Elizabeth Banks said Tuesday that she had a near-death experience while filming her new movie, “Skinny.”
The famous actress recounted the incident on “Good Morning America” on Tuesday, explaining how an unsuspecting hero came to her rescue: “It was the first time I've ever choked in my life,” Banks said, explaining that she'd been eating lunch when she choked on “a little green pea.”
“I was alone in my trailer, the door open, I couldn't make a sound, I was so scared,” she said, adding, “I was so scared.”
Speaking about her own struggle, Banks said everything changed the moment she opened the door in a desperate attempt to find help.
She said: “I happened to see someone ask me, 'Are you choking?' So I said 'yes' and he came over to me very calmly.”
She explained how initial efforts to save his life had gone awry.
“I fell backwards into him and he had me do the Heimlich maneuver. He had to do it twice!” she said.
US actress Elizabeth Banks poses on the red carpet as she arrives at the “Prelude to the Olympics” event ahead of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games at the Fondation Louis Vuitton in Paris on July 25, 2024. (Photo by Julien De Rosa/AFP) (Photo by Julien De Rosa/AFP via Getty Images)
The famous actress gave a shout-out to her hero and revealed that she is forever grateful to him for coming to her rescue.
“His name is Julius. He's my guardian angel. I love you, Julius,” she said.
Banks went on to say that the experience has raised a new level of awareness and that she is using her platform to encourage people to learn how to perform the Heimlich maneuver.
BEVERLY HILLS, CA – MARCH 10: Elizabeth Banks attends the 2024 Vanity Fair Oscar Party hosted by Radhika Jones at the Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts on March 10, 2024 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Jamie McCarthy/WireImage) Getty Images
“Make sure you know how to do it,” she told the audience.
“Tell your friends and family about it.”
For those worried about hurting someone while performing a life-saving technique, Banks offered some advice.
“They're dying, so break their ribs if you have to,” the Hunger Games 2 star said.(Related article: Jeff Bridges talks about returning to work after near-death experience)
“I could have cracked a rib and been okay. I literally couldn't breathe and I was so scared.”
