‘Loot’s Perfect Benjamin Bratt Cameo Was Natasha Lyonne’s Idea

From extreme sports star Tony Hawk and professional chef David Chang to actor O-T Fagbenle and more, Loot Season 2 continues to slay the guest star game. In fact, just four episodes into its sophomore season, the Apple TV+ comedy delivered one of its most iconic guest stars yet: Mr. Congeniality aka Benjamin Bratt.

“We really liked the idea that there’s a celebrity out there who becomes obsessed with Molly, because billionaires are kind of moving in these famous people circles,” Loot co-creator Matthew Hubbard told Decider during a Zoom interview. “So we kept talking about it and talking about it and we came up with this meditation retreat story where she’s trying to basically swear off men, and then someone rolls in. Then almost immediately, we thought of Benjamin Bratt.”

In Season 2, Episode 4 — aptly titled “Mr. Congeniality” after the Miss Congeniality star — it’s quickly established that Molly (Maya Rudolph) has a maddening amount of pent up sexual frustration in need of release. Rather than jump into another accelerated post-divorce relationship like she did in Season 1, she books a 72-hour meditation retreat in Malibu designed to refocus, recenter, and annihilate her cravings. In the serene group setting, things are looking up. But when Busta Rhymes and Mariah Carey’s banger “I Know What You Want” plays as Benjamin Bratt struts into the yoga studio in slow motion wearing jeans and a white t-shirt, Molly knows it’s all over. As Bratt explains he’s late because his motorcycle broke down and he had to drag it a mile (hot!), Molly’s eyes widen, her jaw drops, and she moans “Fuck me!” under her breath, thus beginning a perfect TV cameo.

Next time we see Benny Bratt he’s wearing a light linen shirt and pants, revealing he likes to decompress after big shoots. Molly shares she once watched 10 Law & Order episodes when she had pink eye, and his acting got her through the tough time. Bratt reciprocates the praise, saying, “I’m sorry if I seem a little nervous, I’m just — I’m a a big fan. All of your charity work is incredible, and that speech you gave at Silver Moon Summit last year? Super inspiring.” He says he even works out to her speech, and now we’re just waiting for them to smash faces.

As Molly and the actor gaze deep into each other’s eyes for an intimate meditation exercise, Maya Rudolph embarks on a hilariously flirty facial journey that leaves you wondering, “What the heck is Benjamin Bratt doing here? How did a scene this perfect and this delightfully ridiculous come to be?” Well, Loot fans. We have another Hollywood icon to thank for the treat.

“Natasha Lyonne, who’s an executive producer on our show, had acted with [Benjamin Bratt] in Poker Face and told us how incredible and what a great guy he is,” Hubbard told Decider. “So we sent him the script, and like half an hour later, he said, ‘I’ll do it!’ And he showed up! He’s even more good looking in person. It’s incredible. It’s like, ‘How is a human being like this?’ He came in and was just the nicest guy in the world — so lovely to work with and really funny, too.”

After Molly’s breath work with Benjamin Bratt takes a mortifying turn for the worst, she excuses herself, calls Sofia, admitting, “instead of re-centering myself, all I can think about is putting my hands in his mouth and rummaging around in there.” She vows to break her “no sugar” rule and hook up with the handsome actor, but when she returns to the yoga room she learns they’ve entered the solitude phase of the retreat and is sent to her room.

As I’m sure you imagined, Molly said “screw it!” and left her posh digs during the dark of night to find her man. TLC’s “Waterfalls” served as the soundtrack to her search, which doesn’t take long, because Bratt is looking for her, too! “There’s just this energy between us. Are you feeling that too?” he asks. “You are so beautiful right now — like the Russian tundra at twilight.” After quality sexual tension, the two finally share a steamy kiss that sends sparks soaring. Before they go any further, Bratt comes clean with Molly, explaining he’s moving to London for two years to shoot a live action version of Despicable Me. Molly assures him she’s very into a one-night stand, and the smooching resumes until the retreat director scolds them for violating the rules.

“If I’m gonna heal myself, the best thing for me to do right now is to bone this insanely hot guy,” Molly says. Bratt agrees to fly her helicopter to The Four Seasons to continue exploring their connection, and though they’re ultimately “two minions passing in the night,” Molly gushes over their unforgettable evening to Sofia back at work, showing her photos she took of the actor looking absolutely dreamy in bed as 50 Cent and Lil Kim’s “Magic Stick” bumps in the background.

From start to finish, the episode featured yet another series of incredible, downright hilarious creative choices from Loot. The background music successfully set the mood, the writing was laugh out loud funny, and through impeccable comedic delivery, self-awareness, commitment to the bit, and irresistible charm, Bratt proved himself the perfect person for the job.

“He just knew how to do comedy in a way that we immediately were like, ‘Oh my god, these scenes are gonna kill,'” Hubbard said. “We were just so happy to be there and witness that.”

New episodes of Loot premiere Wednesdays on Apple TV+.