Taron Egerton discovered she had a real fear of heights while filming the new thriller ‘Apex’. Charlize Theron. The Welsh actor, who stars in the Baltasar Kormákur-directed film, explains how the intense desert-based production forced him to confront and overcome this mid-production discovery.“I didn’t realize that I’m afraid of heights until this movie. The stuff we were shooting at heights was really difficult for me. I had this kind of cognitive fog where I couldn’t really get any direction from it. I couldn’t really repeat simple technical moves because the fear clouded my head a bit,” Egerton told Outside magazine.
How Taron Egerton discovered he was afraid of heights on set
The most terrifying moment was when the director Kormákur asked to fall on a wire between 65 and 98 meters. “I wanted to do it; I wanted to give it a shot, but I was petrified. I was completely petrified. We did everything at my own pace. I had to control my breathing and not let go. And I did, and it was absolutely exhilarating,” Egerton recalled. The crew responded with a standing ovation.“Everyone gave me a standing ovation because they all knew I was terrified. There’s something really rewarding and uplifting about overcoming those fears,” she said.
Charlize Theron praises her co-star Taron Egerton
“She’s very, very highly rated among the best actors I’ve ever worked with. I don’t think I’ve ever been around someone with such natural instincts and intuition. She’s bold in the sense that she’ll take big swings. I could see from afar, Wow. It’s amazing to see Theron’s rise,” said Tarona E.
What drew Taron Egerton to ‘Apex’?
Egerton plays Ben, whose complexity surprised many who expected a one-dimensional antagonist. He explained that the character has evolved significantly from page to screen. “When I was asked about doing it, I was most interested in the extreme of it and making a film in the rugged Australian desert. And the very strange and unnerving intimacy of these two characters. The nature of Ben’s pathology was something that grew organically throughout the process, and I think it’s fair to say that it changed a lot from what I read on screen from the script he said.”When asked if playing such a character is troubling, Egerton was very direct. “I don’t think so. I think it’s all a game; it’s all fun. It’s larger than life and kind of absurd. Also, I think it’s me. It’s a weird version of me. I don’t participate in the behaviors it takes, but its expression is my expression. I had a great time. I mean, it was hard work, I don’t mind telling you, but it was very rewarding.’Moreover, the production was as exhausting as it looked. Egerton and Theron trained at an Olympic training facility for the kayaking sequences, while the climbing required a level of upper-body strength that required months of dedicated preparation. “They were pretty adamant. They were like, ‘You can’t get into this. You’re going to have to show up, fit and ready,'” recalls Egerton. “I took that very seriously and spent a few months getting in shape for it. It’s definitely the best shape of my life in terms of athleticism, strength and functional strength.”
What Taron Egerton hopes audiences will get out of ‘Apex’
Egerton is clear about what kind of film ‘Apex’ is, and he is equally clear about the responsibility he had to make it. “Popcorn is a movie, but it’s pretty lovingly crafted. We’ve spent a lot of time, a lot of sweat and a lot of galleries making something that’s really crafted. There’s nothing to throw away in the movie, so I hope people find it hard to appreciate,” he said. “I’m a really big guy, and I like to roam the woods away from the safety of my couch. And I think Apex is a walk in the woods. I hope people get a buzz, get excited.”‘Apex’ premiered on Netflix on April 24.
