Aubrey Plaza, known for her offbeat and quirky characters since her early roles like in the film Mystery Team and the sitcom Parks and Recreation, brought her distinct style to the 2016 comedy Dirty Grandpa. While working alongside legendary actor Robert De Niro, Plaza‘s intense portrayal of a young, sexually obsessed woman created an unexpectedly tense atmosphere during filming. This dynamic reflected Plaza’s commitment to her unusual character and her natural improvisational skills, which ended up unsettling her seasoned co-star.
Challenging Scenes and the 40-Year Age Gap Between Leads
The chemistry between the 31-year-old Plaza and De Niro, who was 73 at the time, became complicated during a lengthy sex scene. The shoot, which lasted around 10 hours, pushed the boundaries of their performances under the director’s guidance, with Plaza fully embracing her character’s boldness. However, her actions occasionally made De Niro uncomfortable, particularly since their characters had a significant age difference.
Discussing the shoot in a 2016 Jimmy Kimmel interview, Plaza recounted one memorable and awkward moment:
“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 unexpected reaction revealed that De Niro did not appreciate such intimate attention, leading Plaza to joke,
“Great, now he thinks that I wanted to do that.”
A Lack of Off-Camera Interaction Exacerbated the Unease
Plaza explained that her off-camera encounters with De Niro were nearly nonexistent, which meant the two actors only communicated through their characters’ interactions. This contributed to a strange atmosphere where De Niro reportedly became unsettled by Plaza’s intensity. She shared with Kimmel,
“I heard from my agent, who had spoken to his agent that he was legitimately scared of me,”
adding,
“Every time I was around him, it was right before we started shooting, so I would be all over him, and I think I really freaked him out.”
Insights from a 2022 Interview Highlight Their On-Set Dynamic
In a detailed 2022 interview with Variety, Plaza offered further insight into the unusual relationship with the veteran actor. She described De Niro as a mysterious figure who appeared just for the scenes without much informal interaction, saying,
“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.”
Because Plaza was always already deeply in character, her behavior during shooting was intense, as the character’s main objective was pursuing De Niro’s character sexually.
Plaza admitted,
“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.”
She added,
“You’d think he would because he’s an actor and an amazing one.”
De Niro’s Reaction Outside of Filming and After the Shoot
Interestingly, Plaza noticed that once filming wrapped and the characters were no longer in play, De Niro seemed unfamiliar with who she was. Reflecting on a party after filming, she recalled,
“I showed up and he’s like, ‘Who are you sweetheart?’ and after that he was normal.”
Despite the awkwardness, Plaza acknowledged her approach was intense:
“At first I think I came on really strong. I did some questionable things I wouldn’t do anymore.”
Impact of Their On-Set Experience and What It Reveals About Acting Styles
This interaction between Aubrey Plaza and Robert De Niro highlights the challenges that can arise when vastly different acting styles and character commitments meet on set, especially when combined with a significant age difference. Plaza’s full immersion in her provocative role clashed with De Niro’s reserved and professional demeanor, creating a memorable, if uneasy, working relationship. Their experience underscores the complexities actors face in balancing intense character portrayal with off-screen professionalism.
As Plaza continues to evolve her career with a range of eclectic roles, this behind-the-scenes story adds a unique chapter to her body of work, illustrating how her bold performances continue to make an impact, even on cinema legends like De Niro.
