Luke Thompson teaches Jimmy Fallon his favorite French idiom — here’s what it really means
Between stories about performing for the Queen and Regency dancing, Luke Thompson taught a hilarious phrase in French.
Many people view late-night TV as a place where celebrities come to talk about their latest movies or projects. The shows often feature rehearsed interviews that focus on the actors’ lives and interesting tidbits about them. But sometimes the best moments happen when things get a little more personal. These unscripted interactions let the audience see the more relatable, human side of a well-known star. Recently, viewers were pleasantly surprised to get a glimpse into the life of rising actor Luke Thompson, who took a moment to teach Jimmy Fallon a fun French saying.
The interview
Luke Thompson made his debut on “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon” to celebrate the huge success of Bridgerton Season 4 following the release of its second part on Netflix. Just after wrapping up his role as the romantic lead, Thompson discussed the journey of his character, Benedict Bridgerton, and his relationship with Sophie Baek in the show.
During the conversation, Thompson discussed his early career, specifically his time at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA), and recounted the nerve-wracking experience of performing a monologue in front of Queen Elizabeth. Thompson even took a moment to give Jimmy a quick lesson on how to dance like a member of the Bridgerton family, with the same poise and grace.
As the conversation turned to Thompson’s upbringing in France, Fallon asked if he still speaks French. Thompson confirmed he did and offered to teach Jimmy a specific French idiom that he finds particularly expressive. He explained that French culture has an array of unique phrases, one of which is, “C’est la fin des haricots.”
Thompson translated the phrase literally as “it’s the end of the beans.” He described a scenario where someone might open their fridge, realize they have run out of milk, and feel disappointed. In such situations, this phrase perfectly captures the feeling of losing hope. “It means there’s no hope left,” Thompson explained. Fallon tried the phrase himself, with Thompson encouraging him to add a “Gallic shrug” to truly convey the meaning of this idiom. After the audience broke into applause, Fallon admitted with a laugh that he had no idea what he had just said, despite the coaching.
Reactions
The internet had a lot to say about the interview, especially fans who have followed Benedict’s journey for years. One viewer wrote, “He’s so underrated. I actually prefer his acting to the rest of the other brothers.”
His personality off-camera seems to be just as popular as his acting. Another person noted, “Besides being a sublime actor, Luke is incredibly friendly and pleasant with everyone around him.” Having an actor who genuinely seems happy to be there makes the interview much more enjoyable and helps the host connect better with him.
The host also received praise for how the segment went. A viewer pointed out, “Jimmy Fallon really knows how to make his guests comfortable. I like him best among all the late-night show hosts.” That comfort is likely why Thompson felt at ease discussing everything with ease.
Many comments also referenced a long-running joke about Thompson not being great with technology. One user wrote, “His French is so sexy, Instagram.” Another said, “The charm of this man, Instagram! Bridgerton doesn’t even do him justice!” This refers to a previous interview where he hilariously mistook a random acronym for the word “Instagram.” Because he is such a millennial, fans and interviewers love teasing him about it every chance they get, which has turned into a popular online joke.
Why this matters
When an actor shares their real-life experiences and language skills, it changes how we view them. For instance, when Thompson talks about French sayings or school memories, he becomes more than just a character in historical costume. These interactions online allow people to connect with the actor as a person.
Spontaneous interactions like this are why late-night TV remains popular. Watching a guest teach a host a fun phrase about beans feels much more authentic than a nicely polished advertisement. It gives us a glimpse into the true personalities of actors, showing a side of them that is often hidden in a highly maintained entertainment world. When we see an actor making fun of their own tech struggles or doing a funny shrug, it makes them feel much more relatable to fans watching at home.
