Rebecca Ferguson has shared candid new details about a distressing incident where a fellow actor "screamed in her face" during filming, reflecting on how her approach to such confrontations has evolved over time.
A Shocking On-Set Confrontation
Two years ago, the acclaimed star of Dune first revealed that she had once demanded a co-star leave the set after they shouted aggressively at her. She recounted on the Reign with Josh Smith podcast that she requested to act opposite a tennis ball instead, with the actor digitally inserted into the scene during post-production.
While Ferguson, now 42, has consistently declined to name the individual involved—specifically denying it was Tom Cruise or Hugh Jackman—she has now provided deeper insight into the emotional impact of the event. In a recent interview with Harper’s Bazaar UK, she emphasised that her decision to speak out "wasn’t about the person" but rather about her own personal growth and boundaries.
From Fear to Assertiveness
"It was so scary," Ferguson explained. "I didn’t know then how to go, 'Hey, can I talk to you privately?' Now, I would want to believe that I could have taken this person aside." She described the actor as "insecure and angry," noting that their top billing on the call sheet meant there was little support available to her at the time.
The Mission: Impossible actress recalled walking off set in tears after being belittled, but returning the next day to demand respect. This assertiveness, she believes, has been crucial to her career, often landing her roles as strong, resilient women. "I speak my mind," she told Metro, though she added, "I very rarely try to analyse my own behaviour."
Navigating Power Dynamics in Hollywood
Ferguson shared that producers initially told her she couldn’t order the number-one-billed actor to "get off my set." Undeterred, she approached the director, insisting they address why such behaviour was tolerated. "The director said, 'You’re right. I am not taking care of everyone else. I’m trying to fluff this person. Because it’s so unstable,'" she recounted.
Reflecting on the industry’s shifting culture, Ferguson commented, "A lot of people say that we’ve become too woke, but I think, no, it’s great. The pendulum needs to swing to the other side so that we can find a balance in between." She acknowledged that this journey to self-advocacy has been a recent development, occurring within the last 10 to 12 years of her career, which began when she was just 16.
Life Beyond the Conflict
In the same Harper’s Bazaar interview, Ferguson also touched on the complexities of fame, describing it as "harrowing and weird" while admitting that recognition can be an "ego boost." She expressed gratitude for no longer being pursued by paparazzi, though she noted the occasional silence on red carpets when she isn’t a headline name like Timothée Chalamet or Zendaya.
Over a decade after her breakout role in Channel 4’s The White Queen, Ferguson remains exceptionally busy. She is set to reprise her role in the upcoming Dune film, due for release later this year, and will star in Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man, a Netflix film arriving next month. The latter sees Cillian Murphy return as Tommy Shelby, with Barry Keoghan joining the cast. Ferguson humorously promised she hasn’t attempted a Brummie accent, quipping that it would "ruin the film."
The full interview with Rebecca Ferguson is featured in the March issue of Harper’s Bazaar UK, available now.
