"That was me under the bath and the water being held down. The director wanted it to look as real as possible so he told Keanu, in front of me, don't go easy on her. So it was scary"

Rachel Weisz is recounting a particularly challenging and intense filming experience where she was submerged under bathwater for a scene. She emphasizes her physical presence in the moment, she herself was under the water, not a stunt double or a mannequin. The addition that the "water being held down" suggests an element of physical control or restraint, heightening the danger and vulnerability she experienced. It’s not just the discomfort of immersion but the very real sense of peril, as being held under water, even on a film set, can provoke panic.

She describes the director's insistence on realism, opting to push the boundaries of cinematic illusion to achieve authenticity. The instruction given to Keanu Reeves, her co-star, is particularly telling; "don't go easy on her" is a directive to ignore the usual on-set caution that ensures performers’ safety and comfort. Instead, the director is encouraging Keanu to apply actual force, to create a sense of real struggle and distress. The fact that this was said "in front of me" adds another psychological dimension, Rachel is not only about to endure a physically taxing scene, but is acutely aware that her partner has been explicitly told to avoid protecting her.

Rachel’s final statement, "So it was scary", is both direct and understated. It’s a straightforward admission that the experience was not simply an act, but that genuine fear was involved. This reveals much about the demands actors face in pursuing realism; sometimes, what ends up on screen is real within its context, with real emotions and genuine physical reactions elicited by the situation. The quote encapsulates the blurred line between performance and reality, where actors may find themselves truly placed in vulnerable or intimidating circumstances for the sake of a convincing portrayal, raising questions about the balance between artistic authenticity and performer safety.