Tom Hanks expresses admiration for Cher, confessing his avid appreciation for 'Mamma Mia 2': 'A flawless cinematic experience

By M Muzamil Shami

At the same time, Cher doesn't particularly admire herself.

Tom Hanks, Timothée Chalamet, and Julia Roberts are staunch admirers of Cher, surpassing even Cher herself in their fandom.

During their joint appearance on the latest star-studded episode of The Graham Norton Show, the iconic pop diva surprised both the audience and her fellow guests by confessing that she rarely listens to her own music. The Grammy winner openly admitted, "I'm not a big Cher fan, so I don't usually." When asked about her movies, she bluntly replied to Norton, "No."

Amidst the astonishment, Julia Roberts, in disbelief, inquired, "Not even for a minute?" However, before Cher could respond, Tom Hanks interjected, emphatically shaking his head. "You're missing out," he exclaimed, "You're missing out. Motion picture perfection? Mamma Mia 2."

    Tom Hanks and Cher, who portrays Ruby in 'Mamma Mia 2'. Photo by Max Cisotti/Dave Bennett/Getty; Universal Studios.

Growing more enthusiastic with each passing word, Hanks enthusiastically raved on, especially about a standout musical sequence in Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again.

"Fernando," Hanks exclaimed, "When she belts out 'Fernando,' the world comes to a halt. Suns collide with stars. It's sheer perfection!"

The admiration fest continued as Chalamet enthusiastically praised, "Moonstruck!" Roberts then gave a nod to Silkwood, and Hanks proposed abandoning the talk show in favor of a collective theater outing.

"I propose we all head to the cinema and indulge in a Cher movie marathon right now," he suggested. Roberts eagerly agreed, declaring, "Let's have a Cher-a-thon!"

Although the group didn't make a dramatic exit from the stage, their time spent on Norton's couch felt like a genuine bonding moment. Following the show, Roberts, Hanks, and Cher gathered for backstage selfies, which were later shared by Roberts' stylist. In an Instagram video, Cher playfully surprised Roberts, with Hanks joining them for a photo.

While Chalamet didn't partake in the backstage celebrations, he did express his excitement about hanging out with three seasoned performers during the interview.

"This entire talk show has been quite a journey," exclaimed the Wonka star. "I'm just here, and Tom's talking about gravity, and I'm surrounded by Cher and Julia Roberts."

"Well, welcome to the big leagues—get used to it," Hanks teased, pulling out a wad of cash from his wallet and jokingly asking, "By the way, could you grab us some sandwiches?".