Aubrey Plaza has built a reputation for playing unconventional and quirky characters, beginning with her breakout role as the deadpan intern April Ludgate on the sitcom Parks and Recreation. Over the years, her unique comedic timing and improvisational style have helped her land roles in numerous films and television series. One memorable project was the 2016 comedy Dirty Grandpa, where she starred alongside legendary actor Robert De Niro. In the film, Plaza plays a bold and eccentric college student who develops an unusual fascination with De Niro’s character. During promotional interviews for the movie, Plaza shared that filming some of their scenes—especially the more awkward comedic moments—created an unusual dynamic between the two actors. Because her character behaved in such an exaggerated and unpredictable way, Plaza said she often stayed deeply in character while preparing for scenes, which may have caught De Niro off guard. She later joked in interviews that her intense commitment to the role might have made the experienced actor a bit uncomfortable.

According to Plaza, the pair had very little interaction off camera, which added to the unusual atmosphere while filming. She explained that most of the time they spoke was just before shooting scenes, when she was already fully immersed in her character’s over-the-top personality. In a later interview, Plaza described De Niro as a legendary actor who tended to appear on set, film his scenes, and leave without much casual conversation. Because she remained so focused on the role, she believes he may not have realized that her exaggerated behavior was strictly part of the performance. Plaza later recalled a moment at a post-production gathering when De Niro briefly did not recognize her outside of character, which she found amusing after the intensity of filming together. Looking back, Plaza has reflected on the experience as both awkward and memorable, highlighting the sometimes unpredictable nature of acting when performers fully commit to unusual roles.