Tom Hanks has revealed what he considers the most “stupid” moment in his three-decade career during an appearance on The Graham Norton Show, set to air on Friday (1 December). The Oscar-winning actor reflected on filming the 1995 space drama Apollo 13, directed by Ron Howard.
The embarrassing incident occurred while recreating the famous line, “Houston, we have a problem.” Hanks explained to Norton: “Kevin Bacon, Bill Paxton and I were recreating the serious moment right after ‘Houston we have a problem,’ and were going up and down on grips making us look weightless.”
This would have been routine, but the real-life astronaut Jim Lovell was visiting the set that day. Hanks recalled: “We looked ridiculous and when I looked down there was Jim looking up at us. I have never felt more stupid in my life.”
Apollo 13, which tells the true story of the ill-fated mission, was nominated for nine Oscars, winning two for Editing and Sound. Hanks is currently in London promoting The Moonwalkers, an immersive installation he narrates and co-wrote with Christopher Riley, focusing on the Apollo missions.
The Graham Norton Show airs on BBC One at 10.40pm and is available on BBC iPlayer.
