Alison Brie stars as Evil-Lyn in Masters of the Universe, out in theaters now. In a recent appearance on Late Night with Seth Meyers, Seth asked Alison about the time she met Pope Leo. Alison and her husband Dave Franco were part of a group of actors and filmmakers who attended the Pope’s speech about the importance of cinema. To prepare for their meeting, Alison and Dave researched ideas for conversation starters. Dave had a good opening line that Alison hoped to play off of. When they got separated, she panicked and reverted to saying something generic while using an Italian accent. It didn’t go quite the way she planned. Here is Alison’s story:
It was nerve-wracking also to think, “What will we say to the Pope?” He came out and he made an incredible speech. He had this great address about the importance of cinema and going to theaters to see movies and the communal experience, and everybody should do it. That was great, but it was nerve wracking to think of what we were going to say.
I thought that Dave and I would probably approach the Pope together. Ahead of time, we Googled the Pope to find fun facts about him. The Pope is the youngest of three brothers, the same as Dave. He’s like, “There’s my in. I’m gonna reference that we’re both the youngest of three brothers.”
“And I’m the wife of the youngest. This is gonna work out perfectly.”
Suddenly, it’s single file. I’m ahead of Dave. I got up there and was just sort of like, “The speech was great. Thank you for your words about cinema.”
I did a voice. I did a very strange voice. I said, “Thank you for your words about cinema.” He said, “I’m not Italian. I’m from Chicago.”
I shook his hand. We went and sat down. I looked at Adam Scott and he asked, “How’d it go?”
I was like, “Eh. How was yours? And he goes, “I feel like it was just okay.”
Dave comes back. “How’d it go?”
He goes, “Nailed it. I told him, ‘You and I are both the youngest of three brothers, and I want to thank you for what you’re doing for the youngest brothers out there.”
He got a little smile. I didn’t bring it, but I do have a photo of the Pope and me shaking hands. He was stone cold. The [photo of] the Pope and Dave shaking hands? Little smirk!
[From YouTube Transcript, edited for clarity]
This story cracks me up. To be fair to Alison, I also wouldn’t know what to say if I ever met the Pope other than, ”Nice to meet you, Your Holiness. Thanks for meeting the moment civilization is in!” I was curious about the pictures she mentions and found a video of her and Dave’s meetings with Pope Leo. There’s no audio, so we can’t hear Alison’s cringy Italian accent, but you can see their body language. The Pope gives Alison a polite smile after she speaks with him, but has a visibly bigger reaction to Dave’s joke. Even the head of the Catholic Church relates to being a youngest child. The Pope, he’s just like us.
Photos credit: Chad Salvador/Image Press Agency/Avalon, Faye Sadou/Avalon
I thought it was Dakota Johnson. Everyone is so Uncanny Valley.
Thank you! I was thinking I’d never know that’s Alison Brie without the headline. Weirdly I just rewatched the Mad Men episode where she calls out Pete for cheating. On a dime she pivots from docile loving wife to smack down queen. She’s an amazing actress. In whatever face she’s wearing.
Me too!
Alison should have tried a russian accent or spoke about the work that her mom does with Para los Niños (“For the Children”), a non-profit childcare agency..
*speak* not spoke .😩
hahaha that’s adorable and super embarassing but totally relatable!!!
I once sneezed all over Julie Andrews.