Tom Hanks Almost Died Filming Cast Away (For The Craziest Reason)
You will not believe the lengths the actor would go to remain in character.
When we think of actors in Hollywood, we imagine a luxurious life with tons of paparazzi following every move, too many designer clothes to fit in the closet and the insane after-parties for the industry's most important events.
But a lot of the real-life stays behind closed doors and behind the scenes of the popular movies and TV shows they're working on.
To get to the level where you can get a taste of this Hollywood glory, you have to work hard and prove yourself to everyone from directors to critics to the general public.
Acting requires a lot of passion and strength, not only physically but also mentally, as you'll often have to deal with many challenges.
Not everyone is cut out for it, and many give up trying to make it to the top. Others, however, are willing to do too much, including putting themselves in direct danger for the sake of the role.
One of the most notable examples of such reckless behavior would be Tom Hanks, who nearly died during the filming of Cast Away.
As the movie follows the story of Chuck Noland, who is forced to survive alone after a tragic plane crash into the Pacific Ocean, it's understandable that Hanks wanted to learn more about survival and get closer to nature.
This level of commitment to the role can only be praised. In addition, the actor had to go on a strict diet to lose a lot of weight and grow long hair to better fit the image of a character trapped on an island.
Another thing he refused to do until it was absolutely necessary was to go to the hospital. Injuries on the set are common, but to leave them untreated to the point of a dangerous infection is unusual.
As Hanks admitted to Radio 1, he had to be hospitalized for days:
"I went to the doctor who took one look and said, 'I have to put you in the hospital because we have to get this infection out of you before it poisons your blood and you die'".
Fortunately, the actor recovered fairly quickly, as doctors treated his infection just in time to prevent it from becoming life-threatening.
Cast Away became a huge success, earning praise from both audiences and critics and becoming the third highest-grossing film of 2000, after Mission: Impossible 2 and Gladiator.
Source: Express.co.uk