Torturous Film Roles That Forever Altered These Twelve Actors

As technology advances, coupled with well-devised stunts and other cautionary measures employed on set, it's nearly unheard of for actors to sustain severe injuries during film shoots. Nevertheless, circumstances sometimes spiral out of control. Moreover, the injuries aren't always physical; numerous actors immerse themselves so deeply into horrifying roles that their mental health is at stake. The editorial team at uznayvse.ru compiled the most physically and emotionally grueling roles that left an indelible impact on the actors and actresses.

Tom Holland – The Crowded Room

"The Crowded Room", a television series released in the summer of 2023, is based on Daniel Keyes' book "The Minds of Billy Milligan", which, in turn, was inspired by real events. Tom Holland's character, a young man Danny, suffers from a mental disorder that was unknown and unacknowledged by science at the time (late 70s). Following the conclusion of the shoot, the actor, at the pinnacle of his career, was compelled to take a creative hiatus for an entire year - such was the emotional toll of this role. "I am not adverse to hard work. I had long lived with the notion that hard work equates to good work. However, this series broke me," Tom admitted.

George Clooney – Syriana

Although unknown at the time, George Clooney nearly lost his life on the set of "Syriana". The actor virtually broke his back and, under the impression that he would never walk again, Clooney sank into a deep depression. He later confessed to contemplating suicide while lying in the hospital bed:

I was laying in the hospital bed with an IV in my arm, unable to move, with headaches akin to a stroke, and during my three-week treatment, I began pondering how to swiftly end the suffering.

Isla Fisher – Now You See Me

The film "Now You See Me" captivated audiences, largely due to the myriad of illusions performed by the actors on screen. However, for Isla Fisher, not everything was as enchanting. The film contains a scene that keeps the audience on edge from beginning to end: Fisher's character, illusionist Henley, dives into a water tank chained up, and miraculously manages to escape. Regrettably, things didn't go as planned. Isla recalls, "My chain got stuck. I was supposed to swim to the bottom and stand up. Everyone thought I was just acting realistically, but I was actually drowning and desperately struggling with my shackles." Fortuitously, the actress was freed – a stuntman finally realized Fisher was in real danger, not just in character. Everyone else assumed it was "brilliant acting".

Viggo Mortensen – The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers

Peter Jackson's "The Lord of the Rings" trilogy was extraordinarily complex, from the plot to the costumes. A considerable amount of money, energy, and effort went into the preparation, filming, and post-production. The actors also had their share of burdensome moments, quite literally. In one scene of "The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers", Viggo Mortensen, who played Aragorn, almost drowned. His character was shot in the back with arrows, so Mortensen had to float face-down in the river. Nonetheless, the team failed to anticipate the strength of the current, and Mortensen, in his heavy costume, simply sank.

Jason Statham – The Expendables 3

In 2013, during the filming of "The Expendables" in Varna, Bulgaria, Jason Statham accidentally drove straight into the Black Sea. During the rehearsal of a chase scene, Jason was driving a truck. The plan was for the vehicle to stop at the edge of the dock after a series of gunshots, but Jason sped past and started sinking along with the truck. Fortunately, the actor managed to escape.

Michael J. Fox – Back to the Future Part III

Michael J. Fox, famous for his role as Marty McFly in "Back to the Future," nearly lost his life while filming the third installment of the series. For a hanging scene, Fox was meant to stand on a box with a noose around his neck, but director Robert Zemeckis decided to make the scene more realistic – by removing the box. Naturally, Michael was holding the rope with his fingers, but at some point it slipped out of his hands, and he really was hanging in the noose for several seconds. In his autobiography, the actor recalled: "I was swinging unconscious at the end of the rope for a few seconds before Zemeckis, although he was a fan of mine, realized that I couldn't play dead that well." A year later, the still-young actor – he had just turned 30 – was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease, which ultimately destroyed his career. Many speculate that the disease's early onset was triggered by that near-fatal scene.

Jennifer Lawrence – The Hunger Games

"The Hunger Games," featuring teenagers killing each other, was horrifying: Jennifer Lawrence's character had to face hybrid wasps, killer monkeys, fires, and other psychological tortures. However, the actress herself nearly suffocated on set. In one scene, Lawrence was running through a tunnel when a smoke machine malfunctioned, and the tunnel filled up with smoke completely. The actress lost consciousness before her co-stars found her.

Nonetheless, the role of Katniss skyrocketed the actress's career, previously known mostly for independent films, to unprecedented heights. It would seem she had no reason to complain. However, Jennifer has subsequently admitted that fame didn't serve her well:

I think I lost my sense of control. Between the release of 'The Hunger Games' and winning an 'Oscar' [in 2013], I became just a commodity. I felt like every decision was made for me. When I look back on those years now, I think about how I simply lost control.

Channing Tatum – Foxcatcher

The complex psychological drama "Foxcatcher" surprised many, particularly with the performances of Channing Tatum and comedian Steve Carell, for whom serious dramatic roles are not typical.

Tatum played the role of wrestler Mark Schultz, who experiences a range of emotions, sometimes reaching his breaking point. For instance, in one scene, Tatum's character hits his head against a mirror, but the actor got so into the role that he broke through the protective film and severely injured his head with the shards.

Martin Sheen – Apocalypse Now

There might never have been a more terrifying film about the Vietnam War than Francis Ford Coppola's "Apocalypse Now." Not only did the director go over budget and off schedule, but his actors nearly died in the sweltering jungles of Vietnam. Due to inhumane conditions during filming, Martin Sheen suffered a heart attack and had to literally crawl several kilometers to get help.

Anne Hathaway – Les Misérables

For her role in the breathtaking musical "Les Misérables," the already thin Anne Hathaway lost an incredible 22 lbs to make her character, the starving and destitute Fantine, look as realistic as possible. However, the weight loss led not only to physical exhaustion but also emotional distress. In 2012, Hathaway said in an interview that it took several weeks before she could leave her house again and feel alive.

Johnny Depp – Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas

For the film "Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas," Johnny Depp had to get into the mind of the legendary journalist, gun enthusiast, and drug user, Hunter S. Thompson. To prepare for the role, Depp spent months living in Thompson's basement. He even slept near barrels of gunpowder. Although it wasn't Depp's most memorable film role, he said that he'd never immersed himself so deeply into a character. After filming ended, the actor underwent psychotherapy and even turned down several projects.

Diane Kruger – Inglourious Basterds

Quentin Tarantino is a master director known for pushing boundaries on set. In his 2009 film "Inglourious Basterds," he nearly choked actress Diane Kruger. In the film, Kruger played German Bridget von Hammersmark, who was strangled by Christoph Waltz's character. Tarantino wanted to make the scene as realistic as possible, so with Diane's consent, he insisted that she be genuinely choked. The director decided to do it himself and ended up misjudging his strength. Kruger lost consciousness, and the actress had severe bruises on her neck afterward.