Asked by a reporter Monday how the 26-year-old actress felt being directed by the 1935-born Allen, a Hollywood legend "who was old enough to be her grandfather", Freida first quipped: "He might not like what you said."
The actress then said: "He may be as old as my grandfather, but as far as his creativity is concerned, he is young."
Narrating how she got the role in Allen's latest film "You Will Meet a Tall, Dark Stranger", which was screened at the 41st International Film Festival of India (IFFI) Sunday, Freida said she landed the role in the "old fashioned way", by going through the rigors of an audition.
"I was heading for Los Angeles for the promotion of my film 'Slumdog Millionnaire' when my agent asked me to meet up with Woody Allen in New York for an audition. I was shocked, I did not expect that, " Freida said.
She further said that on the third day after a quick, spontaneous audition, Allen's office called to tell her she had been selected for the role of Dia, a musicologist in the film.