Aubrey Plaza shared details about an awkward interaction she had with renowned actor Robert De Niro during the shooting of their 2016 film. The American actress, best recognized for her work on Parks and Recreation, recounted a particularly uneasy moment on the set of Dirty Grandpa involving a forward scene that unsettled the veteran star. This Robert De Niro awkward moment arose as Plaza fully embraced her role as De Niro’s much younger romantic interest, leading to unexpected discomfort.
Context of Their Roles in Dirty Grandpa
In Dirty Grandpa, De Niro portrays the mischievous grandfather who embarks on a wild adventure with his grandson, played by Zac Efron. Plaza’s character was written as the amorous partner of De Niro’s character, which demanded intimate scenes between the two actors. While filming, Plaza pushed the boundaries of the role, causing De Niro to react nervously, especially during scenes that involved physical closeness.
The Incident That Made De Niro Uneasy
During one particular scene, Plaza attempted to “suck on his nipples,” an action that visibly unsettled De Niro. She described this in a 2016 conversation with Jimmy Kimmel:
I’d try to get in there and suck on his nipples, and he was like batting me away, and I didn’t know if it was in character or not.
This behavior confused De Niro, as Plaza later realized:
Great, now he thinks that I wanted to do that.
She noted that De Niro did not appreciate having his nipple area touched and admitted to unintentionally causing some tension.
Limited Off-Screen Interaction Heightening the Unease
Plaza highlighted that she and De Niro did not spend much time together off-camera, which contributed to his discomfort. She explained that he often arrived at the set just before filming, meaning their time interacting was mostly during intense, intimate scenes where Plaza was in character and behaving provocatively. Reflecting on this, she said:
I heard from my agent, who had spoken to his agent that he was legitimately scared of me,
and added,
I didn’t have time to get to know him, he shows up in a puff of smoke and there’s no chatting at the water cooler.
Plaza’s Commitment to Character and De Niro’s Reaction
Plaza acknowledged that her approach to playing the character contributed significantly to De Niro’s reaction. Her character’s sole objective was to seduce De Niro’s grandfather, and Plaza embraced this with full intensity whenever on set. She described it vividly:
By the time he’d show up, I’m in character. My character had one goal: To have sex with him. I was acting totally insane as the character because we were about to shoot. I don’t think he understood that wasn’t me.
When asked why De Niro might not distinguish the performance from reality, she remarked:
You’d think he would because he’s an actor and an amazing one.
Implications of Their On-Set Dynamic
This interaction highlights the challenges actors face when balancing commitment to their roles with maintaining professional boundaries. For De Niro, the unusual intensity of Plaza’s portrayal created an awkward and tense atmosphere. The incident illustrates how different acting approaches can create friction, particularly when time to build rapport off-camera is limited. Going forward, such moments may encourage actors and directors to foster better communication and preparation to avoid discomfort during intimate scenes.
