In a startling revelation, Hollywood A-lister Ben Affleck has disclosed the gruelling physical ordeal he endured while shooting one of the most pivotal scenes in the 1998 blockbuster Armageddon. The actor, who was 53 at the time of the interview, was struck down by a severe case of food poisoning during filming but felt compelled to work through it.
The Unforgettable Scene Filmed Under Duress
Affleck played A.J. Frost, a skilled driller sent on a NASA mission to destroy an asteroid on a collision course with Earth. The film's emotional climax features his character's future father-in-law, Harry S. Stamper, portrayed by Bruce Willis, making the ultimate sacrifice. Stamper stays behind to detonate the bomb, saving the world and allowing Frost to return home to his fiancée, Grace Stamper, played by Liv Tyler.
Filming this heart-wrenching moment, however, was far more difficult for Affleck than audiences could ever have imagined. During a recent interview on Jake's Takes, the Oscar winner confessed he was violently ill between takes. "When we shot that scene, I had food poisoning," Affleck recalled, explaining that as a less experienced actor at the time, he didn't feel he could call in sick. "I'm like, 'I better come in.'"
"Vomiting Between Takes": A Behind-the-Scenes Nightmare
The situation on set was as dire as it sounds. Affleck described the unique and unpleasant experience in vivid detail. "And I went and I was literally - it's the only time it's ever happened in my life - vomiting between takes," he said. The crew had placed a garbage can nearby for him, and they would call "cut" only for him to be sick. Affleck even mimicked the sound during the interview.
With a touch of dark humour, he reflected, "It probably made the scene better!" He was quick to clarify, however, that his decision to work wasn't an act of martyrdom, but rather a young actor's sense of obligation.
Armageddon's Lasting Legacy and Co-Star Camaraderie
Despite the challenging conditions, Affleck looks back on the film with a sense of fondness, particularly regarding his co-stars. He recently met Steve Buscemi at a premiere and the pair reminisced about the project. Affleck characterised the Armageddon experience as "the weirdest, kind of wonderful, strange, otherworldly movie" neither had encountered before or since.
He also praised Bruce Willis's demeanour on set, stating the iconic actor was "really nice to everybody." Directed by Michael Bay, the disaster epic featured an ensemble cast including Owen Wilson, Billy Bob Thornton, and Steve Buscemi.
In a separate 2022 interview, Affleck had previously opened up about the extreme physical preparations demanded for his "sexy" role. He revealed producers insisted he visit tanning beds, fix his teeth, and intensively work out. Bay had a specific vision of a "glistening male torso" to help sell tickets via the trailer.
While critical reception was mixed, the film holds a special place for Affleck as the only one of his movies his children have willingly watched and enjoyed, even as they good-naturedly mock its over-the-top premise. "They won't even watch The Town," he joked. "So there you have it." The story of his food-poisoned performance adds a new layer of resilience to the legacy of this quintessential late-90s blockbuster.
