Aubrey Plaza (41) Spills Wild Behind-the-Scenes Story from Steamy Scene with Robert De Niro (82)

Aubrey Plaza once opened up about a memorable and awkward moment on the set of the 2016 comedy Dirty Grandpa, where she starred opposite Robert De Niro. Known for her quirky roles and sharp humor, Plaza revealed that she went fully method for the role, and it caused some confusion for her co-star.

Plaza played a young woman obsessed with De Niro’s character, and she admitted that she got so deep into her character that one sex scene became surprisingly intense. “I was trying to get close to him and, like, suck his nipples, and he would push me away. I didn’t know if it was part of the scene or not,” she recalled.

She realized then that De Niro “doesn’t like his nipples touched” and joked, “Great, now he thinks I actually wanted to do that.”

The actress admitted that she barely interacted with De Niro off-camera, communicating almost entirely through her character. “I heard from my agent, after talking to his, that he was really scared of me,” Plaza said. “Every time I was around him, it was right before shooting. I got so into the role, I think I actually scared him.”

In a 2022 Variety interview, Plaza explained that she didn’t have a chance to get to know De Niro outside of filming. “He shows up in a puff of smoke, and there’s no chatting at the water cooler,” she said. After the shoot, when she appeared out of character, De Niro reportedly asked, “Who are you, sweetheart?” and was normal afterward.

Plaza also reflected on the audition process for Dirty Grandpa. She said the role she wanted wasn’t the one initially offered to her. “They wanted me to audition for the other female part, which was probably more in line with who I should have been,” she said. But she insisted on trying the bold, promiscuous character instead and landed it by giving it her own twist.

The experience, Plaza explained, motivated her to defy typecasting. “It gave me motivation to prove myself,” she said. “If I convince people I’m one thing and then do something completely different, it’s even more satisfying.”

Plaza added that she approaches comedy the same way as drama, focusing on the process rather than the genre. “I don’t really approach them any different. The audience decides if it’s funny or not,” she explained.

This story highlights Plaza’s dedication to her craft, showing how deeply she commits to her characters, even if it means making legendary actors like Robert De Niro a little uncomfortable.

It’s fascinating to see an actor push boundaries and fully commit to their role. It’s a bold approach, and it clearly shaped Plaza’s career and reputation as a fearless performer. What do you think about her method acting in this scene? Share your thoughts in the comments.