Netflix Star's On-Set Injury Leads to Twin Sister Stepping In as Body Double
Bafta-winning actress Mia McKenna-Bruce has revealed she suffered a significant injury while filming the new Netflix adaptation of Agatha Christie's Seven Dials, forcing production to employ an unusual solution involving her own twin sister.
Unexpected On-Set Accident Halts Filming
The 28-year-old star, who plays lead character Lady Eileen 'Bundle' Brent in the crime drama, disclosed that she broke her foot during production in what she described as 'usual Mia chaos fashion'. The incident occurred mid-scene with six weeks of action-packed shooting still remaining on the schedule.
'Tripping over thin air mid scene,' McKenna-Bruce explained on Instagram, detailing the unexpected accident that threatened to derail the production timeline. The role requires considerable physicality, with the amateur detective character involved in numerous action sequences including jumping, diving, and running scenes.
Family Comes to the Rescue
With the production facing potential delays, McKenna-Bruce's younger sister Ellis provided an unexpected solution. '[We] needed a superhero to save the day,' the actress wrote. 'And as if by magic, I have a little sister who looks like my twin. [Ellis] literally saved the show, stepping in to become my body double.'
The actress shared several behind-the-scenes images showing both sisters in matching costumes as their character Bundle, with Ellis preparing for scenes and McKenna-Bruce's injured foot resting on her sister's lap. Ellis enthusiastically commented on the experience: 'Best time ever!!!! Would do it all over again.'
Not the First Production Injury
This marks the second significant injury McKenna-Bruce has sustained during filming in recent years. While working on the 2022 Peacock series Vampire Academy, she broke her ankle off-set, requiring her to film for four months while unable to walk properly.
Reflecting on that challenging experience, she told Cool America Mag: '[Mia Karp] is American first of all. So, doing an American accent always adds more of a challenge. I also broke my ankle during the shoot which made things a lot harder as I had to film for 4 months unable to walk and with a cast on my leg!!'
Embracing the Character Despite Setback
Despite the physical limitations caused by her latest injury, McKenna-Bruce expressed particular enthusiasm for her role as Bundle Brent. She told Metro what resonated with her about the character: 'For me [Bundle's] love of people, her ability to connect with each person and [for them to] really mean something to her [connected with me].'
The actress also shared insights about working alongside co-star Helena Bonham Carter, who plays her television mother in the series. 'She is like a master class in all things, as a human, as an actor,' McKenna-Bruce revealed, noting she absorbed 'so many gems of wisdom' from the veteran performer.
One particularly memorable takeaway involved Bonham Carter's on-set habits: 'One of the main things that I've taken away is that she has an energy basket of snacks to make sure she's got her energy up at all times. She has the best snacks on the go, and we all took them and ran with them and made our own little snack basket.'
Star-Studded Adaptation Now Streaming
The Seven Dials adaptation features an impressive ensemble cast including Martin Freeman, Helena Bonham Carter, and Nabhaan Rizwan alongside McKenna-Bruce. The series follows amateur detective Bundle Brent as she investigates the murder of her lover, played by Corey Mylchreest.
Despite the production challenges created by McKenna-Bruce's injury, the completed series is now available for streaming on Netflix, showcasing both the actress's performance and her sister's unexpected contribution to the production.
