Ana de Armas Does Her Own Stunts While Eating Spicy Wings | Hot Ones

Summary

In this episode of Hot Ones, actress Ana de Armas, known for her roles in films like 'Blonde,' 'Knives Out,' and 'No Time to Die,' joins Sean Evans for a fiery interview. As she tackles spicy wings, she shares insights into her role in 'Ballerina,' the latest installment of the 'John Wick' franchise. The conversation dives into her experience with intense stunts, acting alongside legends like Keanu Reeves and Daniel Craig, and even tackling a dreaded singing scene in 'Eden.' Throughout the interview, Ana opens up about her Cuban heritage, acting challenges, and the influence of Hollywood heavyweights on her career, all while battling the heat of the wings.

Takeaways

• 😀 Anna De Armas is not great with spicy food, but she prepared for the *Hot Ones* challenge.
• 😀 The *John Wick* franchise is known for its intense and creative action sequences, and Anna's character in *Ballerina* follows this tradition with a ballet-inspired fighting style.
• 😀 Anna finds the humor in intense action scenes and aims to show the pain her character endures in a male-dominated world.
• 😀 In response to a new Academy Awards category for stunt design, Anna highlights the importance of seamless action, with no cuts, and originality in stunts.
• 😀 The dinner scene in *Eden* was particularly difficult for Anna due to the requirement to sing, something she was terrified to do. She would have preferred to lip-sync.
• 😀 Anna shared a nostalgic look at her favorite Cuban foods, with rice, beans, and tostones being her comfort food.
• 😀 The key to a great mojito, according to Anna, lies in the perfect balance of sugar and the use of quality white rum, Havana 3.
• 😀 Anna discussed how her performance in *Knives Out* was impacted by the comedic projectile vomiting scene, where they tested different types of baby food to find the best look.
• 😀 When preparing for her role as Marilyn Monroe in *Blonde*, Anna watched Monroe's films repeatedly and shared a recommended 'Mount Rushmore' of her best works.
• 😀 Anna reflected on the differences between Spanish and American movie audiences, noting the stronger influence of American cinema in Europe and the sophisticated taste of European viewers.

Q & A

How does Anna De Armas describe her ability to handle spicy food before the Hot Ones challenge?

Anna admits that she is not good with spicy food and has been practicing a little bit in preparation for the Hot Ones challenge, but she is still not fully ready for it.

What was Anna's approach to shaping her character's fighting style in 'Ballerina'?

Anna wanted her character's fighting style to reflect the pain and struggle of a ballerina turned assassin. She aimed for every punch and kick to feel impactful and to highlight the character's vulnerability in a male-dominated world.

How does Anna describe the essence of the John Wick franchise's action sequences?

Anna describes John Wick's action as intense and gory, yet fun. The franchise has a unique ability to make the audience enjoy the violence because it is executed in an entertaining and over-the-top manner.

What is Anna's opinion on the new Academy Award category for stunt design?

Anna supports the idea of recognizing stunt design at the Oscars. She believes that one continuous shot and originality, doing things that haven't been done before, should be the main criteria for judging stunts.

What scene from 'Eden' did Anna find particularly difficult, and why?

Anna found the chaotic dinner scene in 'Eden,' where she had to sing, particularly difficult. Despite her fear of singing in front of others, the director insisted on her performing it live, which made her feel exposed and vulnerable.

What Cuban foods does Anna mention as her favorites for a nostalgic last meal?

Anna's nostalgic Cuban meal would include rice and black beans, tostones (fried plantains), picadillo (minced meat with tomato sauce and olives), and raka (a type of Cuban dish).

What makes a great mojito, according to Anna De Armas?

According to Anna, the key to a great mojito is the right balance of sugar—it's crucial not to make it too sweet—and using Havana 3 white rum, which she believes is essential for an authentic mojito.

What was Anna's experience filming the projectile vomiting scene in 'Knives Out'?

Anna recalls that the projectile vomiting scene was an event in itself. She and director Rian Johnson experimented with different textures of baby food to see which one would create the most authentic and dramatic shot on Chris Evans' face.

How does Anna feel about watching her own performances on screen?

Anna confesses that she hates watching herself on screen. She tries to separate herself from her performance, focusing on the overall film instead of just her own work. As a perfectionist, she always believes there is room for improvement.

What does Anna say about the difference between Spanish and American movie audiences?

Anna explains that while American cinema has a strong influence in Europe, Spanish audiences have a more refined taste in films. They appreciate a broader range of cinema and have a deep understanding of film culture.