Lashana Lynch on Choosing Not to Do Her Own Stunts in Crime Thriller ‘The Day of the Jackal’: ‘I Don’t Want Anyone to Glorify Anything’

As a movie enthusiast with a soft spot for action-packed films and a keen eye for character development, I find myself captivated by Lashana Lynch‘s journey from physical prowess to psychological exploration. Her decision to step away from stunt work, at least temporarily, in favor of delving deeper into the intricacies of her characters is a testament to her growth as an artist.


Following her action-packed roles in “The Woman King” and “No Time to Die,” Lashana Lynch was eager for a less demanding role physically. She openly admitted, “I’m very proud of that time when I performed all my own stunts in ‘The Woman King,’ but I didn’t want to repeat it soon.” When she received the opportunity for the crime caper “The Day of the Jackal,” while still working on “Bob Marley: One Love” (a serene, peaceful, and delightful project with no stunts), she didn’t jump at the chance immediately.

Lynch mentioned to EbMaster that he needed a moment to go through the episodes. It wasn’t because he doubted they would be great, but rather due to the immense significance of being involved in ‘No Time to Die,’ an experience that carried such weight for the world. However, once he started reading the first three episodes, he was utterly captivated.

In “The Day of the Jackal,” Lynch portrays Bianca, a tenacious detective on the trail of an elusive assassin, referred to as the Jackal (portrayed by Eddie Redmayne). Beyond the thrilling plot, Lynch was intrigued by delving into the complex psychology of women in service roles, and furthermore, how they navigate being good individuals, spouses, mothers, while making wise decisions to uphold fulfilling lives.

The show, debuting in the U.K. on Sky on November 7 and airing on Peacock last night, has its share of action sequences. However, unlike previous times, Lynch opted not to perform her own stunts for this run. She expresses her admiration for the stunt industry, stating, “I respect them immensely – I think they all deserve recognition, particularly women.

Instead, Lynch primarily concentrated on acting and overseeing production, taking up the role of executive producer alongside Redmayne. Balancing these dual responsibilities led her to approach scenes from a fresh perspective. “I was constantly juggling considerations about what would feel authentic for me as an actor, but also what would seamlessly fit together in post-production,” she reminisces. “What kind of music would complement this? How would the sound design turn out? Would the microphone pick up all the heavy breathing, or would we need additional dialogue replacement (ADR)? There were numerous aspects that constantly swirled through my mind, as I wanted everything to be a deeply immersive experience, not just for us, but also for the audience.

A key aspect of her concept for the series involved maintaining its authenticity. As she’s worked with weaponry before, she found it challenging, but always kept in mind that the action sequences needed to feel completely genuine. She didn’t want viewers to be glorifying anything or perceive the characters as superheroes engaging in flawless chases. Instead, she aimed to portray the complexities – not just in the storyline, but also in her ambition to raise the bar for the industry in every moment. This is a significant responsibility she took upon every scene.

Although she’s currently finished with stuntwork, the actress remains eager for another chance in the Bond franchise, potentially reprising her character as Agent Nomi who was set to succeed Daniel Craig in “No Time to Die.” She expresses, “If there’s a compelling narrative that fits, I believe audiences would enjoy seeing Nomi once more. However, I honestly can’t say for sure. The future is uncertain.

Has she received any news from Bond producers Eon regarding the upcoming film? Lynch responds honestly, saying, “No, not at all. It’s fascinating to be in a position where I’ve been connected to that universe and people often think I would know something. But the truth is, I don’t! I’m just as curious as everyone else.

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2024-11-15 21:20