Nathalie Emmanuel compares the training of “Arthur the King” to an acting profession: “You have to have a real sense of positive thinking about yourself”

Nathalie Emmanuel has previously been involved in filming exciting adventure scenes. “Game of Thrones”? — but the intense training she had to undergo to star in her latest film, “Arthur the King,” is actually amazing.

The 35-year-old British actress walks, climbs, kayaks, bikes, zip lines and far more in her latest role as racer Olivia. Inspired by a true story, “Arthur the King” follows racing driver Michael Light (Mark Wahlberg) as he invites fellow racers Olivia, Leo (Simu Liu) and Chika (Ali Suliman) to participate in an arduous 700km endurance race through the Dominican Republic . Along the way, the group befriends a stray dog ​​named Arthur who teaches them the true meaning of victory.

“We shot it in a real canyon, in a kind of open, high area,” he says, fiddling with three puppies provided by Best Friends Animal Society of Los Angeles for this interview. “We had to shoot that moment where I got stuck halfway through. In real life (it) happens. It was something like intense adrenaline. It was really nice though.”

Emmanuel had zipped before and “really enjoyed” the experience, but “didn’t necessarily stick with it.”

“Don’t let your intrusive thoughts get in the way,” she continued. “Later, when Mark’s character was telling me what to do – I had to hang up on him – we were filming in an isolated set that was much closer to the ground.”

In addition to zip lining, the solid had to learn the way to perform all the adventure activities required in the film. According to Liu, they began training “like a month” before filming began, and real-life racing driver Light taught them every part they needed to know.

Emmanuel credits the “amazing” stunt crew who provided “amazing” support during the filming. “I had no knowledge of any of it – any of it,” she said. “I had never practiced most of these disciplines before. Cycling yes, but not like this. They were incredibly supportive in helping. To be honest, I used to be afraid of kayaking. I do not know anything about oceans in any shape or form.

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Is there anything compared to the intense and grueling exertions and dedication required in an adventure race? Yes, Emmanuel says: Pursuing acting.

“It’s obviously an extremely competitive career, but also unpredictable,” he reveals. “You never know (how your profession will go). Ups and downs, feast or famine – that sort of idea. You have to have a real sense of positivity and your mental game is actually on point. I feel this may very well be applied to something like adventure racing.

“Artur Król” can now be seen in cinemas throughout Poland.