugh something you were worried about before going into this? Brutal. I was like, oh, maybe this is the wrong word. Concerned. This is going to be awful. Tricycle. What it was for me really was that this script was so beautiful. If we don't work as a couple, this movie doesn't work. And that was, to me, the most important thing to feel connected to Hugh as a person, not us as characters, to actually feel like we have a closeness. It's a very actor-y thing, but you know, to feel safe, trust, and all the things you need to go there. Kate's amazing. One of the first things she said when she came up to me was, if you just do what I say, this is going to be great. Turns out, love being told what to do. And it just worked. And she spoke to me between action and cut. She spoke to me, and that was it. And so it just, yeah, we limited the time together, bare minimum. And honestly, it wasn't work. It just felt easy. We turned to each other at one point. We were actually doing press. She went, that was easy, wasn't it? I went, yeah, it was easy. Thank God. Thank God. I guess sometimes you do have to work at it. And even the translation of it, sometimes you don't really know. The camera does funny things. Some people are really brilliant actors, but they don't necessarily translate on a film camera. And the same thing with chemistry. Sometimes you just don't know if the camera is going to capture the actual connection. Well, it's one thing acting in front of each other. What was that moment like singing in front of each other for the first time? Was that more nerve-wracking? That's a great question. I was nervous. I mean, I'd sung before, but I'm a more comfortable live onstage singer than a recording studio. But we met at the recording studio first, and Kate is very, like it's your happy place, right? Yeah, but I was still nervous. You did not look nervous at all. I told you, I said, I'm really nervous. Yeah, you did. And you said me too. I didn't believe you, but it's actually, it's like speed dating. If you think about it, you really get to know someone really well. Have you ever speed dated? Never. I neither have I. Is that still a thing? I feel like we're all the rage in like the early 2000s. People, I would be so good at speed dating. The problem for you is- Wait, I missed my calling. Everyone would want your number and you would say none of them. And I'm like, no, I had a great time. I'm fulfilled. How does that even work? You sit down for like 90 seconds with like loads of people, and then time's up, you move on to the next one. Yeah, and then you're like, I liked that one. I liked number three. Yeah. No, but I think that meeting in the recording studio and really that was the big icebreaker for us, you know, it was like trying to find, and then who knows how your voices are going to sound together. And so it was really nice that we, you know, felt like, oh, we sound good. And it's, you know, it had a good feeling when we were in the studio. I love that. You have mentioned it before, it's obviously based on a true story. And Hugh, for example, Mike, it's not a character that you're playing. This is a real person who has friends and family that love him very much. How different is that approach to say a fictional character? Like, how do you get in tune with Mike? Well, first of all, it ramps up the pressure. And also, also my love for doing it. Like, because I won't sign on to something unless I know I can fall in love with that character. I think as an actor, you have to. So, and I love this story so much. And I felt so much for Mike. I'm remembering what someone said to me after they saw the movie as you're talking. And this woman, she goes, that's a real man. His like, strength and desire to keep everything together. That was that was her takeaway from that. I loved that. The film is obviously a huge nod and love letter to Mike and Claire. But also, obviously, the legendary singer Neil Diamond. Hugh, I heard a little whisper, Neil personally gave you his approval and you got to hang out with him a little bit. Yeah. So there's 13 of his songs in it. We were so honoured that he gave us the rights to his very, very rarely. And he rang me and he was he was teary. He was crying with his wife, Katie, and they were just absolutely loved it. They've always, Neil's obviously knew about the story. He knew about Mike and Claire. There's lots of photos of Claire backstage with Neil and that's in the documentary. And he just when I went to, well, I invited myself to his place. That's the truth. Yeah, Aussies do that. Never. When an Aussie says, yeah, man, can I just stay the night? Absolutely say no. That means a week, doesn't it? A year. A year. But we'll help out. Yeah, of course. We're not, you know, lazy. Laundry. You're gonna love having us. So anyway, but he, I went and I visited him and when he came up, he drove up the driveway. I was already there. He drove up the driveway and he got out and he put his hand on my shoulder and said, you did good kid. And he loved the movie. So yeah. Oh my goodness. It's very emotional when someone that you're because we're, you know, playing these people who were his biggest fans. And it's such an interesting and wonderful way to celebrate Neil Diamond than just a typical biopic of his life, which also would be very fascinating. But, you know, it's a wonderful tribute to Neil in that way. Well, confession. I didn't grow up with Neil Diamond in my house. My mom was more of a like sort of Marvin Gaye, Whitney Houston. But after watching this, I went down, I guess, a diamond rabbit hole. He's got some absolute bangers. I'm quite excited about a Neil