Elizabeth Banks Credits “Guardian Angel” for Saving Her Life During Choking Incident on ‘Skincare’ Set

As a seasoned gamer with a soft spot for cinematic storytelling, I can’t help but admire Elizabeth Banks‘ resilience and the twist her real-life adventure took in the midst of filming “Skincare.” The fact that she faced a choking incident, only to be saved by a guardian angel named Julius, adds an unexpected layer to her portrayal of Hope Goldman – a character who faces her own struggles in the cutthroat world of aesthetics.


As a gamer, I’m eternally grateful for that unseen hero who stepped in just when I was about to choke during filming of my next blockbuster, “Skincare.”

In a recent interview on “Good Morning America”, the actress and director disclosed an unusual experience she had – her first ever choking incident. This happened when a small green pea from her lunch became stuck in her throat. As it occurred while she was alone in her trailer, she couldn’t make any noise due to fear. She recounted that moment by saying, “I threw open the door and couldn’t utter a sound.”

She stated, “I noticed an individual asking, ‘Are you alright? Are you choking?’ In response, I signaled ‘yes’ with a thumbs-up. He then approached me. I moved back and he performed the Heimlich maneuver on me. He did it calmly and professionally. The crew member had to execute the procedure twice before the stuck pea was dislodged.” Banks highlighted this point.

“She declared that his name is Julius. To her, he’s more than just a person; he’s like her personal savior,” she expressed. “I adore you, Julius. Not only figuratively, but in an extraordinary sense, he rescued me from danger on the movie set.”

After the harrowing incident, Banks emphasized that she has seized every chance to inform others about learning the Heimlich maneuver. “Ensure you’re well-versed in it,” she urged. “Discuss it with your friends and family. There are numerous videos available online demonstrating how to perform it. It’s quite straightforward.” She went on to say, “Many people fear, ‘I might break a rib’ or ‘I could injure someone.’ They’re risking their lives! If necessary, break their rib. I would have welcomed a broken rib in my case.”

She added that she “literally couldn’t breathe, and it was super scary.”

Banks plays the role of renowned aesthetician Hope Goldman, a celebrity figure in skincare, who gets embroiled in a scandal when an adversary deliberately tries to undermine her personal life and professional success.

Director Austin Peters, in collaboration with Sam Freilich and Deering Regan, offers a modern interpretation of the story. On Good Morning America, Banks characterized Hope as an “old-school” aesthetician who started her business 25 years ago, finding herself exploited while receiving guidance from younger individuals urging her to promote herself on social media. According to the Skincare star, this leads to her personal information being leaked, causing trouble, and her struggling to maintain relevance amidst it all.

The film hits theaters on Aug. 16.

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2024-07-31 21:55