Josh Hartnett Shares His Most Embarrassing Career Moment: ‘I Felt Terrible’

Josh Hartnett recently recalled an especially embarrassing moment during his time on set. The “Black Hawk Down” star, now 46, is marking his return to Hollywood after a number of years away. Hartnett shared that when it comes to mortifying experiences on set, he’s had many, but one stands out in particular.

“One of my most embarrassing is the parachute scene from ‘Pearl Harbor’ with Kate Beckinsale, where we are making love in the parachutes for some reason,” Hartnett revealed during an interview with ELLE. He explained that Beckinsale had decided to bring her one-year-old daughter and her boyfriend to the set for the first time that day. “I felt terrible the whole day. That was super embarrassing. Thanks, Kate!” he added.

Hartnett did not name her then-boyfriend, although Beckinsale was known to be in a relationship with actor Michael Sheen from 1995 to 2003. Their daughter, Lily Sheen, who was born in January 1999, would indeed have been one year old during the production of 2001’s “Pearl Harbor.”

Directed by Michael Bay and set during the infamous World War II attack, “Pearl Harbor” grossed $449 million worldwide. Despite the film’s negative reviews, it was a significant boost to Hartnett’s career, propelling him into stardom and allowing him to work with acclaimed directors like Ridley Scott and Brian De Palma.

“I was on the cover of every magazine,” Hartnett told Details in a 2014 interview referenced by UPI. “I couldn’t really go anywhere. I didn’t feel comfortable in my own skin. I was alone. I didn’t trust anyone. So I went back to Minnesota and got back together with my old friends.”

Currently, Hartnett is enjoying a resurgence in his career. He featured in Christopher Nolan’s “Oppenheimer,” which has become the third biggest film of 2023, and has a role in the Hulu drama series “The Bear.” He is also promoting “Trap,” a thriller directed by M. Night Shyamalan, in which he portrays a father dealing with a serial killer-related incident.

In an interview with The Guardian earlier this week, Hartnett talked about spending quality time with his four children. “I’ve figured out that as much as you’re worried about curating your career to things you’re interested in, I don’t believe that’s the most important thing anymore,” he said. “It’s about finding people who you really trust.”

Hartnett’s account provides a glimpse into the highs and lows of his career, depicting a path that has taken him from cover pages and movie stardom to a quieter life before re-emerging in significant new projects.

Source: Huffington Post, UPI, The Guardian