Diamond renaissance after this comes out. Me too. Yeah, I hope so. And he even said it to me. He was like, my, I feel so lucky that throughout my career, my songs have always somehow found a different life. And somebody's taken a song and it's created a whole new life for the song, whether it be, you know, Girl, You'll Be a Woman Soon, Pulp Fiction, that song became so, Quentin Tarantino takes that song and it just blew that song back up. The English football team. Yeah. Yeah. It's like his music has these like connections to people that are different than other artists, you know. And so it'll be fun for this film. I hope people go in. He's so prolific. There's so many songs. And, you know, I'm sure there'll be a bunch of kids who will discover some really cool music that they wouldn't have ever thought they would have heard, you know. This is also a story, like you've already mentioned, about following a dream, about following a passion. You've both been incredibly successful in yours. But I'm wondering, are there some passion projects that you're working on at the moment? Kate, for example, I know you released an album last year. You mentioned that you're maybe a bit apprehensive about people hearing your music. Are there some passion projects you're currently working on? Me? Yeah. Just another album. Yeah. I mean, I know. I mean, like, music is my passion, you know. I mean, that's always been my number one thing. It's my happy, it's my happy place. More than Christmas carols. And Christmas. And the Christmas season. But I do love a Christmas, I do love a Christmas song. You've released a Christmas song. I did. I released one this year. I haven't like, we haven't really been pushing it just yet. But it's out there right now. I absolutely love that. Well, you've mentioned you're really into the Christmas season. I didn't arrive empty handed today. Kate, do you have a favourite thing you like to do whilst you're here in the UK? Maybe a place you'd like to visit, stop by? I feel like there's a correct answer. I know, there's a correct answer. I must have said something. But yes, there always is. But I don't know. I mean, now I feel pressure. Well, I'll give you a little clue. I hear that you're a big fan of Daunt Books in Marylebone. Oh my god, yes. My favourite ever. I go there every time I'm here. I'm so high loving Daunt Bookstore. Yes, but the one in Marylebone specifically is my favourite bookstore in the world. Mainly because Chris, who is one of, this guy there, who is an absolute, one of the great readers of all time. He gives me the best recommendations. And yeah, every time I'm here, I just stop in to say hi. And I always buy a book. Well, I actually stopped off at Daunt Books. I spoke to Chris. You spoke to Chris? I said I was coming to see Kate. Stop it right now. Would you give us a couple of recommendations? Stop it. Let's see what Chris has picked out for you. I am so excited. Oh my god, you are, this is the best. I'm telling you. There's a note. It's a gift. You know what? I'm so excited because I go every year. And when I did Glass Onion, it was around the same time. And I did Press. And I went and I said, Chris, I want you to give me a recommendation for every single person in my family. And every book that he recommended for each person, I gave him like, kind of this is what they're into. They absolutely loved. He's the best. Wow. I'm so excited. Let's see if you can continue the trend. This is what Chris has recommended for you, Kate. Hugh Jackman autobiography. Oh my god, I'm so excited. Now, don't you notice, there's two books. It's technically two gifts. Oh, okay. Can I tell you something? I already read it. Chris, I read it. I love this book. You need to give this to someone in your life. What do I mean? No, she needs to read it. Okay. Oh, I can't wait. You should read it too. But this book is so wonderful. Yeah. Okay. Yeah. Chris really knows his stuff. I'm so excited. And you know what? I was going to go and now I got it. I didn't. You did this for me. This is actually really meaningful. Thank you. You know, we try to make sure our guests leave happy. I'm so excited. I've actually got one more surprise. This one's for you, Hugh. I wanted to take a little trip down memory lane. Okay. Does the name Dickie B. A hundred percent. Dickie B from Brooklyn's house. Well, I've got a little voice line off of Dickie B for you. Dickie B. G'day Hugh. This is Dickie B calling you from RPM school. Remembering your time in Brooklyn's as a GAP student and one of my house tutors. That's right. Further, your brilliant hosting of our cadet force trip to Australia in 1989. That's right. I will always remember your, you know, inviting me to sing along to your own arena show in 2019. Break a leg with the continuing success of Song for Silent Blue. Dickie B. Richard Boston. So I was 18. I was on a gap year and I went and lived for six months and I stayed in Brooklyn's house and he was their housemaster and I was a reprobate like that. Like I, I totally should have been fired many times. And Dickie B was always like, no, he's fine. He's doing, he's a young lad. Let him be. He was, he's awesome. I love him. And we are friends to this day. That is really cool, Dev. You're a legend. It was a pleasure for both of you. That's awesome. I love this. These were the most thoughtful gifts ever. I'm so happy. Dev, you're winning. Oh, thank you guys so much, man. I absolutely love the film. It's been a pleasure talking to both of you today. Thanks so much for hanging out. And you know what? Thank you. From Kate and I, now that's a man. Yeah. Now that is a man. That's a real man. This is hot.