Elijah Wood remembers being a ‘heartbroken executive’ in Paula Abdul’s 1989 music video

Elijah Wood is taking a nostalgic trip back to one of his earliest acting roles, appearing in Paula Abdul’s 1989 music video for her hit song Forever Your Girl.

The 45-year-old actor opened up on the Happy Sad Confused podcast about the experience, which was directed by future Hollywood heavyweight David Fincher, known for films like Fight Club and Gone Girl.

“It was a really pleasant experience,” Wood recalled. “All of the kids were tasked with being adults. They were recreating the Robert Palmer ‘Addicted to Love’ video with young kids. I was sort of an executive in an office, heartbroken — breaking a pencil, running my hands through my hair, looking out a window. Fincher was very clear with his direction.”

Despite the specificity of his role, Wood admitted that much of the experience is a blur. “I don’t honestly remember much about that. Just that it was a fun experience. And I remember meeting Paula Abdul. That was great — she was a huge singer at the time, that album was massive, so I definitely knew who she was, and it was very exciting.”

Wood has reconnected with Abdul over the years, noting with amusement, “I have since run into Paula Abdul. And she definitely remembers me from that video, which is funny. Very cute.”

Since that early music video appearance, Wood has built a remarkable acting career. 

He became a household name as Frodo Baggins in Peter Jackson’s Lord of the Rings trilogy, later returning to work with Jackson on The Hobbit. 

He also starred in beloved films throughout the ’90s, including Flipper, The Good Son, and The Adventures of Huck Finn.

Wood is currently promoting his latest project, Ready or Not 2: Here I Come, which is now playing in theaters nationwide.