Idris Elba, who took the stage at the Screen Actors Guild (SAG) Awards last night, told how he was kicked out of Robert De Niro’s office when he was a young actor just starting his career.
Michael Cera, Colman Domingo, Hannah Waddingham and Idris Elba took to the stage to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the ceremony during the traditional “I Am an Actor” segment where the stars talked about their career journey.
“I snuck into his office”
Elba, 51, shared a funny anecdote about veteran actor Robert De Niro.
“When I was just starting out, I was 19 years old, I snuck into Robert De Niro’s office in Tribeca,” Elba began his memoir.
Speaking about De Niro, who was nominated for an Oscar for his role in Killers of the Flower Moon, Elba said he was trying to audition for the 1993 crime classic A Bronx Tale.
“I used my British charm”
Elba said that although he was not invited to audition for the movie directed by Robert De Niro, he somehow managed to convince both security and the receptionist that he had an appointment.
“I used my British charm,” Elba said, adding, “That’s how I got into Temptation.” The famous actor then made the following statement:
I was kicked out of the office by Robert De Niro’s producing partner at the time, and I took this gesture to mean, ‘Son, you’re going places.
“I am Idris Elba and I am an actor,” the star of Luther and Hijack concluded.
De Niro’s directorial debut
De Niro’s directorial debut, Invitation to Sin, was adapted from Chazz Palminteri’s 1989 play of the same name. The movie starred Palminteri and De Niro in the lead roles.
Although the movie was not a huge success at the box office, it was praised by critics. The crime film launched Palminteri’s acting career and helped De Niro gain recognition as a director.
