Did Vanessa Bell Calloway really get slapped in What's Love Got to Do With It?

Yes, during the filming of a scene, an intended stunt went wrong, and Vanessa Bell Calloway was actually slapped.

What movie features Vanessa Bell Calloway's iconic cake scene?

The iconic cake scene featuring Vanessa Bell Calloway is from the 1993 film 'What's Love Got to Do With It'.

How did Vanessa Bell Calloway react to the accidental slap in the movie?

Calloway improvised a powerful and authentic reaction that was so compelling, the director used that take in the final film.

Home / Arts and Entertainment / Actress Reveals Accidental Slap Fueled Iconic Film Moment

Actress Reveals Accidental Slap Fueled Iconic Film Moment

3 Dec

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Summary

Vanessa Bell Calloway's intense film scene involved an actual accidental slap.
She improvised the powerful reaction, which director used in the final cut.
The scene reflects Tina Turner's real-life experiences with Ike Turner.

Actress Reveals Accidental Slap Fueled Iconic Film Moment

In a reflection on her memorable roles, Vanessa Bell Calloway revealed the surprising truth behind an intense scene in the film 'What's Love Got to Do With It.' Calloway explained that a planned stunt involving a simulated slap went awry, resulting in an actual, forceful blow to her face. Instead of stopping, she channeled the shock and adrenaline into her performance, delivering a raw and powerful reaction.

This unscripted moment proved so authentic that director Brian Gibson opted to use the take as is. Calloway recalled advising the director against using a stunt double, emphasizing her desire to remain in the moment to convey genuine emotion. The scene powerfully depicted the fictionalized account of abuse from Tina Turner's memoir, where her then-husband Ike Turner humiliated her and struck her friend.