Rita Moreno, 91, says to it ‘pays to sleep with the right people’
Rita Moreno had the Today studio in stitches as she talked about landing her role on Fast X and getting “horny” while filming 80 For Brady.
The iconic actress, 91, was on the show to promote her new movie Fast X – where she joked ‘it pays to sleep with the right people’ when asked how she was cast in the film.
She also shot down claims that her grandson Justin played “a major part” in landing the role.
“He thinks so,” Rita said Today’s Hoda Kotb.
Rita said her grandson had met Vin Diesel, 55, at the premiere of West Side Story, where he urged the action star to cast his grandmother in the next Fast and Furious film.
‘It pays to sleep with the right people’: Rita Moreno had the Today studio confused when she joked about landing her role on Fast X and getting ‘excited’ while filming 80 For Brady
But, according to Rita, “Vin had already decided he wanted me in it.”
“But Justin is convinced he got me the gig… he brags to everyone,” she said.
She also had a hilariously flirty encounter with Today anchor Craig Melvin, a longtime fan who presented her with the Today Icon Award.
‘Hey beauty!’ she said as he kissed her hand. “Sit down, baby,” Rita instructed Craig, making everyone laugh.
“Yes ma’am,” Craig said.
“I’m intrigued here,” Rita continued. As Craig put an arm around Rita, she purred, “Hello baby.”
“I’ve been a fan for so long!” Craig gushed.
After Rita asked how long he’d been a fan of hers, he replied, “I’m in my early forties.”
“You filthy old woman!” Rita also described getting “dirtier and dirtier every year,” recalling being “thrilled” while filming the locker room scene in 80 For Brady.
Hot and heavy: Moreno credited pheromones with getting her turned on on the set of 80 For Brady
‘Vin had already decided he wanted me in it’: She also shot down claims her grandson was ‘instrumental’ in landing the role
“And I’m in my early nineties,” Rita joked.
“If I wasn’t married!” said Craig.
“Do we care?” joked Rita. “We have to go to the commercial!” Craig said after wiping the sweat from his brow.
Rita also described getting “dirt and dirtier every year” before talking about getting “turned on” while filming the locker room scene in 80 For Brady.
“Something happened to me, that was strange. I was 89 or something at the time, not quite 90, and I just walked into this room and was like, “Oh my God,” she said, before sensually running her hands down her torso.
“Do we care?” She also had a hilariously flirty encounter with Today anchor Craig Melvin, a longtime fan who presented her with the Today Icon Award.
“If I wasn’t married!” The duo burst the studio
“Sit down beast”: Rita instructed Craig, causing everyone to laugh.
“I go, ‘What’s wrong with you? You’re 90!'” she continued. ‘You filthy old woman! What are you doing? It’s called pheromones, and I think I inhaled pheromones.’
Today, the beloved Puerto Rican star says she doesn’t care how she is perceived.
When asked how long it took her to find her voice, she said, “I had to get really old. I just did. And I am also naughty, I have a very naughty character. So this took a while. I used to be cute and funny and all that stuff, now I don’t care,” she said before sticking her tongue out and spat.
‘What’s wrong with you?’ She described getting excited about filming an 80 For Brady dressing room scene
Fans can then catch Rita in Fast X where she stars opposite Diesel and Ludacris.
Rita befriended Ludacris, real name Christopher Bridgers, on set and even exchanged numbers with him.
“I’m a text buddy with Chris,” she said of Ludacris. ‘I asked him for his number before I left, I found him so intriguing. You know, he’s a smart, eloquent man.’
Rita also revealed that she will return to her role in Fast XI: “There are some really surprising things,” she teased about the sequel.
Fast X hits theaters on May 19, 2023.