Idris Elba; Robert de Niro.Photo:Getty
Getty
The2024 Screen Actors Guild Awardskicked off the evening with its traditional “I Am an Actor” opening segment, featuring a few stars reminiscing about their career journey.
Michael Cera,Colman Domingo,Hannah WaddinghamandIdris Elbawere tapped to appear in this year’s opener as the ceremony commemorated its 30th annual year — and Elba, 51, shared a hilarious anecdote featuringRobert De Niro.
(L-R) Michael Cera, Colman Domingo, Hannah Waddingham and Idris Elba.Jon Kopaloff/Getty; Tommaso Boddi/Variety via Getty; Karwai Tang/WireImage; Jeff Spicer/Getty
Jon Kopaloff/Getty; Tommaso Boddi/Variety via Getty; Karwai Tang/WireImage; Jeff Spicer/Getty
For his segment, theHijackstar joked about getting “kicked out” of De Niro’s office years ago.
“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 [where] auditions were taking place forA Bronx Tale. And they started that week even though I was very late and wasn’t even invited,” he quipped.
Elba continued, “I used my English charm to convince the security guard and the receptionist that I had an appointment. Now the woman sent me up into the elevator—you remember when the elevators had a little key and you went in and went up?”
“I psyched myself in the elevator, did my Robert De Niro impression I was like, ‘What are you going to do, when you in there what are you gonna do? Idris, come here.’ "
For her part,Ted Lassostar Waddingham recalled playing the Lady of the Lake in the West End production ofMonty Python’s Spamalot.
Hannah Waddingham at the 2024 SAG Awards.Frazer Harrison/Getty
Frazer Harrison/Getty
“I had a 47 second quick change under the stage to come back up through the floor, holding the Holy Grail as you do getting ready to sing into the face of the legendary and very fabulousJim Carrey,” she said.
“As I was rising up, I felt this kind of muscle spasm right here around the top of my dress, but when I gestured stretching out my arm, it stopped, so I didn’t think any more of it,” she continued.
Meanwhile, Cera recalled starting out as a child actor in his segment, and Domingo discussed all the diverse roles he’s played, from a pimp to a civil rights hero.
The “I Am an Actor” opening began at the first-ever SAG Awards in 1995. At the time,Angela Lansbury introduced the conceptof the ceremony before proceeding to share a little bit about herself with audience members.
The tradition has continued with each ceremony, with stars likeWhoopi Goldberg,Michael Keaton,Elle FanningandJavier Bardembeing among the segment’s participants.Jamie Lee Curtis,Quinta Brunson,Janelle James,Niecy Nash-BettsandBob Odenkirkparticipated in last year’s opening.
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SeePEOPLE’s full coverageof the 30th annual Screen Actors Guild Awards as they stream live on Netflix.
source: people.com
