A British acting legend has revealed how when he was 19 years old, he managed to scam his way into the office of none other than Robert De Niro.
For an aspiring actor, that’s definitely an achievement worth shouting about!
During the 2024 Sag Awards, Idris Elba recalled how in the early days of his career, he was savviness came in useful when trying to make himself known to the Taxi Driver actor.
‘When I was just starting out in this business – I was 19 years old – I scammed my way up to Robert De Niro’s office in Tribeca,’ he said.
Luckily for Idris, 51, his ‘English charm’ meant that he was able to convince a security guard and a receptionist that he had an appointment with Robert, 80.
Making his way up the chain in an attempt to get an audition for A Bronx Tale, eventually,Idris faced the obsacle of Robert’s producing partner.
Despite being kicked out of the office, he took the encounter as a gesture that meant: ‘Kid, you’re going places,’ The Hollywood Reporter reported.
While Idris might not have managed to get a one-on-one meeting with Robert at the time, he’s since gone from strength to strength, starring in blockbuster productions from Thor to Luther.
At the Sag Awards, Idris also ended up getting a little bit over excited about the relaxed rules concerning swearing, as the ceremony was being broadcast live on streaming platform Netflix, rather than on TV.
Taking to the stage as the first presenter of the night, the Hijack star used an F-bomb and told nominees they could curse as much as they like.
However, he then shocked even himself when he realised that he had sworn at Oprah Winfrey… while warning everyone not to say anything that they would say in front of the media mogul.
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As the camera panned down to the 70-year-old interview legend looking a bit confused at the statement, Idris exclaimed: ‘F***! That was Oprah.’
Disney Plus chef comedy drama The Bear and Oppenheimer won big at the Sag Awards, with each taking home three gongs.
Starring Jeremy Allen White as dishevelled chef Carmy, The Bear won best ensemble in a comedy series, with the actor winning best male performance in comedy series, and Ayo Edebiri winning best female actor in the same category.
Who won at 2024 Sag Awards? Winners' list in full
Film categories
Best actor
WINNER: Cillian Murphy - Oppenheimer
Bradley Cooper - Maestro
Colman Domingo - Rustin
Paul Giamatti - The Holdovers
Jeffrey Wright - American Fiction
Best actress
WINNER: Lily Gladstone - Killers of the Flower Moon
Annette Bening - Nyad
Carey Mulligan - Maestro
Margot Robbie - Barbie
Emma Stone - Poor Things
Best supporting actor
WINNER: Robert Downey Jr. - Oppenheimer
Sterling K. Brown - American Fiction
Willem Dafoe - Poor Things
Robert De Niro - Killers of the Flower Moon
Ryan Gosling - Barbie
Best supporting actress
WINNER: Da'Vine Joy Randolph - The Holdovers
Emily Blunt - Oppenheimer
Danielle Brooks - The Color Purple
Penélope Cruz - Ferrari
Jodie Foster - Nyad
Outstanding performance by a cast
WINNER: Oppenheimer
American Fiction
Barbie
The Color Purple
Killers of the Flower Moon
Best stunt ensemble in a film
WINNER: Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning Part One
Barbie
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3
Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny
John Wick: Chapter 4
Television categories
Best actor in a TV movie or limited series
WINNER: Steven Yeun - Beef
Matt Bomer - Fellow Travelers
Jon Hamm - Fargo
David Oyelowo - Lawmen: Bass Reeves
Tony Shalhoub - Mr. Monk's Last Case: A Monk Movie
Best actress in a TV movie or limited series
WINNER: Ali Wong - Beef
Uzo Aduba - Painkiller
Kathryn Hahn - Tiny Beautiful Things
Brie Larson - Lessons in Chemistry
Bel Powley - A Small Light
Best actor in a drama series
WINNER: Pedro Pascal - The Last of Us
Brian Cox - Succession
Billy Crudup - The Morning Show
Kieran Culkin - Succession
Matthew Macfadyen - Succession
Best actress in a drama series
WINNER: Elizabeth Debicki - The Crown
Jennifer Aniston - The Morning Show
Bella Ramsey - The Last of Us
Keri Russell - The Diplomat
Sarah Snook - Succession
Best actor in a comedy series
WINNER: Jeremy Allen White - The Bear
Brett Goldstein - Ted Lasso
Bill Hader - Barry
Ebon Moss-Bachrach - The Bear
Jason Sudeikis - Ted Lasso
Best actress in a comedy series
WINNER: Ayo Edebiri - The Bear
Alex Borstein - The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel
Rachel Brosnahan - The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel
Quinta Brunson - Abbott Elementary
Hannah Waddingham - Ted Lasso
Best ensemble cast in a drama series
WINNER: Succession
The Crown
The Gilded Age
The Last of Us
The Morning Show
Best ensemble cast in a comedy series
WINNER: The Bear
Abbott Elementary
Barry
Only Murders in the Building
Ted Lasso
Best stunt ensemble in a TV series
WINNER: The Last of Us
Ahsoka
Barry
Beef
The Mandalorian
Christopher Nolan’s Oppenheimer won best performance by a cast in a motion picture, and also scooped leading actor for Cillian Murphy while Robert Downey Jr. won best supporting actor.
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Succession was awarded best drama series ensemble, while Beef earnt Ali Wong best performance by female actor in TV movie or limited series, with Steven Yeun winning the same award for male actors.
Pedro Pascal won the award for best male actor in a drama series for The Last of Us, and Elizabeth Debicki nabbed the best actress in drama series for her portrayal of Princess Diana in The Crown.
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Meanwhile, Oppenheimer’s pink box office rival Barbie went home empty-handed after it was nominated for four awards.
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