Photo Credit:Dan Mullan/Getty Images

Damson Idris recently opened up about an awkward on-set moment he shared with Brad Pitt while filming their upcoming Formula 1 racing movie. Idris, 33, plays rookie driver Joshua Pearace, who is mentored by Pitt’s character, Sonny Hayes, a veteran driver coming out of retirement.

During his appearance on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert on Wednesday, June 18, Idris described a particularly nerve-racking scene where he had to scream in Pitt’s face. “It was the biggest scene for me,” he said. “I was so nervous.”

The moment took a turn when, in the heat of the emotional scene, Idris accidentally spat in Pitt’s face. “It was a rageful moment,” Idris explained. “I literally saw the spit travel, land on Brad’s face—and he just kept acting like a true professional.” Internally, Idris panicked. “I was like, ‘Oh my gosh. I just spat on Brad Pitt. I’m definitely losing my job now.’ And I could see the spit slowly dribbling down his face during the take.”

Despite the mishap, Idris praised Pitt for being gracious and professional. “Brad’s such a beautiful human being and a giving actor,” he said. “He just kept going.”

Idris also shared a humorous anecdote about how he once believed he had seen Pitt years earlier when he worked as an usher at London’s Lyceum Theatre. “I took that job to watch actors and learn from them,” he said. “One day, someone came in to see The Lion King—blonde hair,
jeans, tan boots—and I was sure it was Brad Pitt.” Years later, Idris brought up the story to Pitt, who responded, “I’ve never seen The Lion King,” making Idris question the whole experience.

Adding to the fun, Colbert jokingly referred to Pitt as “a promising, up-and-coming actor,” to which Idris replied with a laugh, “He’s good. He’s got a bright future. I hope he sticks around.”

Idris also confirmed that both he and Pitt did real driving for their roles, reaching speeds of up to 180 miles per hour. “Brad’s fast—he’s an adrenaline junkie,” Idris said. He added that their training lasted about four months and joked, “Technically, I’ve got two years of F1 experience. I might be faster than Lewis Hamilton.”