One of the most well-respected and powerful English actors, Oliver Reed was in a league of his own. From his on-screen roles to his off-screen persona, the late actor was always larger-than-life and had a knack for jokes and fun on the movie set. During his time in Gladiator, the actor decided to join hands with the crew to play a prank on one of his co-stars.
Omid Djalili was already afraid of Reed and to have an opportunity to work along with him was something that he was extremely terrified and excited about. However, Reed’s and the crew member’s little joke on him was a bit too much he could handle and became one of his most embarrassing memories.
Oliver Reed’s Prank On Omid Djalili On Gladiator
When Omid Djalili signed for Gladiator, he felt extremely lucky for he had some screen space with the renowned English actor Oliver Reed. Even though he was excited, the then-young actor was afraid of Reed and too frightened to film with him.
Knowing his fear of Reed, the crew decided to play a little prank on Djalili, the details of which he revealed to The Guardian.
“They [crew] knew I was scared of Ollie so they decided to play a trick on me. They thought it would be funny to get Ollie to grab me by the n*ts during the scene.”
Oliver Reed, already in on the prank asked his co-star sincerely,
“Do you mind if I really grab you hard, to make it authentic?”
Getting his co-star’s permission, Reed’s hand remained there throughout the first, second, and third takes and in between resets. By the fourth, when Djalili still hadn’t caught up with the prank, for he was too frightened to even ask, the English veteran stated,
“You do realise this is a wind-up, don’t you?”
And the take ended up in the movie.
Omid Djalili’s Embarrassing Moment Ended Up On The Final Cut Of Gladiator
Oliver Reed was originally meant to punch Omid Djalili. But thanks to the crew’s hilarious prank that never happened instead Djalili’s what would surely have been an embarrassing moment ended up making it to the final cut as he revealed during his talk with The Guardian.
” I was so frightened of him that I thought it was part of his acting process… By take three I became aware of a massaging sensation… Everyone thought it was so funny they kept it in the final cut and he didn’t have to punch me. The film got an Oscar, Russell Crowe got an Oscar, Ollie got a posthumous Oscar. I got a partial er**tion.”
Despite the prank and his fear, both actors became good friends on set, until Reed tragically passed away just weeks later.
Gladiator can be rented on Google Play.
