Actress from "What's Love Got To Do With It" Reveals Laurence Fishburne Actually Slapped Her During Infamous Cake Scene Due to Stunt Mishap

Vanessa Bell Calloway, 68, recently recounted the unforgettable cake fight scene from the film What's Love Got To Do With It, where she played Jackie, a friend of Tina Turner, portrayed by Angela Bassett. Laurence Fishburne played Ike Turner in the tense sequence that remains one of the movies most intense moments.

The movie, adapted from Tina Turner's 1986 memoir, depicted her turbulent childhood, abusive marriage, and eventual triumph and independence. Calloways character attempted to intervene when Ike Turner pushed Tina into a cake, a dramatized version of a real-life incident described in Turners memoir.

Speaking with Cocoa Butter about her most memorable roles, Calloway explained that the slap she received in the scene was unexpectedly real due to a stunt mishap. They wanted to put a double in for the slap, and then I'd pop up. I told the director, Brian Gibson, that I needed to be in the moment and channel the energy and adrenaline properly, she said.

Despite practicing the timing with the stunt coordinator, one take went wrong. Calloway recalled, We missed the eye connection, and he slapped the living daylights out of me. My face was pounding, but I kept going. I knew this take would be great.

The final version of the scene, featuring the real slap, was used in the movie. Calloway remained in character, delivering her lines and actions flawlessly. I slap, roll, get up, and give it back to him. Thats the take they used, she said. Afterward, the crew rushed to check on her, but she handled it like a pro.

In a 1993 interview, Laurence Fishburne reflected on playing Ike Turner, admitting initial hesitation. He wanted to add depth to the character, explaining, He is the villain, but I wanted to make him interesting, give him some qualities that would draw Anna Mae to him, like a spider weaving its web. It looks attractive until youre caught, and theres no escape.

Author: Harper Simmons