A routine Hollywood stunt once turned into a shocking moment that Jennifer Garner still remembers nearly two decades later.
While appearing at Apple TV Press Day to discuss season two of “The Last Thing He Told Me,” the actress revealed that an intense fight scene during the 2007 action film “The Kingdom” escalated so far that she ended up biting off part of her co-star’s ear.
The unexpected confession left both the audience and her fellow cast members stunned.
A Brutal Fight Scene That Went Too Far
During the panel conversation, Garner explained that she recently reunited with stunt performer Sala Baker for another action sequence in the Apple TV series. Their previous encounter, however, had already become the stuff of behind-the-scenes legend.
“Can I just say that the performer, Sal, the last time I fought him was in ‘The Kingdom,’” Garner said. “Pete Berg, who was the director, told him to try to kill me. We did not have a lot of choreography, and he told me to do anything I could to survive. 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.”
The incident occurred while filming a violent confrontation for the political action thriller, which follows an FBI team sent to Saudi Arabia to investigate a deadly terrorist attack.
Garner played forensic specialist Janet Mayes, while Baker portrayed one of the kidnappers.
Reuniting Years Later On A New Show
Years after that unforgettable scene, Garner and Baker found themselves working together again during the production of “The Last Thing He Told Me.”
This time, the intensity had not faded.
Garner admitted the pair approached their new fight scene with the same aggressive energy that defined their earlier encounter.
“We went for it in a way that the crew — this was maybe our first or second day of shooting — were like, ‘Can you be careful with her?'” Garner recalled. “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.’ And Sal was with us the entire season. So, prepare yourselves.”
The revelation quickly caught the attention of her co-stars during the panel discussion.
Cast Reacts To Garner’s Shocking Story
Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, who stars alongside Garner in the Apple TV thriller, was visibly surprised by the story and paused the conversation to clarify what he had just heard.
“Can we just go over that again? You bit a piece of his ear off?” Coster-Waldau asked Garner.
Garner leaned into the comparison with a bit of humor.
“Like Mike Tyson,” the “Alias” alum joked, referencing the infamous 1997 boxing match when Tyson bit Evander Holyfield’s ear.
The moment triggered laughter in the room, though Coster-Waldau seemed slightly alarmed by the crowd’s reaction.
“Why are you all looking as if this is a great thing? What is wrong with you people?”
Garner quickly responded with playful reassurance.
“Don’t make me mad. I seem nice. I’ve warned you before,” Garner told Coster-Waldau with a smile. “Oh my god, no, I love you.”
Inside The Story Of “The Last Thing He Told Me”
The Apple TV mystery thriller, based on Laura Dave’s bestselling novel, debuted in 2023 and quickly gained attention for its suspenseful storyline.
The series follows Hannah Hall, played by Garner, whose life is turned upside down when her husband Owen Michaels suddenly disappears.
Before vanishing, he leaves behind a cryptic note instructing Hannah to “protect her,” referring to his teenage daughter Bailey. Hannah and Bailey, who share a tense relationship, begin searching for answers while trying to stay safe.
Season two brings back Garner, Nikolaj Coster-Waldau and Angourie Rice. New cast members include Rita Wilson and Judy Greer.
Garner also serves as an executive producer on the show.
What Viewers Can Expect In Season Two
Later in the panel discussion, Garner hinted at what audiences might see next as the story continues following a major cliffhanger in season one.
“Have you guys heard of this term competency porn?” she asked. “Like, just we’re so hungry for grown-ups to be competent and smart and have integrity and do what they’re supposed to do … that we really fall for shows like [HBO medical drama] ‘The Pitt,’ where Noah Wyle is just so in charge, and all those nurses are incredible.
“In this case, Hannah does that for me,” she continued. “She has prepared everything for every eventuality, all to keep Bailey safe. And, so, watching as the penny drops and Hannah really realizes the kind of danger they’re in, watching those actions fall into place and watching her take one step after the other and include Bailey in this grand escape is, to me, really, really gratifying.”
The new season promises higher stakes, deeper tension and a more dangerous journey for Hannah and Bailey as their search for the truth continues.