Seth Rogen confessed that he found himself repeatedly thanking and apologizing to Penélope Cruz during the filming of a sex scene for the upcoming movie “The Invite.” Rogen, 44, shared the anecdote on an episode of “Jimmy Kimmel Live!,” explaining that the scene, which involved improvisational dialogue, led him to express gratitude as he felt he would in a real-life awkward encounter.
“There’s a scene where me and her are having a romantically charged moment, and it seems like we might hook up with one another, and I just kept saying, ‘Thank you,’” Rogen told guest host Ike Barinholtz. He recalled director Olivia Wilde questioning his repeated expressions of thanks, to which he responded that it was simply what felt natural.
“All I have is gratitude,” Rogen said. “I would be apologetic and thankful. I’m sorry.” He also joked about feeling nervous due to Cruz's marriage to actor Javier Bardem, adding with a laugh, “I don’t think he views me as a legitimate threat in any way, shape or form.”
The film, directed by Olivia Wilde, stars Rogen as Joe and Cruz as Pína, who becomes involved in an intimate proposition with Joe and his wife, Angela, played by Wilde.
Rogen also revealed that improvisation played a significant role in other scenes. He mentioned that Cruz suggested incorporating singing Sade into a romantic moment, an idea Rogen found both sexy and humorous. He also attempted a physical gag during a scene where he struggled to remove his pants, which resulted in him falling and injuring his shoulder for seven months.
In a separate anecdote about the film, Wilde shared that Cruz unexpectedly kissed her during a scene they were filming. Wilde described being so surprised that she looked directly into the camera, exclaiming “Cut. Namaste!” in a moment of disorientation. She attributed the reaction to being overwhelmed by Cruz's presence, stating, “My mind went blank because I was so struck by this moment. I lost control. I was so madly in love with her.”