Rita Moreno, 91, says to it ‘pays to sleep with the right people’

Rita Moreno had the Today studio in stitches as she talked landing her role on Fast X and getting ‘turned on’ while filming 80 For Brady.

The iconic actress, 91, was on the show promoting her new film Fast X – where she joked ‘it pays to sleep with the right people’ when asked how she was cast in the movie.

She also shot down claims that her grandson Justin was ‘instrumental’ in her landing the role.

‘So he thinks,’ Rita told 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.

But, according to Rita, ‘Vin had already decided he wanted me in it.’

‘But Justin is convinced he got me the gig… he goes around bragging to everybody,’ she said.

She also had a hilariously flirtatious encounter with Today anchor Craig Melvin, a long-time fan who presented her with the Today Icon Award.

‘Hello gorgeous!’ she said as he kissed her hand. ‘Sit down you animal,’ Rita instructed Craig, drawing laughs out of everyone.

‘Yes ma’am,’ Craig said.

‘I’m intrigued here,’ Rita continued. As Craig wrapped an arm around Rita, she purred, ‘Hi there cutie.’

‘I’ve been such a fan for so long!’ Craig gushed.

After Rita asked how long he had been a fan of hers, he replied, ‘I’m in my early 40s.’

‘You filthy old woman!’ Rita also described getting ‘dirtier and dirtier every year’ as she recalled getting ‘turned on’ while filming the locker room scene in 80 For Brady

Hot and heavy: Moreno credited pheromones for 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 that her grandson was ‘instrumental’ in her landing the role

‘And I’m in my early 90s,’ Rita joked.

‘If I weren’t married!’ Craig said.

‘Do we give a hoot?’ Rita joked. ‘We should go to commercial!’ Craig said after wiping sweat off his brow.

Rita also described getting ‘dirtier and dirtier every year’ before talking getting ‘turned on’ while filming the locker room scene in 80 For Brady.  

‘Something happened to me, that was weird. I was then 89 or something, not quite 90, and I just got into this room and was like, “Oh my God,”‘ she said, before sensually running her hands down her torso.

‘Do we give a hoot?’ She also had a hilariously flirtatious encounter with Today anchor Craig Melvin, a long-time fan who presented her with the Today Icon Award

‘If I weren’t married!’ The duo had the studio cracking up 

‘Sit down you animal’: Rita instructed Craig, drawing laughs out of everyone.

‘I go, “What is wrong with you? You’re 90!”‘ she continued. ‘You filthy old woman! What are you doing? It’s called pheromones, and I believe I was breathing in pheromones’.’

Nowadays, the beloved Puerto Rican star says she could care less how she is perceived. 

Asked how long it took her to find her voice, she said: ‘I really needed to get old. I just did. And I’m also mischievous, I have a very mischievous nature. So this took a while. I was always cute and funny and all that kind of stuff, now I don’t give a,’ she said, before sticking out her tongue and spitting.

‘What is wrong with you?’ She described getting turned on filming a locker room scene from 80 For Brady

Fans can next catch Rita in Fast X, where she stars opposite Diesel and Ludacris.

Rita became friends with Ludacris, real name Christopher Bridgers, on the 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, articulate guy.’

Rita also revealed she will be returning to her role in Fast XI: ‘There’s some really surprising stuff,’ she teased of the sequel. 

Fast X will hit theatres on May 19, 2023.