'I was a hot mess': Robert Downey Jr admits being intensely 'jealous' of Rob Lowe in high school

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Robert Downey Jr recently shared his feelings of jealousy towards fellow actor Rob Lowe while both were students at Santa Monica High School in the 1980s.

During the podcast, 'Literally! With Rob Lowe', Downey Jr confessed to feeling a sense of envy towards Lowe, especially regarding his ability to balance fame and academic commitments during their high school years.

'Iron Man' star opens up about envy during high school

Downey, who aspired to be an actor at the time, expressed his deep admiration, saying, “I want to say I was jealous, but that’s not deep enough,” Downey, then an aspiring actor, said on Thursday’s episode of Lowe’s 'Literally' podcast. “I didn’t understand how anyone could get where you were, let alone still have attendance in school. It just seemed like there was something so high-functioning going on that there was no point for me to even attempt to understand it.”

In response, Lowe acknowledged their differences at the time, stating, "We’re wired similarly and also super differently — you would be impossible to pin down for that kind of structure at that point in your life." Downey humorously admitted, "I was a hot mess."

The conversation delved into their contrasting experiences in handling fame and school life. Lowe recalled more traditional challenges, like receiving messages at the phone booth to call his agent, while Downey vividly remembered Lowe's impressive car and fashionable attire, adding a touch of humor to the podcast.

“Can you imagine what it was like for the rest of us at SanMo High to see that notification for you?” a laughing Downey interjected, adding that if he ever had a message waiting for him, it would likely have said, "You’re f---ing suspended."

“You had a champagne colored Mazda 626 that only fresh money could grab you the lease on,” he recalled. “I remember you driving by in that car to get into the parking lot and was like, Welp, that’s how the other half live," he continued.

Reflecting on their initial meeting in high school, Downey expressed surprise at not being immediately drawn to each other, considering their later friendship.

Robert Downey Jr.'s unforgettable high school prom night

Award-winning actor Robert Downey Jr opened up about his high school days, offering a glimpse into the actor's unconventional journey through adolescence. Despite attending the same Santa Monica High School as Rob Lowe, the Marvel star revealed surprising details about his formative years.

Robert Downey Jr also shared amusing anecdotes about his high school antics, including climbing a tall fence to ditch school. Downey, who dropped out of school in 1982 to devote himself to acting said that he was surprised that he and Lowe “weren’t drawn toward one another immediately” after they met, even if they had very different approaches when it came to their studies.

One of the highlights of Downey Jr's high school memories was his prom night, he humorously recounted attending the event in a "mohair black sateen suit" after his father, Robert Downey Sr, refused to buy him a traditional tuxedo.

The actor humorously described his prom night attire as resembling that of a "gangster." He attended the event with a girl named Kelly McReynolds, who, as Downey Jr noted, might not have appreciated his unconventional prom night look.