Pierce Brosnan’s last James Bond film, Die Another Day, was certainly a letdown for many fans. Many complained that the film felt unoriginal and like a copy of every single thing that worked in the franchise, completed into one project. While there is no denying that the film did not meet expectations, that did not make its filming process any easier.
Bond films are known for having effortlessly dangerous fighting sequences, and the 2002 film was no different in this regard. However, these sorts of grand displays can often become quite a challenge to film. Halle Berry, who played the role of Jinx, revealed just how difficult it was for her to film one scene from the movie.
Halle Berry Raced a Plane
Halle Berry has made a reputation for her work in action films. From playing Catwoman herself to fighting alongside John Wick, and even being an X-Men, she has taken part in her fair share of stunts over the years. However, it would seem that one stunt from Die Another Day was just too challenging for her, and it wasn’t even that complicated.
At one point in the film, Jinx and Bond have to chance down a plane. In Edward Gross and Mark A. Altman’s book Nobody Does it Better, she revealed how challenging this scene became for her.
Pierce and I had to run alongside a moving plane before hauling ourselves up into the wheel bay.
While many would think that the scene would be filmed through a green screen, that is not how Bond does his stunts. The actress revealed that she and Pierce Brosnan were made to run next to the plane as it moved. It is safe to assume that many actors would have opted for a stunt double in such a situation, but both stars decided to take on the challenge.
Pierce Brosnan Didn’t Break a Sweat
Even though both Pierce Brosnan and Halle Berry decided to do the stunt, only one of them found quite challenging. The actress revealed that the plane was only moving at a speed of 15 miles per hour. If it was a car, keeping up with it would not be that difficult. However, it would seem that planes make catching up to them a lot more challenging.
It was only going about 15 miles an hour and I was sure I could cope with that. But you don’t realize how fast that is when you’re trying to catch a moving plane.
Although the first take was a walk in the park for her, as the day went on and she kept running, she started to find it more and more difficult. The actress revealed that by the fourth-fifth take, she was completely winded and completely tired from all of the running.
By the fourth or fifth take, I was exhausted. Pierce did it effortlessly, but even though my legs were running, I was going nowhere.
The situation was not helped by the fact that Brosnan wasn’t affected by the running at all. Where Berry was appalled at running her fastest and not getting anywhere compared to the plane, the James Bond actor was doing it effortlessly.
