Why Maya Rudolph ‘Did Not Have a Good Time’ on ‘Late Show With David Letterman'

Actress Maya Rudolph opens up on feeling "embarrassed and humiliated" during a guest appearance on a talk show.

Maya Rudolph is prominently known as a former cast member of the NBC reality comedy show "Saturday Night Live". She has also played several supporting roles in films including "50 First Dates", "A Prairie Home Companion", and "Idiocracy". 

Maya Rudolph 'Embarrassed and Humiliated' by David Letterman?

In a recent interview with the Wall Street Journal magazine, the 50-year-old actress has been dubbed "The Queen of Comedy" and talked about her early journey as a comedian and that she did not deal with interviews very well. Despite already creating a name for herself as a mainstay cast member of "Saturday Night Live", Maya Rudolph still felt uncomfortable in interviews as they "would always feel like someone was stealing my soul".

During a guest appearance on the "Late Show With David Letterman" in 2009, an error by one of her idols, David Letterman, mispronouncing her name had her feeling awkward and hurt during the show.

"I did not have a good time," Maya Rudolph recalled during her 2009 guest appearance. "He said my name wrong, and I just sat there, like, I grew up my whole life in love with you. And now my heart is broken. And I'm sitting here embarrassed and humiliated. I didn't know how to handle it. I didn't know how to come up with something funny to say. My public persona muscle wasn't strong yet."

According to the "50 First Dates" star, she has since since "created a persona to protect myself" due to the anxiety she felt while facing interviews and red-carpet events.

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David Letterman Issued Apology to Maya Rudolph

According to the Hollywood Reporter, David Letterman has since apologized to the comedian for the unintentional act that had made Rudolph uncomfortable.

"I'm sorry that I mispronounced your name," David Letterman expressed to Maya Rudolph. "I'm just a boob, there's no excuse for it, and from the bottom of my heart, I sincerely apologize."

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