The star revealed she wasn’t ‘a big superhero type person’ but though the first film was ‘sweet and funny’ (Picture: John MacDougall/AFP via Getty Images)
Dame Helen Mirren has called herself ‘incredibly brave’ for how she coped after breaking her finger while filming the sequel to superhero film Shazam!
The 77-year-old Oscar-winner and Charlie’s Angels star Lucy Liu both play daughters of Atlas in the upcoming DC Comics film Shazam! Fury of the Gods.
Zachary Levi, who starred in Shazam! in 2019, returns as the superhero, whose real name is Billy Batson, as he fights against Greek goddesses Hespera (Dame Helen) and Liu as Kalypso.
Dame Helen joked: ‘Don’t ask me about the plot, it’s too complicated.
‘We are angry goddesses wearing unbelievably heavy costumes. It was very hot and uncomfortable and, in fact, Lucy said at the end of the first day’s shooting, “they are trying to kill us” in all seriousness.’
The highly respected actress, who is especially well known for taking on roles of monarchs like Catherine the Great and the late Queen Elizabeth II, said she is not a ‘big superhero type person’ but as the first movie was ‘sweet and funny’ she ‘happily signed up’.
Shazam! Fury of the Gods stars Asher Angel, Dame Helen, star Zachary Levi and Jack Dylan Grazer at CinemaCon last year (Picture: Gabe Ginsberg/WireImage)
Discussing her stunt work on The Graham Norton Show, Dame Helen revealed that she didn’t quite manage to emerge unscathed.
‘I did some of my own stunts, but I broke my finger.
‘I was incredibly brave and didn’t say anything or complain because I wanted to be a real ‘stunty’ person,’ she admitted while showing off the evidence of her injury.
Also joining comedian and chat show host Graham Norton on the BBC show on Friday is The Last of Us star Pedro Pascal, West Side Story’s Ariana DeBose, and singer songwriter Freya Ridings.
The actress showed off her battle scars from filming Shazam! (Picture: BBC/PA)
To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web
browser that
supports HTML5
video
Pascal plays the title role in The Mandalorian – a bounty hunter who keeps his helmet on for most of the Disney Plus Star Wars spin-off show.
However, the star was happy to admit being upstaged by puppet Grogu, a non-human child who has been his travelling companion since the start of the series, which takes place shortly after the fall of the evil empire in 1983’s Star Wars VI: Return Of The Jedi.
Dame with Pedro Pascal, Graham Norton, Ariana DeBose and Freya Ridings on Friday’s show (Picture: BBC/PA)
‘Yes, absolutely. (Grogu) is remarkably lifelike and a real screen partner but does steal every scene,’ he agreed.
Grogu, also known as The Child, has been an internet sensation, described as baby Yoda as he looks similar to the Jedi master from the Star Wars films and can use the power of the The Force.
The upcoming third series sees The Mandalorian – also known as Din Djarin – and Grogu travel together once more after being reunited in 2021’s The Book of Boba Fett.
More: Trending
Meanwhile, Ariana DeBose is fresh off her headline-grabbing turn as a performer at the Baftas last Sunday, where her original rap verse in her opening medley highlighting female nominees had fans fascinated.
Lyrics included: ‘Angela Bassett did the thing, Viola Davis my Woman King,’ Blanchett Cate you’re a genius, Jamie Lee you are all of us,’ which has led to the question which thing, exactly, did Oscar-nominee Angela do?
Shazam! Fury of the Gods will release in cinemas on March 17. The Graham Norton Show is on Friday at 10.40pm on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.
Got a story?
If you’ve got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the Metro.co.uk entertainment team by emailing us [email protected], calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we’d love to hear from you.
MORE : Blake Lively was almost Karen in Mean Girls, according to star Amanda Seyfried
MORE : JLS are back again for a major 2023 arena tour – and this time with a ‘never before seen’ element
‘Lucy Liu said at the end of the first day’s shooting, “they are trying to kill us” in all seriousness.’
