Greta Lee has revealed the various fears and physical challenges she confronted while producing her latest survival thriller, The Last House. The actor, known from Past Lives, explained in an interview on the Skip Intro podcast that her attraction to survival struggle stories since childhood drove her to accept the role of Ann in the film directed by Louis Leterrier.
In the film, Lee plays a mother trapped with her husband and children in their own home under mysterious circumstances. Preparation for this role demanded intensive physical training, including intensive diving lessons at the London School of Diving. Lee and the other actors learned to control their breathing, balance pressure in their ears, and use additional weights because her body tended to float easily.
Lee recalled early breath-holding training sessions, when she felt she had endured a long time underwater only to be told by the instructor that she had only held her breath for two minutes. Through days of shooting in water, her professional commitment gradually increased her ability to stay underwater.
The production process had a significant impact on Lee's personal life. She said she successfully overcame trauma and extreme fear of sharks that had haunted her since childhood. "I'm not afraid anymore. I can be in water for hours because of what I went through during the making of this film," Lee said.
The Last House will premiere on 7 August on Netflix.
