The Quiet Force: Amy Poehler on Robert De Niro's Shyness, Craft, and Comedy

Robert De Niro has spent decades playing some of cinema's most volatile and commanding characters, but the man himself operates very differently. As Amy Poehler discovered when she prepared to interview him for Good Hang, De Niro is genuinely shy, speaks in short, deliberate bursts, and has no interest in hearing his own voice beyond what's necessary. "He gives great answers," Seth Meyers told Poehler. "There's a lot of important information in his answers. What he does not give is long answers."

The Shy Actor in an Extroverted Business

Poehler's preparation involved calling people who know De Niro well—Rachel Dratch, Seth Meyers, and longtime producing partner Jane Rosenthal—to understand what makes him tick. The recurring theme was that De Niro's quietness is not aloofness but genuine introversion. "I think he's shy," Dratch said, noting that she recognized the trait because she shares it. Meyers echoed this, explaining that De Niro's reserve is what makes him intimidating, but "the reality is he's not bored or put off by people. I think he is just genuinely quiet."