![Actor John Boyega during an interview with host Jimmy Fallon on December 18, 2015](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/gettyimages-501923160.jpg?quality=85&w=2400)
The Force Awakens actor John Boyega tells Jimmy Fallon that he lied to Star Wars director J.J. Abrams to save face.
Boyega made an appearance on the Tonight Show Friday night, where Fallon surprised him with outtakes from the cast singing an a cappella version of the Star Wars theme song. The host also questioned Boyega about the long process of going from auditions for the new Star Wars film, where Boyega let it slip that he had lied to Abrams during the casting process.
“It took seven months to audition and then J.J. sent me an email that was like ‘where are you?’ I lied and told him I was at an art gallery, when I was at home.” Boyega said. “Listen, in my defense I told him that because, you know, you don’t want a director thinking that you’ve got all the free time in the world. You want him to think that you’re up to stuff. So I told him ‘yeah, I’m at an art gallery, I’m not waiting to hear back about your movie J.J.!'”
Watch the clip below:
More Must-Reads from TIME
- Eyewitness Accounts From the Trump Rally Shooting
- From 2022: How the Threat of Political Violence Is Transforming America
- ‘We’re Living in a Nightmare:’ Inside the Health Crisis of a Texas Bitcoin Town
- Why We All Have a Stake in Twisters’ Success
- 8 Eating Habits That Actually Improve Your Sleep
- Stop Feeling Bad About Sweating
- Welcome to the Noah Lyles Olympics
- Get Our Paris Olympics Newsletter in Your Inbox
Contact us at letters@time.com