Aubrey Plaza says director 'instructed her to really masturbate in movie'

There’s no denying some of the best actors will give it their all when playing a role.

Maybe they’re full on method and act and speak like their character at all times, or maybe they dive deep into research to totally embody them.

And often, they’re willing to absolutely embarrass themselves in front of viewers all over the world to make the best films.

Willing to do that, Aubrey Plaza often gives unforgettable performances, whether it be in Parks and Recreation or in Emily the Criminal.

But even the comedy queen was surprised by how far a director wanted her to go for a role.

Back in 2013, the now 39-year-old starred in a rom-com about a totally sexually inexperienced teen who compiled a list of bases to check off before moving out for college.

Plaza played Brandy Klark in The To-Do List, and the character had all kinds of hilarious, awkward and raunchy scenes.

And in one, the teen gets to know herself a little more intimately – which could potentially be a mortifying thing to simulate for any actor, especially in a room full of people.

When asked about her preparation for the scene, during an interview with Conan O'Brien, Plaza admitted that she thought it would be just that - a simulation.

"In my head, I envisioned a nice scene where you see my hand slowly go out of frame,” the actor said.

Varsity Pictures

"That's what I thought I was going into, but then when I showed up, the camera was mounted on the ceiling, I was in my underwear and a Clinton t-shirt, and there were a bunch of old men smoking, ya know, the crew guys.

"And then I went and touched myself."

After later clarifying that the men weren't actually smoking, Plaza said she even approached the film's director, Maggie Carey, about the scene.

"I thought I was doing one thing and then when I showed up, it was a whole different thing, it was a full body shot," Plaza recalled.

"And I asked the director, 'What should I do?' And she said, 'Masturbate, like it says in the script'."

Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images

Plaza also spoke to Oregon Live about the infamous scene, admitting that she was anxious about it.

"Looking back on it, I feel like the masturbating scene was a little bit the most nerve-racking," she said.

"Just because in my head I thought, 'Oh, we'll probably shoot this in a way where I don't really have to really do it'.

"But then when we did it and I was like, 'Oh no, we're going to shoot it where I do it'."

LADbible previously contacted Carey’s team for comment.

Topics: Celebrity, TV and Film, Film

Jess Battison

Jess is an Entertainment Journalist with a love of all things pop culture. Her main interests include keeping up with the Twitter girlies, waiting for a new series of The Traitors and losing her voice at a Beyoncé concert. She graduated with a first in Journalism from City, University of London in 2021 and has previously worked at MyLondon.

@jessbattison_