Emma Watson, star of the Harry Potter series, became sick during filming Darren Aronofsky’s historical epic Noah because the director forbade the use of bottled water on set, it has been revealed.
Director Darren Aronofsky wanted to foster a “pro-environment” mood throughout production to mirror the ideas of the movie. This left the “delirious” actress with no option but to drink “stagnant” water in an effort to keep hydrated in the early morning heat .
“Because of the storm, we ended up shooting most of our scenes between 4am and 7am – and at that time I never function well. Because the film has a pro-environment message, Darren didn’t want anyone drinking from plastic water bottles on set either,” Watson told Wonderland magazine.
“Everything we used had to be recycled or recyclable. Having no water bottles on set at five in the morning – when you’re exhausted and delirious – wasn’t ideal. was so tired one morning I picked up a mug from my trailer and drank some stagnant water that had been there for the duration – so three months. I was so ill,” she continued.
The Black Swan director then stunned the actress by telling her to “use” her condition in a scene. “I came in the next day and was like: ‘Darren, I don’t think I can do this, I’m really sick,'” she said. “He was like: ‘Use it for the scene.’ And I turned round to the bus and was like: ‘Is he joking? He is joking right?’ and there was deadly silence.”
All of this comes at a time when the controversy and difficulties surrounding the movie are more visible than ever. Following unfavorable feedback from test screenings for US religious audiences, executives at Paramount made up to six different cuts of the movie, but Darren ultimately prevailed, guaranteeing that his cut, his vision, would be the one that the world sees.
The revelation was made in the magazine’s February issue, which the Perks of Being a Wallflower actor guest edited.
Watson pointed out that even veteran British hard-man actor Ray Winstone, who plays Noah’s nemesis Tubal-Cain, struggled with the filming conditions. “We started filming in the summer in New York. It was so hot that Ray Winstone at one point, who wore a beard and heavy make-up, nearly fell down a flight of stairs,” she said. “His make-up was literally melting off his face.”
She also told the magazine that’s she’s socially awkward.
The Hollywood star struggles in big crowds because she finds it difficult to chat to people and often escapes to the bathroom on the rare occasions she goes to parties.
She said: “I feel like I’ve been given a lot of credit where it isn’t due that I don’t like to party.
“The truth is that I’m genuinely a shy, socially awkward, introverted person. At a big party, I’m like Bambi in the headlights.
“It’s too much stimulation for me, which is why I end up going to the bathroom! I need time outs!
“I get anxious. I’m terrible at small talk and I have a ridiculously short attention span.”
Watson’s revelations are just the latest controversies to hit Noah. The $130m film has been plagued by reports that executives at studio Paramount cut up to six alternative versions following negative reactions from test screenings for US religious audiences. Aronofsky said last week that he had won a torrid battle to ensure his own cut is one filmgoers will see in cinemas.
The blockbuster, which stars Russell Crowe in the title role, sees Emma take on the role of Noah’s daughter Ila.
In the February 21 issue of The Hollywood Reporter, Darren also revealed how ‘upset’ he was that the film’s studio, Paramount Pictures, had tested alternate cuts of the project .
