As the first audience reactions begin to emerge from Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One this week, a lot of the buzz is coming from the film’s utterly spectacular stunt sequences. Two of the most memorable stunts in the movie are built around the franchise newcomer, English actress Hayley Atwell, including a mind-blowing car chase through the streets of Rome that kicks the film into high gear.
So how in the world does one prepare to join what is widely known as one of the most physically demanding movie franchises when it comes to stunts?
MORE: Ranking the Mission: Impossible movies from M:I 2 to Dead Reckoning Part One
The answer, of course, is practice and lots of it. Atwell’s preparations for the role included six months of working with renowned stunt coordinator Wade Eastwood on her driving skills so that she could do as much of the actual driving in the film as possible without the use of stunt drivers.
“[Eastwood] was focused on making sure that my drifting was up to, not only the kind of speed and precision it needed to be but that I was also aware of obstacles I’d be facing on the streets of Rome,” Atwell said. “Buildings, people, other cars.”
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“Wade is so disciplined and strict and such a brilliant teacher that he would not let me get into a car on location unless he knew that his own crew were safe.”
Atwell’s ability to safely pull off these moves behind the wheel didn’t just impact her, but also her co-star and executive producer Tom Cruise, who is handcuffed to Atwell’s character through the entire car chase sequence.
“By the time we got to Rome, I had built up the trust from Wade and also from Tom that I could do these competently and that I could also take direction in my performance so that Grace as a character could seem more reckless than I really am as a driver,” Atwell said.
“It’s a great privilege of my life that in that moment Tom felt that he could put his life in my hands.”
Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One is in theaters now. You can hear the For The Win staff discuss it in even more detail in the latest episode of our pop culture podcast, For The Watercooler. Listen in the player below or in your favorite podcast app.