Stephen Colbert name-drops ‘distracting’ A-list actress he was most ‘wildly attracted to’ in 11 ‘Late Show’ seasons
Stephen Colbert “didn’t know what to do with his eyeballs” when actress Michelle Williams appeared on “The Late Show” for the first time back in 2019.
The comedian revealed that he was “wildly attracted” to the “Dawson’s Creek” alum during Wednesday’s episode of the “Strike Force Five” podcast.
“Has there been a guest who was so attractive that you found it distracting?” Jimmy Kimmel asked his fellow late-night host during the podcast.
Stephen Colbert (pictured here in November 2023) was “wildly attracted” to Michelle Williams when she first visited his “Late Show.” Scott Kowalchyk/CBS
Colbert (seen here in November 2023) revealed the A-list actress he was attracted to during “Strike Force Five” on Wednesday. Scott Kowalchyk/CBS
“I’ll tell you who I did not expect to be wildly attracted to,” Colbert, 62, responded. “Like, I didn’t know what to do with myself. I did not know what to do with my eyeballs when Michelle Williams was on for the first time.”
He continued, “She sat down across from me and I went, ‘F–k, what is wrong with my head? I’d better not look directly at her for this entire interview.’”
The former “Colbert Show” host, who will say goodbye to “The Late Show” later this month, went on to gush about the “Dying for Sex” star’s “vibe” and “face” because he finds her “so beautiful.”
“I didn’t know what to do with myself,” the comedian (pictured here with the “Dying for Sex” alum in April 2025) said. “I did not know what to do with my eyeballs when Michelle Williams was on for the first time.” Scott Kowalchyk/CBS
“She sat down across from me and I went, ‘F–k, what is wrong with my head?’” Colbert added. Scott Kowalchyk/CBS
Williams, 45, first visited the “Late Show” to promote her miniseries “Fosse/Verdon” in April 2019.
The last time she went to Colbert’s late-night show was in April 2025 to talk about her Golden Globe-winning Hulu series “Dying for Sex.”
A rep for Williams did not immediately respond to Page Six’s request for comment.
But the “Greatest Showman” star wasn’t the only A-lister who caught Colbert’s eye during his 11 seasons hosting the late-night CBS program, because he also name-dropped Rachel Weisz, Rebecca Ferguson and Andrew Garfield.
“I used to have a Rachel Weisz problem,” he told co-hosts Kimmel, Jimmy Fallon, Seth Meyers and John Oliver during the podcast of the 56-year-old “Black Widow” actress.
Colbert (pictured here with Rachel Weisz in April 2023) also gushed about Rachel Weisz during the podcast. Scott Kowalchyk/CBS
The former “Colbert Report” host gushed over Andrew Garfield (both seen here in November 2021) during the latest episode of “Strike Force Five.” Scott Kowalchyk/CBS
“When Rachel Weisz would be on, I would leave the building for fear I would say something stupid,” Colbert shared.
As for 42-year-old Garfield, Colbert couldn’t help but bring up the time they shared an intimate on-screen kiss during a January 2017 episode of the “Late Show.”
“Andrew Garfield, he is so attractive,” Colbert laughed as Kimmel chimed in, “And you kissed him!”
Colbert co-hosts the “Strike Force Five” podcast with John Oliver, Seth Meyers, Jimmy Fallon and Jimmy Kimmel (all five pictured here on May 11). Scott Kowalchyk /CBS
The five late-night hosts (all seen here on May 11) came together for another episode of their podcast in honor of Colbert’s last episodes of “The Late Show.” Scott Kowalchyk /CBS
“Or he kissed me,” the former Comedy Central star responded. “We did get our hands tangled in each other’s hair. It was really nice.”
Colbert, Fallon, Kimmel, Meyers and Oliver all came together for a new episode of their “Strike Force Five” podcast in honor of Colbert’s last “Late Show” episodes.
The popular late-night program premiered its first episode back in September 2015 and will air its last on May 21.
