In a startling revelation that echoes one of sports' most infamous moments, actress Jennifer Garner has disclosed she bit off a portion of a co-star's ear during a particularly intense fight scene. The incident occurred while filming the 2007 action thriller The Kingdom, drawing direct comparisons to boxer Mike Tyson's notorious 1997 ear-chomping match against Evander Holyfield.
A Director's Deadly Instruction
Garner, now 53, shared the remarkable story during Apple TV's recent press day, explaining how director Pete Berg created the volatile conditions that led to the dental assault. According to her account, Berg instructed stuntman and actor Sala Baker to 'try to kill' her during their confrontation scene, with minimal choreography provided for their safety.
'We did not have a lot of choreography, and he told me to do anything I could to survive,' Garner recalled of the intense filming experience. 'He did, and I did, and I ended up scrambling onto his back. I bit his ear, and we have a picture of him missing a chunk of ear, because we were not kidding.'
Parallels to Boxing's Darkest Moment
The comparison to Tyson's infamous bite during his 1997 rematch with Holyfield is particularly striking. That bout, forever nicknamed 'The Bite Fight,' saw Tyson disqualified in the third round after chomping on Holyfield's ear, creating shockwaves throughout the boxing world that still resonate today.
Garner explicitly referenced the parallel when questioned by her co-star Nicolaj Coster-Waldau about the ear-biting incident. 'Can we just go over that again? You bit a piece of his ear off?' Coster-Waldau asked in disbelief during their conversation. 'Like Mike Tyson,' Garner confirmed without hesitation.
Recent Reunion with Battle Scars
Remarkably, Garner recently worked with Baker again during production of season two of The Last Thing He Told Me, where they engaged in another physical confrontation. The actress described how their on-screen battles concerned crew members, but she insisted on maintaining the intensity of their interactions.
'We went for it in a way that the crew were like, "Can you be careful with her?"' Garner explained. 'I was like, "No, no, no, no, he's not going to be careful. I'm not going to be careful. Just back out of the way. I have a score to settle here."'
From Action Star to Executive Producer
Garner's comfort with physical confrontation scenes stems from her extensive experience as an action star, most notably from her five-season run on the spy series Alias. In a 2016 interview with Vanity Fair, she compared fight choreography to dance, stating 'It felt like dance to me,' revealing her artistic approach to what might appear as pure aggression on screen.
Her current project sees her taking on dual roles as both star and executive producer of the Apple TV+ thriller series The Last Thing He Told Me. The show's first season, which premiered in April 2023, became the streaming platform's most-watched limited series despite receiving mixed critical reviews.
The Legacy of On-Screen Intensity
This revelation adds another layer to Garner's reputation as a committed physical performer willing to push boundaries for authenticity. The incident demonstrates how filmmaking sometimes crosses into genuinely dangerous territory, with performers taking real risks in pursuit of cinematic realism.
As Garner prepares for the February 20 premiere of The Last Thing He Told Me's second season, this story serves as a reminder of the physical demands and unexpected hazards that can accompany action filmmaking, even for experienced performers with extensive stunt backgrounds.
