In a revealing interview on the “Reign With Josh Smith” podcast, Dune: Part Two star Rebecca Ferguson opened up about an upsetting encounter with a volatile co-star early in her career. Describing the unnamed actor as an “absolute idiot,” Ferguson recounts being screamed at in front of the cast and crew for her performance. “This person would literally look at me in front of the whole crew and say, ‘You call yourself an actor? This is what I have to work with?’ I stood there just breaking,” she admits.
She said she learned to stand up for herself after the star criticised her and she eventually asked for them to turn their back while she was acting. Ferguson did not reveal the co-star’s identity or gender. She added that she felt “so scared” about the confrontation which saw her being “screamed at”. Ultimately, Ferguson said she called them out on their behaviour. “Because this person was number one on a call sheet, there was no safety net for me, so no one had my back,” she explained. She said she told the individual to “get off my set”, and said to them: “I’m gonna work towards a tennis ball. I never want to see you again.”
As the number one name on the call sheet, Ferguson had no recourse and was forced to withstand the verbal lashings. “Because this person was number one on the call sheet, there was no safety net for me. No one had my back,” she explains. Feeling vulnerable and attacked, the harsh critiques would often leave the starlet in tears when the cameras stopped rolling.
Reaching a breaking point, Ferguson found the courage to stand up to her tormentor. Arriving fresh-faced on set the next day, she point blank told him to “F off” and that she would only be acting to a tennis ball going forward. However, the power dynamics of Hollywood quickly corralled the rising talent. “You can’t do this to number one. We have to let this person be on set,” producers cautioned the up-and-comer. Ever the professional, Ferguson offered a compromise – allowing the lead to remain present but only capturing the nape of his neck in scenes moving forward.
Addressing the debacle with the director, Ferguson finally received validation regarding the hostile work environment. He admitted to coddling the unruly star’s ego at the expense of supporting a harmonious set. From the harrowing ordeal, Ferguson grows stronger – realizing that even glamorous movie making can host ugly characters. Her courage inspires women everywhere to stand firm in the face of bullies.
