We’d be lying if we said we hadn’t fantasised about sitting across from Paul Mescal and discussing the sausage commercial he agreed to shortly before his big break, or gushing about Sabrina Carpenter with Barry Keoghan. But if the honour isn’t afforded to us, there’s no one we’d rather hand the baton to than Louis Theroux. The British documentarian, journalist, and author has been responsible for some pretty remarkable things during his decades-long career. Perhaps, most famously, for his numerous BBC documentaries, which span hard-hitting and complex topics like anorexia, gambling, and extreme religion. At the lighter end of the spectrum, he’s also been delivering some of the most fascinating conversations with celebrities from all walks of life, from Katie Price to Baz Lurhman, via his podcast, The Louis Theroux Podcast.
But what makes his journalism so great? Well, we thought we’d show you, rather than tell you, with some of our favourite Louis Theroux interviews to date.
Paul Mescal
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Naturally, our internet boyfriend takes pride of place at the top of this list. In this episode of Theroux's podcast, the duo delve into everything from Mescal's love of acting and his decision to leave social media, to the (now-infamous) sausage commercial he agreed to before landing Normal People. Only the important topics, of course.
Barry Keoghan
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Another of our internet boyfriends, Barry Keoghan rarely sits down for interviews, so when he does, we take note. Speaking to Theroux, Keoghan used the platform to shut down trolls who accused him of being an absent father, while also touching on the difficulties of his own childhood, including losing his mother to drug addiction and growing up in foster care.
“I’m like, well until you’ve walked a day in my shoes growing up as a kid, then you can’t comment," Keoghan told Theroux. "If I didn’t have tough skin or the strength I have, I wouldn’t be sitting here. Of course [my childhood] is going to affect me being a father when I had no blueprint to take from."
But in true Theroux fashion, the duo also made space for some lighter topics, including Keoghan's relationship with Sabrina Carpenter, who he said he's "incredibly blessed" to be dating.
Amelia Dimoldenberg
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Chances are, you remember when Theroux appeared on Amelia Dimoldenberg's Chicken Shop Date, and gave a now-viral rendition of his 'Jiggle Jiggle' rap. Well, since then, Dimoldenberg has returned the favour, appearing on Theroux's podcast to talk all things ambition, anxiety, and parents. Icons on icons, if you will.
The Most Hated Family In America
While not an interview in the traditional sense, Theroux's 2007 documentary on the Westboro Baptist Church will go down in history. He travelled to Kansas to spend time with the founders of the extreme religion, whose members believe that the United States government is immoral due to its tolerance of homosexuality. He followed the exposé up in 2011, with America's Most Hated Family in Crisis, and again in 2019, with Surviving America's Most Hated Family, where he observed how members of the church had changed since its founder's death a few years earlier.
Extreme Love: Dementia
If you haven't already seen this documentary, we suggest having some tissues handy. This equal-parts warming and heart-wrenching two-part show sees Theroux interview dementia sufferers and their loved ones, from elderly couples weathering the disease together, to a 49-year-old mother and wife who can't see just how quickly her condition is deteriorating.
Louis and The Nazis
There is nothing light-hearted about this documentary, but it will definitely be remembered as one of Theroux's most famous. It sees him travel to California, where he meets members the White Aryan Resistance, including a family of 11-year-old twin sisters who have been taught to sing racist pop songs by their mother.
