LOS ANGELES — Actress Hayley Atwell revealed that she was eight and a half months pregnant while filming a fight sequence for Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning, performing all her own stunts despite the physical demands.
Appearing on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon, Atwell shared that the scene in question was part of a reshoot and that she insisted on doing the stunts herself, even though the crew offered her the option to rest.
“In this clip, I’m actually eight and a half months pregnant,” Atwell told Fallon, ahead of a preview of the scene. “Everyone was really supportive and said, ‘You can sit down, we’ll have a stunt double do it.’ But I said, ‘No! I’ve worked too hard. Let me do it.’ So I did it.”
Atwell plays Grace, a thief who partners with the IMF team in the latest installment of the long-running action franchise. She stars alongside Tom Cruise, Simon Pegg, Ving Rhames, Esai Morales, Angela Bassett, Pom Klementieff, Henry Czerny, Nick Offerman, and Hannah Waddingham. The film is now playing in theaters.
Tom Cruise also spoke recently about the physical challenges involved in making the film. During an interview, he described filming an underwater sequence where lighting made it nearly impossible to see.
“A lot of times I can’t see because of the light reflecting,” Cruise explained. “I’d go in blind and figure out the movement on set. Plus, the suit gets 125 pounds heavier when wet, so the training for it takes years of development.”
Cruise, who also serves as a producer on the film, said balancing the physical demands with production responsibilities made the process even more intense.
Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning continues the franchise’s reputation for high-stakes action and behind-the-scenes dedication.
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