America Ferrera on Cannes Red Carpet Prank: ‘I’m Over It’

CANNES — American Ferrera‘s first appearance at the Cannes Film Festival was interrupted when infamous prankster Vitalii Sediuk rushed the carpet and stuck his head under her stunning white Georges Hobeika Couture gown.

While walking the carpet for the premiere of DreamWorks’ How to Train Your Dragon 2, Ferrera didn’t even realize at first what was happening. Sediuk was quickly grabbed by security and arrested. 

PHOTOS: Cannes Red Carpet

Yet at the afterparty on the beach in front of the Carlton Hotel, Ferrera was all smiles, and gushing about the glamorous premiere, where her film received a strong standing ovation.

“It’s fine — I’m over it,” she said when The Hollywood Reporter asked about the incident.

Ferrera says she’d been nervous heading into her first time at the festival, and had even done some reading on how to walk the red carpet. 

“I think it’s impossible to not be nervous,” she told THR at the afterparty. “I would say this and the Oscars are the two most iconic red carpets in the industry.”

She stood next to Cannes vet Cate Blanchett at the start of the carpet. Ferrera, who voices the girlfriend of Jay Baruchel‘s character, had just met Blanchett that day.

CANNES RED CARPET: Man Hides Under America Ferrera’s Dress 

The cast began to walk the carpet in the traditional line, posing for the hundreds of photographers, when all of a sudden, Sediuk rushed under Ferrera’s skirt. Sources say he grabbed her ankles before security pried him off.

The minute it happened, Blanchett was the first to turn around to attempt to push him away, and quickly turned to make sure Ferrera was alright. Ferrera says most of the cast immediately checked in with her. 

“They were all so supportive. They all just wanted to know I was okay,” she said. 

Matthew Belloni contributed to this report. 

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