‘Bad Sisters’ Cast on Shooting That Cliffhanger Boat Scene: ‘I Was Lying There like a Starfish, Floating Away, Going “Help, Help!”‘

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As a die-hard fan of “Bad Sisters”, I must say that Episode 5 was a rollercoaster ride! The tension, the drama, and the unexpected twist with Angelica’s fate had me on the edge of my seat. The dedication of our beloved cast members, particularly Fiona Shaw and Eve Hewson, to perform their own stunts in the freezing English Channel is nothing short of commendable.

⚠️ Caution: This content discloses crucial plot points from Episode 5 of “Bad Sisters,” currently available on Apple TV+.

With just two episodes under its belt, “Bad Sisters” creator Sharon Horgan swiftly eliminated a key character. As we’ve reached the midpoint of the season, is it really shocking to see the body count climbing?

In Episode 5, released today, three of the surviving villainous sisters embark on a boat journey alongside the enigmatic Angelica, portrayed by the renowned Fiona Shaw (known for “Killing Eve” and “Harry Potter”). Initially, four women set sail on the water, but only three return after an unforeseen encounter with a gust of wind. The disappearance of Angelica could potentially resolve numerous issues they face.

The episode’s climax unfolds over four chilly days amidst the stormy English Channel. Ursula (Eva Birthistle), Bibi (Sarah Greene), and Becka (Eve Hewson) find themselves in a tight spot when Angelica threatens them, stating she won’t press charges for Becka’s trespassing at her home unless the sisters agree to let Angelica scatter Grace’s remains in the Irish Sea. However, the sisters devise a secret plan: they will use fake ashes instead. A friend’s boat is enlisted for their mission at sea. Unfortunately, an unfortunate incident occurs – Angelica slips and falls into the cold, dark waters. Despite Becka’s desperate attempts to save her, including jumping in herself, they are unable to locate Angelica and must eventually concede defeat, returning home with a heavy heart.

Prior to the airing of the episode, Horgan, director Dearbhla Walsh, along with cast members Eva Birthistle, Sarah Greene, and Eve Hewson shared their experiences with EbMaster, discussing how they overcame seasickness and narrowly avoided drowning while filming that particular scene.

Apparently some of the cast got very seasick shooting on the sailboat — how bad was it?

Eva Birthistle: The only thing I can recall is feeling ill. There was heavy rainfall. The boat remained mostly still, causing a continuous rise and fall of the water, which I remember distinctly. At one point, it rained so heavily that everyone sought shelter below deck to stay dry. However, being below deck made me feel even more queasy, so they wrapped me up like a turkey in foil and left me on deck, getting drenched. It was far from glamorous, feeling wretched throughout.

Sarah Greene: I truly enjoyed myself during that time. I didn’t experience any bouts of seasickness. I managed to get by with minimal issues. To learn how to sail, I spent a couple of days in Dublin acquiring the necessary skills. The boat I practiced on was only half the size of the one we actually filmed with, which was quite intimidating, but that week was one of my favorites while shooting. It ranks high among my favorite shooting experiences.

Sharon Horgan: I spent two days lying on the bathroom floor, feeling like a cold and miserable wreck. The sea sickness we experienced was simply awful.

Regarding Sharon, I must admit my feelings toward her are not as compassionate. She wasn’t visible on the screen, instead being in another boat due to illness. On the other hand, I was the one in the spotlight, feeling quite green. Fortunately, it was just a single day of enduring severe seasickness, followed by some relief with acupuncture.

Eve Hewson: I never get seasick, not even a bit. On that boat, all I did was sleep and eat while others were upstairs retching with earplugs trying to prevent vomiting due to the rough sea conditions. Despite the choppiest waters, I slept soundly throughout the entire journey.

When Fiona gets hit by the boom, does she really go over the side of the boat or is it camera trickery?

Horgan: Fiona Shaw showed an incredible enthusiasm. She exclaimed, “I’m eager to get into the water!” We hesitated, thinking perhaps she shouldn’t, but she insisted, “Absolutely, I must!

Performed Her Own Stunts: Each time she did a stunt, I couldn’t help but laugh. I struggled to maintain a serious expression whenever she took a hit – it was simply hilarious.

Greene: She moved over, yes. I can’t recall exactly how many times we recorded that scene, but each take left me astonished. And strangely enough, I haven’t watched the full episode yet, but during an ADR screening, I still jump every time it occurs.

Eve also ended up in the water. What was that like to film?

Hewson: Jumping in the sea was so cold I can’t even tell you. And I also had to rehearse it, and the waves were so choppy that the rescue divers couldn’t get to me. My life jacket was like — it inflates when you jump in — and so it kind of inflated around my neck, and I started to really panic. And I was in freezing cold water, which makes your breath go sharp anyway. They just could not get me out of the water: The boat couldn’t get to me, the marine divers couldn’t get to me. So I was shitting my pants, basically. And then they eventually got me out, they pulled me onto a boat. But I was so annoyed when I saw the edit, because I was so proud of myself — we have this amazing footage of me jumping into the water and swimming through these crazy, crazy deep waves — and they cut it out of the show! I was like, “Guys!” It doesn’t look that scary, which is a bummer because I really committed, and I wish that it was properly on there.

Greene: She spent a considerable amount of time in the water. The garments were quite heavy and there were numerous safety precautions involved, as expected. Therefore, divers were present in the water. However, when her flotation device expanded, it was quite startling and she became quite disoriented in the water. Such instances are always nerve-wracking to film. Perhaps not so much when you’re the one experiencing it. But from our perspective, we were quite concerned.

Was it filmed in a pool or in the actual sea?

Walsh: All at sea, we did everything for real.

Hewson: It was in the deep English Channel.

Did you manage to hit all your marks before you were rescued?

Essentially, they told me to jump into the water, swim for ten strokes, and then relax and let the life jacket keep me afloat until the marine divers arrive. That’s exactly what I did, but I was just floating there like a starfish shouting for help because I needed assistance.

These interviews have been edited and condensed.

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2024-12-05 03:20