Elijah Wood is taking a nostalgic look back at one of his very first on-screen roles, long before becoming a household name in “The Lord of the Rings.”
Speaking on the “Happy Sad Confused” podcast while promoting his latest film, Wood reflected on appearing in Paula Abdul’s 1989 music video for “Forever Your Girl” at just 8 years old. The video featured a group of children acting like adults, with Wood taking on a particularly dramatic role.
“All of the kids were tasked with being adults,” he said. “I was a sort of executive in an office, like, heartbroken, breaking a pencil… running my hands through my hair, looking out a window.”
While the role may sound intense, Wood admitted he doesn’t remember much from the experience. “I don’t honestly remember much about that. Just that it was a fun experience,” he said, adding that meeting Abdul at the time was “very exciting” since she was such a major star.
Paula Abdul Gave Elijah Wood a Sweet Shoutout Years Later
Although decades have passed, the connection between Wood and Abdul hasn’t been forgotten.
Wood shared that the two have crossed paths over the years, revealing that Abdul still remembers him from the video. “I have since run into Paula Abdul. And she definitely remembers me from that video, which is funny. Very cute,” he said.
In 2022, Abdul even took to social media to celebrate their reunion, posting a side-by-side photo from the original 1989 video alongside a recreated moment from when they reunited at Steel City Con. In the caption, she wrote, “Reunited and it feels SO good Seeing #elijahwood at @Steelcitycon was one of the highlights of this weekend. I spotted this young talent when he appeared in my Forever Your Girl music video 34 years ago. I’m so proud of his amazing career,” per her post on X.
Fans quickly reacted to the moment, appreciating the full-circle reunion between the pop star and the actor she once worked with as a child.
From Child Star to ‘Lord of the Rings’ Icon
Wood’s early appearance in Abdul’s video marked the beginning of a career that would soon take off in a major way.
He went on to land roles in films like “The Good Son,” “Flipper,” and “The Adventures of Huck Finn” before becoming globally recognized as Frodo Baggins in Peter Jackson’s “The Lord of the Rings” trilogy. Reflecting on that chapter in a March interview with The Times, Wood described the experience as a defining moment that shaped his perspective on fame.
“When you’ve been through that wild cultural event and made it through feeling whole and human, I felt sort of set for the rest of my life,” he said.
Following the trilogy, Wood intentionally explored darker and more unconventional projects, particularly in the horror genre. He explained that horror offers a unique outlet for audiences, calling it “a safe way to experience fear… it’s cathartic.”
Now 45, Wood continues to balance acting with family life and new projects, including “Ready or Not 2: Here I Come.” And while his career has evolved in unexpected ways, moments like his reunion with Abdul serve as a reminder of where it all began.
“I’ve been lucky to have this wonderful, unexpected career,” Wood said.
