Movie-going audiences witnessed the uber-eccentric Aubrey Plaza and Hollywood legend Robert De Niro share the screen in Dan Mazer’s raunchy comedy Dirty Grandpa. From some of the behind-the-scenes tidbits shared by the talents associated with the endeavor, we can infer that the Taxi Driver alum had willingly embarked on an unusual and bizarre adventure.
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Plaza, who played the provocative role of Lenore, is De Niro’s primary love interest within the premise. Just the setup of it all signals an unconventional narrative! The actress’s uber-immersive approach to her role ultimately left a strong, long-lasting impression on the veteran Hollywood star—something that the Parks and Recreation alum seemingly regrets.
Aubrey Plaza’s Off-Camera Relationship With Robert De Niro
Dan Mazer’s 2016 comedy may have featured a competent cast with the likes of De Niro, Plaza, and Zac Efron starring in the endeavor. However, their on-screen presence was not enough to save the story from its over-reliance on gross-out shock humor. Critics and audiences alike were appalled by Dirty Grandpa. From a commercial perspective, the movie’s incessant mediocrity did not act as an obstacle to its $105.2 million worldwide box office gross. All’s well that ends well?
Regardless of the nature of the pursuit, the actors associated with the premise have had their fair share of wild experiences to account for. Aubrey Plaza‘s experience specifically highlights awkward yet bone-tickling initial interactions with the iconic The King of Comedy alum Robert De Niro.
The Emily the Criminal star didn’t get an opportunity to develop an off-camera bond with the legendary De Niro. There wasn’t much of a scope for them to become acquainted. The two couldn’t delve into casual chit-chat beyond what concerned the film’s narrative as Robert De Niro would take his leave after he was done filming his scenes.
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Talking to Variety, Aubrey Plaza had the following to comment:
“I didn’t really have a relationship with him off camera because he’s him. 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 her role, though, quickly led to a series of peculiar exchanges between her and De Niro. He struggled to grasp that her on-set behavior was an exaggerated portrayal of her character and not a reflection of her authentic self. It escalated to a point where the actor reportedly felt “freaked out” by Plaza’s shenanigans.
Robert De Niro Was “Freaked Out” By Aubrey Plaza’s On-Set Antics
Plaza wasn’t sure whether or not De Niro was able to discern her intense acting techniques. She had practically transformed into Lenore, effectively blurring the lines between herself and the character. Therefore, any interaction that the seasoned actor had was with the character and not the actress’ true self. Following is what the Child’s Play alum had to say about her immersive persona and its effects on Robert De Niro:
“By the time he’d show up, I’m in character. My character had one goal: To have s*x 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. You’d think he would because he’s an actor and an amazing one.”
One of Aubrey Plaza’s agents had heard that the actress’s off-camera antics had “freaked” De Niro out a little. This led the Parks and Recreation star to believe that she had come off too strong in her approach.
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One day, when the Goodfellas actor organized a team lunch for the cast and crew of Dirty Grandpa, he was unable to recognize Plaza beyond her on-screen persona:
“I showed up and he’s like, ‘Who are you sweetheart?’ and after that he was normal. At first, I think I came on really strong. I did some questionable things I wouldn’t do anymore.”
Plaza’s concluding remark suggests that she may harbor some reservations about her assertive behavior while shooting the 2016 film. Alas, it cannot be ascertained the exact impression her actions left on the seasoned Hollywood talent.
Dirty Grandpa (2016) is available for streaming on Netflix.
Source: Variety
