The Challenging Scene Ana de Armas Dreaded Shooting

June 4, 20253 min read

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Since rising to prominence in Hollywood, Cuban-Spanish actress Ana de Armas has taken on numerous bold roles. From action-packed performances alongside icons like James Bond in No Time to Die to exploring complex themes in Deep Water and embodying Marilyn Monroe in the controversial Blonde, de Armas has pushed her limits in various ways.

However, she reveals that nothing came close to the discomfort she felt while filming Eden, directed by the usually affable Ron Howard. It’s surprising to think that a director with such a positive reputation would ask an actor to confront a fear, but de Armas insists this is exactly what happened.

Eden is a survival thriller set for release on August 22, 2025, after a prolonged wait since its premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival. It features an ensemble cast, including Jude Law, Sydney Sweeney, Vanessa Kirby, and Daniel Brühl, portraying European settlers in 1929 on Floreana, one of the Galápagos Islands.

In a pivotal scene, de Armas’s character, Baroness Eloise, is expected to sing in front of her fellow cast members and the crew. When Howard insisted that she sing live rather than lip-sync, de Armas expressed her reluctance. “I hated it,” she revealed during her appearance on Hot Ones. “I thought I should just lip-sync. This isn’t for me.” But Howard stood firm, arguing that he wanted the performance to be authentic and imperfect: “No, you’re singing. If it sounds bad, that’s good for the character.”

Despite her protests, de Armas ultimately had to learn the song lyrics, confessing, “It was horrible. I would rather do 100 stunts than sing that song.” The most daunting aspect was performing in front of others, leaving her feeling vulnerable and exposed. She noted that if Howard had allowed her to film the scene in a closed setting, it might not have felt as intimidating.

In the end, she pushed through her discomfort and found it a valuable experience, reflecting her character’s complex nature—she oscillates between being “sweet and tender” to “absolutely crazy and dangerous”.

Having a seasoned director like Howard at the helm was a comfort for de Armas, allowing her to voice her anxieties about challenging scenes. She appreciated Howard’s support and shared her eagerness to embrace the challenge, saying, “There was no question I wanted to do it. I wanted to push my limits.”