The Swedish actress shares her experience of confronting toxic behaviour during filming

Rebecca Ferguson, renowned for her roles in blockbuster hits like “Dune” and “Mission Impossible,” recently disclosed a distressing encounter with a former co-star. The 40-year-old actress revealed on Tuesday’s episode of the Reign with Josh Smith podcast how she stood her ground against verbal abuse on set, refusing to tolerate such behaviour in her workplace.

Recalling the unsettling incident, Ferguson described working with an unnamed co-star, the lead on the project, who subjected her to a barrage of insults and profanity. “I did a film with an absolute idiot of a co-star,” she recounted, emphasizing the severity of the situation. Despite refraining from disclosing the individual’s identity, Ferguson clarified that it wasn’t her co-stars from “The Greatest Showman” or “Mission Impossible,” Hugh Jackman or Tom Cruise, respectively.

The distressing episode unfolded as Ferguson found herself at the receiving end of her co-star’s unwarranted outbursts. “This person would literally look at me in front of the whole crew and say, ‘You call yourself an actor?'” Ferguson recounted, shedding light on the hostile environment she endured. The relentless verbal attacks left Ferguson feeling vulnerable and exposed, with no support system in place to shield her from the onslaught of abuse.

Determined to reclaim her dignity and assert her boundaries, Ferguson confronted her co-star the following day, delivering a firm ultimatum: “You get off my set. I’m gonna work [with] a tennis ball. I never wanna see you again.” Despite her trepidation, Ferguson refused to cower in the face of intimidation, asserting her right to a safe and respectful working environment.

However, Ferguson’s efforts to address the issue were met with resistance from the production team, who were reluctant to confront the lead actor due to their prominence on the project. Undeterred by the lack of support, Ferguson persisted in advocating for herself, refusing to compromise her integrity for the sake of appeasing an unruly co-star.

Reflecting on the ordeal, Ferguson expressed gratitude for finally finding her voice and standing up against injustice. “It was great from that moment,” she affirmed, acknowledging the significance of her decision to confront the toxic behaviour head-on. As she continues to navigate the complexities of the entertainment industry, Ferguson remains steadfast in her commitment to fostering a culture of respect and accountability on set.