Lauren London shares awkward first meeting with Jonah Hill

Lauren London and Jonah Hill share the big screen in the comedy ‘You People’, but the actress revealed their first meeting was anything but smooth.

Directed by Kenya Barris, the movie was released in select theatres on January 20 before being released by Netflix on January 27, and sees London and Hill play characters that meet via an Uber mix-up who become romantically involved despite their very different backgrounds.

During an appearance on ‘The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon’, London explained that she drove and met Hill for the first time a few weeks prior to the start of filming, only to find that a van had blocked the entrance to the valet parking area.

“When we first met - I think we had a meeting like a couple of weeks before we shot,” said London. “And he had this big van parked in the valet and I’m like trying to get in, I’m honkin’ like, ‘who is blocking?’”

“And he comes out, like, ‘I think I’m supposed to meet you today.’ And I’m like, ‘oh, you are. How you doin’?’

“That’s how we met,” she said with a laugh.

Despite the awkward introduction, London says that the two have become good friends.

“Jonah is really my homeboy in real life,” she said. “I love me some Jonah Hill.”

London shows public support for Hill

Hill isn’t doing press for the new film due to mental health concerns, telling Deadline in August 2022 that the public experiences have exacerbated his anxiety attacks.

“Through this journey of self-discovery within the film, I have come to the understanding that I have spent nearly 20 years experiencing anxiety attacks, which are exacerbated by media appearances and public facing events,” said Hill.

At the Los Angeles movie premiere, London told Variety that she supports her co-star’s decision.

“For us to pretend that we’re stronger than others and we can handle more, that’s unfair,” she said. “I hold space for Jonah Hill. That’s my homeboy. I love him, and whatever he needs to do for his soul, I am there for it.”

Julia Louis-Dreyfus, who plays Hill’s mother in the film, also backed the 39-year-old.

“You have to protect yourself and do what feels right to you,” said Dreyfus.