The Grammy-winning singer reminisces about her unforgettable experience filming “Max Payne” and meeting her first celebrity crush.
Not everyone gets the chance to meet their childhood celebrity crush, let alone slap them—multiple times. But Grammy-winning artist Nelly Furtado can count herself among the lucky few, recounting this unexpected moment with a mix of humor and nostalgia during her recent appearance on the Handsome podcast.
A Teenage Dream
As a teenager, Furtado had a poster of Mark Wahlberg’s iconic Calvin Klein ad on her wall. “He was my first celebrity crush,” she shared, laughing at the memory of her teenage admiration for the “Marky Mark and the Funky Bunch” frontman. Little did she know, years later, her music career would lead her to a movie set where she’d not only meet Wahlberg but also get to slap him.
From Pop Star to Actress
Furtado recalled being offered a small role in the 2008 film Max Payne, an adaptation of the popular video game series. “It’s a short scene, but I’m at a wake, and my husband has just died. It’s kind of Mark Wahlberg’s character’s fault, so I’m really angry at him,” she explained.
As someone with limited acting experience—her prior roles mostly involved playing herself or singing—Furtado found herself under immense pressure. “Mark Wahlberg is about to walk on set, and not only do I have lines with him, but I have to slap him in the face,” she said.
An Overenthusiastic Start
Her nerves as a novice actor got the better of her. “I actually thought I could practice the slap several times,” Furtado admitted, laughing. “So, they’re like, ‘Action!’ and I’m just slapping him, whapaw, whapaw! His face is getting red, and he’s so nice—he doesn’t even tell me I don’t need to practice on his face.”
For Furtado, the moment was surreal. “Meanwhile, my 14-year-old self is screaming inside, ‘Oh my God!’”
Balancing Humor and Emotion
While the slapping made for a hilarious behind-the-scenes story, filming the scene presented another challenge for Furtado. It required her to convey deep grief and anger, emotions she struggled to tap into amid the surreal nature of the encounter. Ultimately, fake tears helped her pull off the performance. “I barely got through the scene, but I made it happen,” she said.
A Memorable First Crush
Reflecting on the experience, Furtado couldn’t help but marvel at the intersection of her teenage dreams and adult reality. Despite her nerves and the unintentional overenthusiasm, the moment became a cherished memory.
As for Wahlberg? The actor took the impromptu slaps in stride, proving to be as professional as he is patient. Representatives for Wahlberg did not respond to requests for comment, but it’s safe to say the encounter left both parties with a story to remember.
For fans of Nelly Furtado, her candid storytelling offers a delightful glimpse into her journey as an artist and the humorous, unexpected moments that come along the way.
