Truth And Dare

Oprah talks to small-screen satirist Trevor Noah about trying the impossible.

TREVOR NOAH’S STORY is so implausible, it’s almost like a fable: Mixed-race boy grows up in poverty amid the ruthless oppression of apartheid South Africa and ends up behind the desk at one of our most beloved TV institutions. After finishing his soul-stirring 2016 memoir, Born a Crime, I knew I needed to sit down with the Daily Show host to absorb more of his warmth and wisdom. How did the 34-year-old make his way into acting, a career in stand-up, and a coveted late-night role, in which he mocks the outrageousness of our current political climate? With more than a little help from his mother, and the audacity of someone with nothing to lose.

Oprah: I’m so happy you’re here. 

Trevor Noah: Thank you so much for having me. 

OW: In your book, you told your story with such humor, depth, sincerity, and truth. I’ve never heard of a comedian who grew up in apartheid South Africa under such extreme conditions, then turned that into comedy. 

TN: My whole life, comedy has been a tool I’ve used to process pain. And you’ve seen how we live in Soweto. 

OW: Yes. 

TN: Being poor sucks, but being poor together makes it a lot better. My family had something that sometimes you don’t have when you have too much—the ability to focus on the human beings around you. We had each other, so we laughed.